Are you looking to apply for a job in healthcare but you’re not sure what kind of role to apply for? We’ve put together a short guide to help you understand the roles of two major jobs in the industry, carers and support workers.
While there is some overlap between the two jobs, carers focus more on meeting the health needs of individuals, whereas support workers enable individuals to become more independent.
What responsibilities will I have?
Carer
A carer provides personal care to clients who require significant levels of support. Their need for a carer may be due to age, illness or disability. The responsibilities vary from catering to medical needs, such as administering medication, to bathing, dressing and feeding clients. Often, a carer is part of a healthcare package with healthcare solutions for someone identified as vulnerable
Example: an individual lives alone and requires support in the mornings and evenings due to age. A care agency sends a carer to them twice each day who bathes and dresses the individual.
Support worker
The overall goal of a support worker is to enable clients to become as independent as possible. The level of support needed will vary depending on the client. Some individuals will require emotional support and help with social integration, others will need support with day-to-day tasks.
Support workers will work with clients to identify goals and areas of need. A support worker should then support the individual in meeting these goals.
Example: a person experiencing mental health challenges struggles with daily tasks and has become isolated from society. A support worker provides them with emotional support and works with them to identify and implement strategies for rehabilitation and integration into society.
Where will I work?
Carer
The work setting of a carer will vary. Some carer jobs are in individual care homes. In this context, a carer would be in the same setting most of the time to care for live-in residents.
Other carers provide home care, which means they will travel to people’s homes and provide them with care. The number of clients will depend on the needs being met. Some carers will visit multiple clients each day, and others will only work with one individual full-time.
Providing care in hospitals is another example of where a carer can work. Carers in hospitals will have less consistency, as they are less likely to be providing long-term care for patients. However, if you like variety in a fast-paced environment, this is ideal for you!
If you are looking to find out what care jobs are available near you, research care jobs in your local area. For example, search ‘care jobs Norwich’ into a search engine and you will see all of your options. Care agencies may also have different options for places to work, so you can ask to speak with them and decide which role would be best for you.
Support worker
Depending on the needs of clients, support workers can carry out their responsibilities from a number of locations. A healthcare support worker may be based in a group home, community centre or mental health facility.
A support worker may be involved in healthcare solutions where an individual has been identified as needing support. In this case, the support worker would meet the client regularly in their home or facility and work with them.
What training and qualifications do I need?
Carer
The training and qualifications required to be a carer will vary depending on the location, care agency and the work that will be carried out. If you’re applying for care jobs in Norwich, for example, it may be helpful to contact local agencies to find out what specific qualifications they are looking for.
The Care Certificate is often required by employers. As well as this, employers may ask for basic education and first aid training.
Support worker
Similarly, support workers may be expected to have the Care certificate and basic education. Support workers’ clients often have very specific needs, therefore, may be required to have some level of training in areas such as disability support or mental health.
Employers may be willing to provide you with the required training, but it will be helpful to demonstrate that you have some relevant experience and transferable skills.
What skills and characteristics will I need?
Carer & Support Worker
Being understanding, compassionate, and respectful are necessary skills to have as a both a carer and support worker. The people you are working with will want to feel safe and comfortable, so it is important to treat them in a way that makes them feel valued.
Be a friendly face and get to know the clients! For example, if you are applying for care jobs in Norwich, knowing about the local culture and engaging in relevant conversation can make individuals feel at ease.
Specifically as a carer, you may be working with some clients who will not be used to having someone help them with basic tasks. So, it is important that you have the skills in place to treat them with respect and communicate effectively.
Flexibility is also a key skill to have for both jobs. You will be working in different settings and will be required to meet a variety of needs depending on the client. You may also need to think of healthcare solutions on the spot, which requires quick thinking and often changes in plans. But just take your time and know when to ask for help!
What’s next?
Hopefully this has given you a good idea of what the difference is between a carer and a support worker. Both jobs are hugely rewarding and will equip you with lots of skills in working with people.
Spend some time thinking about these different jobs and work out which would be best suited to you. Would you be great at assisting with the healthcare side of things? Or are your skills more suited to assisting people with becoming more independent?
Good luck!
