Month: September 2016

Imagine losing the independence you have taken for granted all of your life. The vulnerability you would feel in the day to day tussle of living is immense – and maybe unimaginable. What difference can a care worker make to the life of someone who feels this sense of vulnerability?

Ultimately, the care worker prevents harm coming to that patient. The prevention of harm is the most important mantra of someone working in care. Making sure a person can get out of bed, get moving into their day, take the suitable medication, eat and drink appropriately – all of these small details keep those who need care both emotionally and physically safe. This is already a major difference to someone’s life.

Helping provide a degree of independence and a chance to experience contentment in amongst difficulties, is the greatest impact a care worker can have on a person’s life. Balancing the management of a person’s needs with a promotion of their independence is a difficult part of the job. However, if you can give the patient the tools to help themselves, then you have really made a difference to that person’s life.

For those in need of care, feeling alone with their limitations can be as destructive as any physical or mental limitations. As a care worker you can break into that isolation, be a friendly face, helping them to see their worth in society again and helping them to keep in touch with family and friends.

You might feel invisible as a care worker at times and that you aren’t given much recognition for your efforts, but it is worth remembering the difference you make to those that need help – as this is what will keep you showing up for work each day.

Have you do feel you make a difference to those you care for? Tell us on our Facebook https://facebook.com/lavorocare or Tweet at us https://twitter.com/joblavoro .

Currently looking for a job in care to make a difference to people’s lives? Take a look at our current positions http://lavoro.com/jobs .

There is a general rule in the emergency services: you make sure you are safe first before attending to patients. An injured fireman, paramedic or policeman will be of no use to anyone. For example, in an emergency on a plane you’re told to first reach for your oxygen mask before you help others.

Working in care might not always be a matter of life and death, but maintaining your own well-being is as important as anything you will do in your job. If you allow your mental or physical health to suffer for the sake of your patients, there will come a time when you won’t be able to help them any more.

So, before you care for someone else, you need to care for yourself. You have to identify and establish personal barriers. This sounds selfish and awful and completely against your philosophy of being a carer, however, there are times when you have to draw a line between your life and your work, so you can be effective in both.

Some personal barriers could be: I will not go to work if I am unwell; I will assume there is another excellent professional who can step in and care in my place. It’s also worth remembering that it’s good practice to not pass on your germs to people who might have a compromised immune system.

Another barrier could be: I have an important life event, a birthday or a wedding; I will make sure that this life event is off limits to work because my personal contentment is important in maintaining a balance that will allow me to be strong for others.

This self-care might not come easy as a care worker but it is worth considering that self-care is an important part of being professional too. Being fit to care is as important as knowledge of how to care.  

How do you ensure you look after yourself in your care job? Tell us on our Facebook https://facebook.com/lavorocare or Tweet at us https://twitter.com/joblavoro .

Looking for a job in care, check out our current positions http://lavoro.com/jobs .

Nearly everyone entering the care profession does so with a desire to make a difference. The number of care workers who are doing it to just earn a living can be counted on one hand. The best care workers have something special, a quality, which means they can bring comfort to others. How can we define this quality?

First and most importantly, the carer has empathy. This is not sympathy. This is not feeling pity for the person who needs care. Instead it is an ability to anticipate how that person will feel in that situation and respond with compassion to this knowledge. A good carer can anticipate what a person needs before they ask for the help themselves. Empathy is crucial if you are to maintain the dignity of the person you are caring for. Without empathy, you could be in danger of only seeing the needs that must be met, instead of seeing them as person.

Second, the best carers will promote a sense of independence in the person needing care and a cheery disposition. Can you imagine the loss of your capacity to feed yourself, bathe yourself, get dressed, leave the house, seek medical attention? The best carer knows that they have to keep showing up, reliably and on time, having a positive attitude towards life and helping to build confidence in themselves at doing small tasks that they’re capable of.

Third, you need patience. There is every possibility that the person receiving your care will not respond positively or cooperate. They might be abusive, rude, or reject your help. The likelihood that this person actually wants your care is high but they might be frustrated with their situation or fed up with trying to find a suitable carer. So the best carers keep trying to win their trust.

