Care worker Review

My role as a care worker involves providing support in daily needs for my service users. This includes support with personal care, dietary and fluid intake, medication and emotional support. I also support service users to make and attend appointments and engage in activities. My role also includes ensuring health and safety of the home and completing relevant paperwork.

I developed knowledge in areas I already had some experience/learning in previously. I also through my apprenticeship learnt how to administer medication and gained knowledge in areas I didn't have previous learning in such as pressure area care, supporting individuals with learning disabilities and supporting with personal hygiene.

Due to my apprenticeship taking part during the covid pandemic and low staying levels at my work I found my apprenticeship quite stressful. However I received support from my teaching support officer which helped a lot. Overall I did enjoy learning and expanding my knowledge and feel the apprenticeship was a positive experience.

I found the structure to be good. I didn't feel overwhelmed with work and felt the work was spread well throughout the year I was completing the apprenticeship. I felt the monthly meetings were well placed out to give time for work to be completed and to discuss my advancement.

I did not approach my manager for much help during my apprenticeship and mostly completed it with the help of my teaching and development officer. I did not feel supported at work by my manager and felt I had little time during my shifts to work on my apprenticeship. I had to complete a large amount at home. However my other colleagues my very supportive.

My teaching and support officer have my a lot of help and assistance. She was available whenever I needed support and was always quick to respond to queries. When I had issues accessing my multiple choice test the training provider helped me sort this out quickly and with no issues.

I feel that the qualification has made me more competent and better at my job. I have improved knowledge which can help me in my role and also allow me to support my colleagues. I can complete more tasks more successfully than I could prior to me undertaking the apprenticeship.

The are no extra curricular activities that I can think of. The only thing would be party's or events set up in the home that all staff would attend, however these have been cancelled recently as a result of the covid pandemic so there has been nothing except for working shifts.

Yes

It's a good job. You get to really feel like you are having a positive effect on your service users lives and helping them on a day to day basis with basic needs and also with achieving their goals. The staff team can be very supportive and work well.

Ensure you are comfortable in your current role and if you are not try to move to a different care home where you might be better suited. When you find the right place for you, you can complete your job and feel like you do a good thing for your service users.