Care homes were introduced to America as far back as the 17th century, with the aim being to look after the elderly as well as orphans and those that were mentally ill. Since then, the care home industry has branched out to provide separate services for all three of the aforementioned. The care home industry still continues to do what it did all those years ago in that it provides care for those that need it in the form of assistance, shelter, and food. If you see yourself as a passionately caring person, you might be considering pursuing a career in this industry. However, is this the right career move for you? What does it involve, exactly? And how can you go about it? This guide explores all of these questions below.
Is this the right career choice: why do you want to do it?
You first need to decide why you want to pursue this career. Are you a caring person who is keen to help others? Or do you want to drift away from the traditional 9-5 job? Maybe you want to have a vocation that is more rewarding than your current job. Working within a care home provides all this and more. You can have a flexible career that is completely dedicated to helping others achieve a better life.
However, whatever reasons you have for pursuing a career in care, make sure that it is for the right reasons. As you will have a duty of care for those in residence, you need to ensure that it is the right career choice before embarking on this big change.
What does working in a care home involve?
Working in a care home doesn’t mean there is one set job across the board. There is a whole host of people who all work together to provide the care that the elderly residents need, from doctors and nurses to receptionists and RCFE administrators. No matter where you are within the hierarchy of the team, every single role is important.
How can you start your journey?
You should first decide which area of care you would like to work in. If you are interested in working at the front line and dealing with patients and family, then you could work as a housekeeper, RCFE administrator, maintenance employee, therapist, a nursing assistant, or a dietician. All of these play a vital role in providing the care the residents need; however, each will require a different level of experience or qualifications.
- Training and qualifications
The training and qualifications you need depend on what position you wish to apply for. Take the role of a doctor, for example. It could take anywhere between 7 and 10 years to become qualified, whereas, for a nursing role, the average length for training is 4 years. If you have more experience, this can lessen.
For a role that doesn’t require a medical background, such as a housekeeper or RCFE administrator, the training will be significantly shorter, especially thanks to online courses now being available.
- Understand the terminology
When choosing to embark on a career path that sees you working and caring for others, you need to make sure that your training is constantly up to date. If you are considering going down the RCFE administrator role, it would benefit you to learn the terminology. Assisted Living Education has listed 15 terms all RCFE administrators should know about, whether you have been qualified for years or you are just starting the process of becoming an RCFE. Keeping regularly up to date with terms such as these will ensure that you are providing the best possible care for those you are looking after.
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