Finally, physical and emotional strength. The care-givers role is to sometimes lift patients and manoeuvre them into a bath or into bed so physical strength can be required. However, the care-givers’ role is also to manage the emotional weight of the situation and react at different times of the day to these needs. The ability to be physically and mentally strong, as well as adaptable, is a crucial quality of the best care-givers.

No-one said a role in care would be easy but being empathetic, reliable, patient and physically and emotionally strong will certainly help you to be the best care worker.  

Think you have these qualities? Have a look at our current positions today http://lavoro.com/jobs .

What other qualities do you think are needed to be an excellent care worker? Tell us on our Facebook https://facebook.com/lavorocare or Tweet at us https://twitter.com/joblavoro .

Working in care is a rewarding career choice. It offers a great deal of job security and a personal sense of achievement, whilst providing opportunities for career development and pay progression.

So, why would an agency be a good route into care? First of all, it gives you flexibility to find the area of care that best suits you. You will have the opportunity to work in multiple workplaces and with a range of people. Working with an agency could offer a useful apprenticeship towards the type of care that could become your lifelong passion.

Many people who recruit into care suggest doing your research and getting experience in lots of different areas of care. This could be done through voluntary work, or you could choose to start working at entry level in a care agency. This means you will earn as you learn what your career in care might involve. You will also gain a lot of practical skills and experience that forms the foundation of your personal growth in the care sector. It is a difficult catch 22, how to get experience when you need experience to get a job. Being prepared to work up from the bottom, with the help of an agency, could be a really good option for you.

The reputation of the care agency is the reputation you will take into the workplace. The level of trust and responsibility you will be given will correlate with the work provided by other carers in your agency. This is important for most care facilities seeking staff. So, you can be sure that if the facility has chosen your agency, then they will believe you will have the ability to do the job, and with their reputation in mind it is in the best interests of your agency to train you. They will want to provide you with all the skills, understanding and qualities that will make the best care worker possible. Therefore, the best agencies will offer continuing professional development and a clear structure through which you can progress.

Finally, being part of an agency means you are part of a team of people who are self-supporting. The agency will be looking to place you in work and maintain your living on their books. So, it is a reciprocal relationship: if you work hard then they are likely to work hard to get you work. With the best agency, it can be a flexible and secure approach to working in care.

Have a look at our current positions http://lavoro.com/jobs and try working for us, you’ll soon see the benefits.

Or perhaps you already work for us, let us know why you think that working for a care agency is the best way into a career in care https://facebook.com/lavorocare.

So you’ve managed to secure an interview for a great new role in the care industry – congratulations! The next challenge is to really sell yourself in the interview and show the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

The key to a successful interview is in the preparation – after all, it doesn’t matter how talented, skilled, or experienced you are, if you can’t draw upon key examples or experiences to portray these qualities to your interviewer, how will they know that you’re perfect for the role?

We’ve compiled a list of common interview questions for the care industry, and how you should approach each one…good luck!

What does the role of a care worker involve and who might you be working with?

This one might seem quite straight-forward, after all why would you apply for a job if you didn’t understand the role, right? What the interviewer is looking for is a good understanding of the expectations of the specific job role, so make sure you read the job description thoroughly and develop an in-depth understanding of what the role involves. If you fail to do any research, the interviewer will know straight away.

 

When you’re caring for someone, how do you ensure you maintain their dignity and respect?

This one is all about empathy – ensuring that you consider how the other person will feel. Make sure you demonstrate that you can do the job empathetically, encouraging the individual to do as much as they can for themselves, whilst offering support. Explain how you would help them to become more independent, whilst providing the care, support, and assistance they need.

 

Provide an example of when you’ve contributed to an effective and successful team

This is a common question in interviews in all sectors and industries. When you’re interviewing for a job in the care sector, however, the interviewer is looking for evidence of the soft skills and values needed for social care. Try and refer to a situation where you’ve listened to and supported colleagues, ensuring that you clearly show why team work was important and how your skills helped deliver a positive outcome.

Let us know your top tips to sail through interviews at https://facebook.com/lavorocare. If you’re currently looking for a new role check out our current positions at http://lavoro.com/jobs .