Support Worker Review

I am a wake night support worker. My job is to help inspire and support people to make their own choices to live as independently as possibly and to help them have the best quality of life they can have, while upholding standards of CQC and the Care Act and Mencap.

I have developed further on my understanding on communication techniques, professionalism, safeguarding, and upholding the standards in a care based setting. I have also developed a better understanding of grammar and mathematics while on the course. While on this course I have also taken time to reflect on my own experiences in my work based setting.

While taking this course, I am able to develop my skills further that I hope will help progress my career in care. Although there has been challenges, I’m hoping to overcome these with careful planning and with the support of the learner allocated to the apprenticeship. Overall it hasn’t been a bad experience.

The programme is updated monthly with a range of activities that require self learning, research and self reflection. There is a monthly sheet to show evidence of extra activity outside of work for a minimum of 30 hours to develop more understanding of the care based setting. There are also extra courses that can be taken to develop a further understanding of each module.

My employer recommended the course to develop my skills within my employment. When asked for evidences required for my course, my employer has been very good at supporting myself and others on the course. Although the work is done independently, if there was any support needed, I am confident my employer would support me.

Although most of the work is done independently without any intervention from the training provider, if I have needed support, the training provider has attempted to help as much as possible. I am confident that, if there was any support needed, the training provider would do their best to help with this.

The course gives me an opportunity to do further research and develop a more in depth understanding of my role. The course encourages me to spend extra time to focus on certain skills that benefit myself and the people I support within my work based setting. It also gives an outside opinion to analyse my work and understanding that I can build upon.

There are opportunities at my workplace to get involved in a social media shared by colleagues in my work based setting called Yammer. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any other social or networking events that are available in my care work based setting although I will be sure to ask my employer.

Yes

Mencap are an amazing organisation that believe in bringing out the best in people and empower people with learning disabilities to live their best, most independent lives. Mencap have wonderful values such as kindness, bravery, inclusiveness, passionate and positivity and a range of training opportunities to help support people in the best possible way.

When applying to Mencap, I would advise to research all the wonderful work they do in supporting those with learning disabilities. I would also recommend reading up on and researching to help a future career within Mencap, as well as taking any opportunities they offer to train to be the best possible support worker you can be. I would also advise to take time to learn the standards of excellent care set by CQC and Social Work England.