How to choose a career in care?

Residential and long term care homes provide vital services in our communities. While it's often best to support people at home, care homes help those who need more supervision and support. Here's how to find the best care home role for your career.

The right staffing

Many residents require lots of support, from hoists for movement to the right diet.  It's important that the home has enough staff on every shift, or carers will be rushing through daily tasks. They won't be able to spend time with residents - toileting, feeding and dressing will take the entire shift. Ask potential employers how many staff cover each shift for how many residents.

Enriching resident lives

The best care homes offer meaningful activities to residents. A trip to local gardens or a visit to the pub enriches their lives and helps them maintain functionality and health. Residents can enjoy music, television, games, massage, and hairdresser visits.  Experienced cooks can provide tasty and healthy diets, and nurses and doctors keep residents healthy.

Reliable shifts, training and advancement

Residents benefit from regular and predictable interactions from the same carers. Regular shifts improve staff morale and lower rates of turnover.  Opportunities for training also attract and keep the best staff, so look for facilities that offer free NVQs.  The best care homes teach skills, and offer employees advancement to team leader or management.

Good ratings

The Care Quality Commission rates care homes on a variety of metrics, and provides detailed inspection reports, and offers historical background for homes. Homes with good ratings tend to be great places to work.  For an experienced carer, the opportunity to help turn around a home with a poor rating can be a valuable challenge.  For your next role in adult social care, check out our VERCIDA database.