The healthcare industry is often categorised by three age groups: children, adults, and the elderly. When we talk about the ‘adults’ category, this refers to a broad age range, from 18 through to 65(ish). Those onwards of 65 will fall into the elderly category.
People use adult social care services for a multitude of reasons. The people that use these services may experience something that stops them from living at full capacity; typically relating to a physical or mental health condition.
An example of this could be someone living with Learning Difficulties (LD). Whilst they can largely live their life independently, they may require check-ins from a support worker, to assist with tasks such as cooking or managing finances. We’ve summarised some of the main adult social care settings, so you can get a brief idea of the different settings for Support Workers in the adult social care sector.
Supported Living
This refers to the type of accommodation, that those in the care system can have access to. Support Workers in this setting will be on hand to provide additional help to tenants with domestic tasks, to help clients maximise their potential.
Day Centres
Day centres are available for those with disabilities to socialise with others and take up activities to enhance wellbeing. As a support worker in this setting, you can expect to plan and supervise these daily activities. A large part of your role will involve inspiring service users to stay motivated, make connections, and have fun!
Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care is where trained carers or nurses visit clients in their own home, to provide them with care. This can refer to medical care and helping with domestic tasks such as showering, cleaning, going for a walk or food shopping.
Is a career in adult social care right for me?
If you don’t have related qualifications, don’t panic – there are plenty of funded training and development opportunities within this industry. You’ll get the opportunity to complete an NVQ in Health and Social Care, which will help provide you with the tools you need to adhere to safeguarding policies and ultimately, to grow in your new role.
People enter the industry for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps you’ve cared for a relative or have prior experience in volunteering and want to make a difference. There tends to be certain characteristics which stand out in those who have built successful careers in the industry - here are the ones that we think have the most impact…
1. Compassion
Caring for others must be a part of your nature. Whether it’s helping people physically or emotionally, you must have the capacity to remain sensitive and respectful towards the people you are helping. Due to the nature of this industry, you’ll be dedicating your time to helping others reach their potential, in whichever setting.
2. Emotional intelligence
To build a successful career in this industry, emotional intelligence is among some of the most desired traits to have. The ability to manage your emotions is necessary; you'll also be expected to take into consideration the emotions of others. Emotions can run high in this industry and it's therefore crucial that you can bounce back when faced with challenging behaviours.
3. Confidence
No matter the role in healthcare, confidence is an attractive trait. Your clients will look to you for guidance and support, therefore a confidence in your ability to act as a role model is essential. You’ll need to make decisions with assurance throughout your job role.
4. Adaptability
This role isn’t a standard 9-5. Due to parental-like responsibilities, you’ll need flexibility to cover all kinds of shifts. This includes weekends, public holidays and ‘sleep-ins’ (as needed).
5. Strong communication skills
This is a trait that's often mentioned in the corporate world, but communication skills are essential for positions in this industry. It's part of the ‘person specification’, and here's why...
You'll be in direct contact with clients, other staff members and third parties such as social workers or doctors. It's therefore vital that you can interact both professionally and articulately with each. A part of your role will likely involve report writing, which will require medical terminology and client specific detail. A good level of written communication skills is therefore needed, alongside the ability to communicate verbally.
Still thinking about a career in adult social care?
We hope we’ve answered most of your questions about what it’s like to work within this sector of the healthcare industry.
If you have any further questions, or you would like to highlight your interest in working in these roles, contact our Recruitment Specialists for a confidential chat today!