Care workers are the backbone of the UK’s health system, providing round-the-clock essential care for people who could not cope without their support. Live-in care workers are those who live with the client for 24-hour care and this can be a difficult but rewarding job. If you are considering becoming a live-in carer or are thinking of hiring one, you may be wondering what the qualifications needed to become a live-in carer are. In this blog, we will run through the answer.
What qualifications are needed to become a live-in care worker?
You may be surprised to find out that there are no specific qualifications required by law that a person must have to become a live-in carer. However, clients or agencies are likely to ask for certain requirements before hiring someone to become a live-in carer because it is such a demanding, vital role that requires skills and dedication. Following being hired, a carer is likely to go through a period of training and learning before they can work full time on their own.
First aid training is probably the most important qualification that live-in carers are expected to have. It’s important to have regular refresher courses too, which many agencies offer.
Relevant training may also come in the form of a Health and Social Care qualification, or similar, such as a BTEC or NVQ acquired from college or school. Depending on the nature of the job, a full driver’s license may also be necessary. A DBS check is also often required.
It may also help to have evidence of caring for others in the past. This may be work experience, a placement, a part-time job or looking after family members. Someone with relevant experience is likely to be able to bring the right skills and qualities forward to make a more effective live-in care worker. However, with a role like this, soft skills are often more important.
What do live-in care workers do?
Live-in care workers are with the client 24 hours a day, and are likely to be expected to help them to eat, dress, clean, and perform other day-to-day tasks. Other roles include helping to upkeep the house, so helping with cleaning, laundry and cooking. But most importantly, a live-in carer provides companionship and support to the patient, so soft skills such as empathy, communication and a good sense of humour are key.
At Rosemont Care, all of our carers go through a thorough interview, DBS check and shadowing process, so you can be assured that they are trained to provide the highest quality care to your loved ones.
Comments are closed.