As an Individual Support Carer, your primary role will be to aid individuals within health and social care settings.Support Care Workers make up a large percentage of the health care workforce, being an invaluable part of teams providing care for those in need.
But what exactly does a career in Individual Support look like?
Place of Work
There’s no ‘set’ place of work for a Support Carer, and each day could offer a different working environment. Some days, you may be visiting members of the community in their own homes on other days you could be working in differing care settings. For some Support Workers, their place of work is in a care home, a mental health clinic, a school, a hospital or in supported housing developments.
Patients
There’s no universal patient for a Support Worker, and often Carers will work with a variety of patients. For example, a Support Carer may work closely with disabled individuals who need help carrying out their day-to-day duties, while others may be providing much-needed support to family members.
Skills
It takes a certain kind of person to not only be a Support Carer but to thrive in a caregiving environment. A few essential skills are:
Empathy ~ the ability to empathise with, and understand the unique situations of your patience is incredibly important.
Patience ~ the job of a Support Carer is to be there for their patients and to let them know that they are heard and understood, especially during difficult and distressing situations.
Organisation ~ being able to prioritise and organise your schedule is invaluable, especially for those working in a mobile role and needing to visit multiple patients daily.
Caring ~ this one should go without saying, but having a kind, compassionate and caring nature is essential for the success of a Support Carer as patients need to feel safe and understood in your care.
The Day-to-Day
With each day taking its own shape, and no two being the same, a day in the life of a Support Worker is varied. Duties can include:
Interviewing and assessing the needs of new clients and family members
Reporting on assessments
Monitoring the health of clients and their medical conditions
Performing recreational activities with clients
Maintaining and updating client records
Providing support and companionship
Participating in training to further your skills and knowledge
Supporting clients in their daily activities and tasks, such as cleaning, washing, eating and general mobility.
While the life of a Support Care Worker has its many challenges, it offers an incredibly rewarding career with diverse career paths and a sense of purpose.
If you’re interested in studying to be a Support Care Worker Stirling Institute, you can contact us directly at this email address, or contact us here.