Working in care as a Care Assistant – Rebecca Moore
We caught up with Rebecca Moore to hear more about her experience as a Care Assistant at Borough Care. Join us as we talk through the day-to-day life of a Care Assistant, traits that will help you excel in the role, and Rebecca’s favourite things about her job.
1. What does a typical day in the life of a Care Assistant look like?
A typical day as a Care Assistant mostly involves helping residents with their day to day lives. This could be anything from helping them with their food, assisting with personal care or providing entertainment for them. Each resident has different needs so their care will depend on what is needed. For example, there are residents who have really high needs and rely on you for everything, and there are others who are very independent.
2. What led you to start your career in care? Did you always want to work in the sector?
It was my friend who first introduced me to Borough Care as she works here. She asked me if I would ever consider working in the care sector and, at the time, I said that I’d never thought about it. I’d never done caring in my life, I’d only ever worked in hair and nails, so it wasn’t something that I’d ever consider doing. She ended up getting me an interview at Borough Care, I got the job and have loved it ever since.
My grandma was also diagnosed with dementia a few years ago and ended up having to go into a care home. So, that gave me the extra push to want to do it even more. I wanted to understand how she lives and what she goes through.
3. Why Borough Care? Is there anything specific that made you want to work for Borough Care in particular?
Borough Care is a really great company to work for. If there’s anything that you need, they’re always there to help you out – the slightest issue and they’ll sort it straight away.
The training they offer is also brilliant. Any bit of training I need is there for me.
4. What do you think is the best part of your job?
I can’t say just one thing, I love it all! I genuinely enjoy every part of my job. Like everything, you have good days and bad days, but I think seeing the difference that you make in the residents’ lives makes it all worth it. Seeing their faces light up is just so rewarding.
5. What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in care?
Just do it! That’s all I can say. Don’t be nervous, just go for it if you’re interested. We’ve had loads of people who have never worked in care join us and I always say to them;
“You think it’s really hard at first but in a month or so you end up just doing things without even thinking.”
6. It looks like residents and staff have developed lovely friendships! How do you build that sense of trust between staff and residents, especially as a lot of the residents have dementia?
I think that just being there and being present is essential when building those friendships. Also, doing things as and when they ask is important. As a lot of the residents have dementia, it’s important to do things in the moment – as and when you’re asked. Sometimes you might have a resident ask for a tea and you’ll say “oh, I’ll do that in a minute” but if you leave it and come back then they’ll forget about it.
7. What traits and values do you think help make someone a great Care Assistant?
You’ve got to be hard-headed, bubbly and outgoing. In care, there are good days and bad days for the residents, but, as a Care Assistant, you’ve got to be there for them all. Sometimes, if they’re having a bad day, a resident might say or do something that they don’t mean. You’ve got to be able to think “they don’t actually mean that, they don’t know they’re doing it”.
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