New To Care
The question we hear most often from people who are new to care, is why. Why should you work in the care sector and what do you get out of it?
Working in care offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference and have a positive impact on the lives of individuals in need. The sense of fulfilment and purpose that comes from knowing you have helped to enable someone to maintain their independence and dignity, cannot be underestimated.
I’ve never had a job which makes me feel like the work I do genuinely matters
until I started working as a carer in the community.”
How do we support you?
Alongside the emotional rewards of care work, at Cera you will receive a uniform, mobile phone (with our amazing technology which makes recording visits easier) and access to our WeCare platform with discounts and health related benefits.
We also use Care Friends, a social care referral platform, where you can invite friends and family to work at Cera using your link, and earn bonuses as you do.
It is important to us that you can care with confidence. You'll have full training before you start, followed by shadow shifts with an experienced carer, we will also assign you a care mentor for the first 12 weeks with us. A care mentor is an experienced carer who will be available to answer any questions you might have and support your development with us. You'll also work towards recognised qualifications such as the Care Certificate of SVG qualification in Scotland. You can find out more about training and development here.
What do you need to work in care?
For most roles you will need a full UK driving licence and a car to enable you to provide care in the community. Other than this, there are no specific qualifications needed to work in care with us. At Cera, we provide full support, training and development to ensure you’re confident to provide care.
Although there are no set qualifications, there are so many qualities and skills that would make someone ideal for a care position. From their personal life experience, to aspects of their personality.
First and foremost, carers need empathy. Every carer needs the ability to understand and connect with the emotions and needs of the person they are caring for. Building trust and fostering a positive care relationship is essential for providing effective and compassionate care.
You can discover more about this and other qualities in our blog about what makes a great carer.
There are a lot of transferable skills that could make you suited to a career in care. From those who have worked in customer service and are confident building that rapport with a service user, to a parent skilled in time management who is looking for a flexible role around their family.
Macie's Story
What is home care?
Home care, sometimes also called care at home or domiciliary care, is where a Care Assistant or support worker visits someone in their own home to look after them. This might be for just a short time after coming out of hospital or while a relative is away, or it might be a long-term arrangement, with multiple visits a day.
You can find out more about the key duties a care assistant might carry out in our blog here.
For many people first starting out in a new care job, personal care can seem quite daunting. In this blog, we explain exactly what is involved in personal care as a Care Assistant and some of the reasons why people may need help with personal care. There are many different types of care and therefore many different paths you can take in your care career. These include:
- Domiciliary care involves providing support and assistance to individuals within their own homes or communities. Clinical care offers specialised medical attention tailored to individuals with specific medical conditions.
- Extra care provides an elevated level of residential support within a dedicated facility, allowing residents to maintain their homes while accessing communal areas for social interaction.
- Assisted living facilities offer housing and support to adults with disabilities and additional needs who may not be able or choose not to live independently.
- End-of-life care involves providing compassionate care to individuals nearing the end of their lives, whether due to age or illness, while honouring their desire to remain at home, in a family setting, or in a hospice.
- Care for children offers supportive services to children living with illnesses or disabilities and their families, often incorporating clinical care to address specific needs.
You can find out more about each type of care on our services page.
If you’re interested in the process of onboarding with Cera and what it involves, you can discover more about that here.
