New To Care

The question we hear most often from people who are new to care, is why. Why should you consider a carer job in the care sector and what do you get out of it?

Working in care jobs offers people 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, dignity, and quality of life cannot be underestimated. As a community care assistant, you'll play a crucial role in supporting the mental wellbeing of those in your care.

For most roles as domiciliary carers 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 perform care assistant duties.

Although there are no set qualifications, there are so many qualities and skills that would make someone ideal for a position as a domciliary care worker or support worker. 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. Strong people skills and the ability to offer emotional support are crucial in this role.

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.

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 Key Duties of a Carer.

For many people 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 in more detail in our Types of Care Jobs blog.

If you’re interested in the process of onboarding with Cera and what it involves, you can discover more about that on our career development page. Our recruitment team is dedicated to helping you start your journey in the care sector, whether you're aiming to become a care assistant or support worker, or looking to progress through a care-at-home or nurse-led care pathway in the future.