Have you ever wondered what it would be like to become a support worker? Read our first-hand experiences and how to get involved in support work with Prestige Nursing & Care.
We are always looking for caring and compassionate people to join our exceptional team. If you have previous care experience, then we have a wide range of professional carer and registered nursing roles available. Learn more about the benefits of working for Prestige Nursing & Care or browse our current job vacancies.
What is support work?
Support work involves providing people with the care and assistance they need to enjoy an independent lifestyle and radically improve their quality of life. Support workers assist individuals who are unable to live independently by offering them the practical help they need as well as emotional support. There is an enormous range of clients that support workers provide help to, including people with learning difficulties, people with physical disabilities and the older generation – which includes companionship care and caring for people with dementia.
Support Worker Duties and Responsibilities
Support workers’ roles and responsibilities are varied – although they all involve working to improve the standard of care and quality of life for a client.
Some of the roles and responsibilities of a support worker include:
- Assisting clients with their personal care, for example, washing and dressing
- Providing support and encouraging life skills such as shopping, administrative tasks, and using public transport
- Providing help with domestic tasks around the home
- Encouraging their personal development through hobbies and interests
- Providing companionship and emotional support to the individual and their family
- Working with other health professionals to monitor the health of clients and ensure all care needs are being met
Why become a support worker?
Becoming a support worker is an incredibly rewarding job path. You will have the opportunity to support people in need and make a meaningful difference in their lives. Even though support work presents challenges at times, the knowledge that you are making a positive difference will provide you with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. A career in support work also provides several practical benefits. Your responsibilities and tasks will vary day-to-day, meaning no two days on the job will be the same. At Prestige Nursing & Care, we provide many flexible rotas, so you can work the hours you want when you want them. We also provide competitive hourly rates that are often higher than other agencies, along with benefits such as holiday pay and ongoing training and development.
What is the work environment of a support worker?
As a support worker, you may find yourself working in a number of settings including private homes, clinical facilities, hospitals, and care homes. The hours you work will depend on your work environment. If you work in private care, you may be required to visit your clients for a few hours a day or you may live in your client’s home in a live-in care arrangement. If you work in other care settings, you may work normal business hours. It is this flexibility that makes support work so appealing.
Being a good support worker
Being an organised and hard-working individual is a huge part of being a support worker. The role of a support worker also demands that employees possess strong people skills. The ability to communicate easily with clients and build a personal relationship with them is extremely important. A good relationship improves support workers’ ability to fulfil their duties effectively and also improves a client’s quality of life considerably. A friendly and approachable demeanour will also help support workers to build strong working relationships with other care
workers, as well as a client’s family.
What skills and qualifications are needed to become a support worker?
There are no specific qualifications needed to be a support worker – beyond a good attitude and willingness to learn, which are essential – but experience in the care sector is advantageous. Although specific qualifications aren’t required, NVQs or similar qualifications in the health and social care sector can help obtain the roles you want.
When starting as a support worker with us, we provide newcomers with a comprehensive training course that ensures you have the skills and know-how to provide professional in-home care services to our clients.
Before you start working with clients, you will need to complete learning modules about our company policies, our culture and values and the person-centred care we provide. The topics covered range from basic first aid, personal care, safeguarding and the duty of care of a support worker. These modules will include eLearning, classroom-based teaching and shadow shifts within your chosen area of work.
Are there opportunities for continuous training and development?
The care industry provides plenty of opportunities for career progression. As your career with us progresses, there will be many opportunities to develop your skills and earn further qualifications.
We know that our support workers have their own career goals and ambitions and we will do our best to support you in achieving them. Make sure you talk to us about what they are and what you’re looking for so that we can discuss how you might develop your professional and clinical skills.
Currently, we offer training to obtain the Care Certificate, Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship Standard (Level 2) and Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship Standard (Level 3).
How do I become a support worker?
Prestige Nursing & Care offers people who are looking to start a fulfilling career as a support worker the opportunity to take part in an introduction to care course, which provides them with the necessary skills to excel in the care profession.
If you are looking for support worker jobs or other care roles, please contact us and we’ll be happy to provide you with more information. You can also take a look at the jobs currently on offer with us.
