Care worker job description

Caring for other people and knowing you have made a difference in their lives makes care work a uniquely rewarding career path. There are also many benefits to beginning a career as a care worker with the Cambridgeshire Care Providers Alliance. You will be paid a minimum of £10.10 an hour and you will be entitled to a minimum of 20 hours a week – plus, your hours will be flexible. You’ll have the opportunity to incorporate your hobbies into your work by organising entertainment for the residents.

You will also receive ongoing training which will provide you with many opportunities to progress your career. Both off- and on-the-job training is available, with a wide range of qualifications including NVQs and SVQs. You will be working in a very supportive environment – we care about our staff just as they care about the people they look after.

We tend to accept applications from entrants aged at least 18 years old. You will need to provide proof of a DBS check. Past experience of care work is helpful but not essential. You will need to have a good enough grasp of English, grammar and spelling in order to be able to properly fill out forms and care plans, and to understand and follow policies and procedures. However, there are no academic entry requirements. We recruit based on your qualities, not your qualifications.

The main qualities we look for are:

• You care deeply about providing people with the best quality of life possible.
• You are compassionate and empathetic.
• You prioritise the people you care for in everything you do.
• You are attentive and a good listener.
• You take time to learn people’s individual needs.
• You treat people with dignity and respect.
• You communicate clearly and appropriately; you are not patronising or dismissive.
• You respect people’s right to make their own choices.
• You can keep your head in challenging situations.
• You can respond flexibly and calmly to unexpected events.
• You are a committed and supportive team member.
• You respond thoughtfully to feedback and act on it.
• You communicate your limitations honestly if you find yourself out of your depth.

Below is a list of typical daily tasks that you can expect in the role in order to give you a general idea of your responsibilities. However, flexibility is a key requirement for this role – you’ll need to be able to adapt to unexpected and challenging circumstances!

Your responsibilities will likely include:

• helping people to dress, undress, bathe and use the toilet;
• preparing and serving meals to people at the table or in bed, and helping them to eat if needed;
• providing interesting activities and conversation to engage people;
• providing mental and emotional support;
• organising recreational activities;
• supporting people with social and physical activities;
• helping with daily tasks like letter writing, paying bills, and collecting benefits;
• helping with domestic tasks like cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping;
• monitoring people’s conditions by taking their temperature, pulse, weight, respiration, and keeping a record of this;
• administering oral and topical medication under supervision of medical personnel;
• liaising with professional staff in creating care plans and carrying them out;
• accompanying people to their appointments;
• generally assisting with people’s overall comfort and well-being