What are the roles and
responsibilities of a care worker?

Contact our expert team about our care services at hello@verilife.co.uk.

Working as a care worker is a rewarding and varied career, allowing you to make a difference to people’s lives and support them as they live independently. Your skills can be used to assist vulnerable people from all walks and stages of life – young people, older people, adults with learning difficulties, and people with mental health issues. Learn more about the roles and responsibilities that are associated with a career in care and see if this path could be the right fit for your skillset.

What can a care worker help with?

When it comes to care, each person will have their own unique requirements. This means that the responsibilities associated with being a care worker are extremely varied. At Verilife, we think of each care visit as a block of time that people can use as they wish. This ensures that everyone receives care that has been carefully tailored to their needs, every single time.

Social care

Within a social care setting, the care plan will be more defined and will focus on essential tasks during each appointment, as defined by social services. This could include helping people with mobility issues to get out of bed, get washed and dressed, and eat their meals. They may also help with administering medication and dealing with extra requirements such as incontinence care. Depending on time constraints and the guidance of the local council, care workers may also be able to help with chores such as laundry and tidying the home.

Private care

Private care gives people control over their appointments, allowing them to receive support that has been tailored to their varied care requirements. This means that, as well as the essential tasks that are prioritised within social care, private care can also help with any aspect of your home routine, allowing you to continue living independently. This can include helping you to take care of pets and accompanying you on trips, appointments, and other social excursions. One other important aspect of private care is companionship and emotional support. At Verilife, we carefully partner our care workers with the people they care for, encouraging effective partnerships that address emotional as well as physical needs.

What qualities are important for a care worker?

Being responsible for the wellbeing of others is a highly rewarding career path. However, this doesn’t mean that it’ll be the right fit for everyone. To excel as a care worker there are a number of attributes that you will need:

Empathy

Relating to people and showing empathy are key to developing strong relationships. It’s important to demonstrate empathy and understanding through the tasks you carry out. There’s a huge difference between providing a nicely plated meal and one that’s served in its packaging.

Reliability

People need to know that you’ll be there when they need you. Working as a home care worker is an independent role, so you’ll need to manage your time effectively to make sure that all your responsibilities are carried out on schedule and in line with your clients’ needs.

Communication

Effective communication is a must. It’s important to keep people up to date if anything changes with your schedule, such as delays caused by traffic on your route. This prevents the people you care for from feeling overlooked or worrying about you. Equally, if a client’s care requirements change, it’s important to notify the office and keep clear records.

Respect

Working in someone’s home requires a respectful attitude. Being able to continue living independently within a familiar setting is a key part of the appeal of home care, so it’s essential that your clients continue to feel comfortable. Treat people as individuals and give them as much control as possible over their routines.

Contact Verilife

Are you interested in a career as a care worker? To learn more about the role and to discuss whether you’d be a good fit, call 02031419290 or email hello@verilife.co.uk to speak to a member of our team. We’ll be happy to help you understand exactly what home care involves.