Healthcare Support Workers are needed now more than ever- to make the lives of people fulfilling and helping them combat loneliness.
If you are kind, compassionate and would like to spend your time making a positive change in the lives of people who are in need, you shall consider being a healthcare support worker.
Patients could be of all ages, including those needing acute care, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, and maternity.
A healthcare support worker can work in hospitals, GP practices, people’s own homes, or in the community, roles can vary depending on the environment in which they work.
Who is a support worker?
(General information)
Simply put, a support worker by profession is someone who supports people mentally and physically.
Being a support worker involves helping people with different disabilities live a content life by taking care of their overall health and well-being.
A truly rewarding profession to be considered.
What is included in support worker roles?
(what do support workers do?)
Let’s get right to it. The daily tasks of a Healthcare support worker generally involve-
- Physical support: Helping with household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and groceries, along with being a personal carer. This also involves helping them stand, sit and sometimes move around the house, based on their abilities.
- Emotional support: Providing emotional support, lending an ear to their problems, and being emotionally there. Part of this is spending time with the patient and making sure they do not feel alone and have someone by their side, looking after them and having their best interests in mind.
- Health care needs: Arranging medication and meals timely. Tracking and recording changes in their health, monitoring blood pressure, and administering medication – may include pills, syringes, or healthcare machines.
- Personal skills: Supporting personal skills development by encouraging them to get involved with their hobbies and interests.
- Life skills: Assisting them with basic tasks, such as shopping, transportation, and paying bills.
- Communicating: Working with other healthcare professionals to ensure that all care needs meet the highest possible standards.
It is important to take note that the needs of the patients may vary- therefore it will only include a few or all of the above tasks.
Apply today is your are looking to work as a Young People or Family Support Worker jobs. Click this link to start working: APPLY NOW
Qualifications required to become a support worker
Good news! Working as a healthcare support worker or personal carer in the UK does not require having a specific degree/experience.
Although, having NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications), similar qualifications or experience in the health and social care sector can get the support worker roles that you want.
You can start with a simple induction training provided by your employer. Here, at Carepro you can get a Care Certificate from professionals in the field. (link)
Here are some of the sites that provide free healthcare worker-related courses to get you started on care UK jobs and gain basic knowledge.
Free Online Health and Social Care Courses & Training | reed.co.uk
Online Free Social Care Courses | Alison
Health and social care courses – Care Free Courses Online
Skills needed to become a support worker:
(Hard skills and soft skills)
- Know-how of regulatory practices
- Knowledge of healthcare computer systems and databases
- How to analyse patient data
- Monitoring vital signs and behaviours
- An interest in helping people, regardless of their condition
- Great problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt and act accordingly to situations.
- A high level of patience and emotional resilience.
- Being empathetic towards everyone.
- The ability to make good, positive relationships with people and their families.
- The ability to communicate with other healthcare professionals.
- Great verbal and written communication skills.
- A non-judgmental attitude regardless of a person’s needs.
- The ability to remain calm under pressure and when dealing with challenging situations.
Why become a support worker?
(is it worth it?)
Absolutely, yes. Working as a healthcare support worker will make you emotionally intelligent, appreciate humanity, and have a more positive and grateful outlook on your life and your future. This job will shape your personality, and make you confident in making decisions as you would be dealing with different situations. All in all, this is a worthwhile experience and life-changing for many.
It is a truly rewarding job when you realise how much impact you have created in someone’s life, especially when they needed it.
How much do you earn as a support worker?
(let’s talk money)
If you work on an hourly basis, you can make £10.92 per hour on average, and up to
£13 per hour for overtime work. These wages differ based on the region too. Support worker salary in the United Kingdom (indeed.com)
If you plan to work full time, the average salary would be £ 25,886 a year, again, can vary depending on the region. Support worker salary in the United Kingdom (indeed.com)
How to become a support worker?
Interested in becoming a healthcare support worker, a personal carer, or any of the care home jobs? Start your journey with just a few clicks! Visit our Health & Social Care Job pages to see all vacancies we have available: here
