If you love spending time with people, are sociable, personable and a proactive hard worker then a job as a home care assistant could be for you. A home care assistant can provide a new lease of life to an elderly, ill or disabled person who is unable to manage daily life on their own. The role is extremely varied and ever changing, depending on the needs of your individual client. Read our guide for all the information on working as a home care assistant.
Contents:
- What exactly is a home care assistant?
- Types of home care assistant
- How do I apply for a role as a home care assistant?
- What experience do I need to become a home care assistant?
- Average salary and working hours
What exactly is a home care assistant?
A home care assistant is employed to support an individual who can no longer manage living at home independently and requires some form of assistance in their daily lives. The most common employers of home care assistants are the elderly or disabled, however those suffering long term illnesses may also employ a carer to help them out at home.
Working as a home care assistant is a varied and challenging position as each individual will have a unique set of circumstances and requirements are therefore need supported in different ways, however the job is also very rewarding.
Helping out with physical tasks such as housework, laundry, shopping and cooking is a common role of carers for those less mobile and active. Similarly personal care such as helping the individual to get dressed or do their hair and makeup is another common reason someone might employ a carer.
For those facing long term illnesses or disabilities they may have an individual set of requirements as there will be specific tasks they cannot manage and it is important to define your exact role and what duties are expected of you when applying for a role as a carer.
General type of home care assistant
Most home care assistant roles will include a variety of duties from different areas of daily life and each role will be tailored to the individual employer. However we’ve outlined some of the more common types of home care assistants and reasons why people hire carers. It is worth researching the various roles of a carer and deciding which areas you are confident in and to apply for jobs requiring these services and skills.
Companion Carer – Many people who live alone, away from their family, have been widowed or separated from their partner or who tend to lead a relatively isolated live may hire a companion carer to help reduce loneliness as well as receiving help in their daily life. The role of a companion carer is often less focussed on providing physical care and support, although some duties may be included, and more centred around offering emotional and mental health support to an individual. A companion carer could accompany an individual to an activity or destination, offer support for those less confident of carrying out tasks such as shopping alone or simply provide a friendly face to check up on them and engage in conversation.
Live-in Carer – The role of a live-in carer is often more full time than other care giving positions as they are often required to be on call 24 hours a day, but of course with designated time off. The advantages of working as a live in carer is that accommodation and often food and living expenses may be covered by the employer however it is a more full time position and often will included a wide range of duties. Many live in carers will act as personal, housekeeping and companion carers all as one, however it can be a great solution for those looking to work closely with one employer rather than managing multiple part time positions.
Palliative/End of life Carer – An end of life or palliative carer is employed by those suffering from terminal illness in order to make their life as comfortable as possible in their final days. The role will often be carried out alongside family members and can be varied from administering medicine and keeping track of medical schedules to providing support to family members. It is a very rewarding but difficult position and may require specific medical training or experience.
Home/Housekeeping Carer – For those less able to manage living alone, but are still capable of looking after themselves, a housekeeping carer could allow them to live comfortably in their own home without having to move to retirement or care facility. A housekeeper carer will likely perform housework, laundry, cleaning and cooking duties as well as general care giving duties. For those looking to only work in a housekeeping role without the care duties, perhaps a job as a housekeeper would be more suited.
Personal Carer – For individuals who are unable to manage duties such as maintaining a high level of personal hygiene, getting dressed, doing your own hair or makeup a personal carer can help with all these duties. As a personal carer you will likely be working with a disabled or less mobile elderly person and will therefore also carry out duties of a housekeeping carer too.
Long Term Illness Carer – A long term illness carer might be employed to either work with the individual on a regular basis which is often key for those suffering from illnesses such as dementia, where routine can be important, or to provide respite to the family who usually carry out the care duties. Each position will carry a unique set of duties but may range from medical support to personal care and housekeeping duties.
How do I apply for a role as a home care assistant?
There are a variety of ways to find a position as a home care assistant such as applying for adverts on local job seeking websites, joining an agency or using an online platform. The great advantage of an online care providing platform such as Yoopies is that you do not incur any expensive agency fees, are able to search easily and efficiently for suitable jobs in your local area through using search filter criteria and can post your own advert to allow employers to come to you.
Simply sign up on our website, create an advert for the type of position you are looking for and start searching for available positions instantly. You are also able to message employers, book jobs and receive payments via our safe and secure payment process on our platform.
What experience do I need to work as a home care assistant?
Depending on the exact role you are applying for the experience required may vary. For roles which involve medical care, many employers may prefer someone with a background in this area or a qualification in providing care. Other roles such as companion carers or housekeeping carers may not require as much professional experience but will be more focussed on the personality match between the employer and carer. Any experience in care giving such as working with children or caring for your own family members can be useful experience for working as a home care assistant.
Average salary and working hours
The average hourly rate for a home care assistant can vary widely depending on the type of role and how much experience or how qualified you are in your field. In the UK the average rate is £15 per hour however this rate can be considerably higher for those providing medical care and perhaps lower for for less physically demanding or pressured roles such as working as a companion carer.
For live-in carers part of the salary may be that living expenses are included and payment will often be provided on a weekly or monthly rate rather than hourly due to the unpredictable and vocation nature of the position. For those working as live-in home care assistants the working hours may be longer than the rest of the home care assistant profession but it is important to set out maximum working hour boundaries with your employer at the start of your employment.
The great benefit of using an online platform such as Yoopies is that you can set your own rates and do not have to pay any expensive agency fees, meaning everything you earn is your own!