Why become a Care Worker
If you are just about to leave school or you are looking for a change in career, there are many reasons to become a care worker. A genuine interest in caring for others can get you started on your social care journey. Many people start off by caring for a loved one or start as a volunteer. There are many more reasons why you should become a care worker, including:
“Words can’t express the gratitude I have for them. They are there for me when I need them and have always gone the extra mile. The freedom I have is down to them”
What does a Care Worker do?
Care Workers provide support to adults of all ages in the community or a care home setting. The primary role of a care worker is to ensure the well-being, safety, and comfort of the people they care for.
Care workers who work in the community are sometimes called Domiciliary Carers, which often involves travelling to different people’s homes.
The people you would be caring for could include adults with learning disabilities, physical impairments, dementia or those who need mental health support. Your compassion would enable support people to:
- Remain living independently in their own homes
- Live in residential or nursing care homes
- Be part of their community
A Care Worker’s role may include some personal care (assisting with daily personal activities such as washing, bathing and dressing) and assisting people with their mobility and domestic jobs. It could also involve engaging people with social and physical activities, helping them to access services in their community or communicating with their family.
What values do I need to work in the care sector?
Working in the care sector requires certain values and qualities that are essential for providing effective and compassionate care to individuals, including:
- Empathy and compassion
- Dignity and respect
- Patience and tolerance
- Integrity and trustworthiness
- Learning and reflection
- Commitment to quality care and support
Is a role in the care sector right for me?
At Proud to Care North Lincolnshire we have a great wealth of training and development opportunities for people who want to make a difference to people’s lives, in a role that encourages developing your skills, is rewarding and allows for career progression.
“I love my job, it’s so rewarding and the satisfaction I get from making someone’s day is just fantastic. So if you’re thinking about caring and have a good heart then I would say go for it, you won’t regret it – I didn’t.”
Carol, Care Worker
The following resources may help you to find out if you have the right values and attitude to begin a career in care:
- Take the Adult Social Care Quiz to help you find out if a career in care is right for you.
- Try the interactive video challenge ‘A Question of Care: a Career for YOU’ to see what a career in care is like.
- Read the document ‘What values do I need to work in social care?’, produced by Skills for Care. You will also find more information on the different types of care roles on their website.
What roles can you have in care?
Working in care is about making a difference to people’s lives by providing physical, emotional and social support to help people live their lives. Whatever your skills, there is a career in care to suit you.