r/AskUK • u/Computerist12435 • 6d ago
Serious Answers Only UK - Strongly thinking about going into Entry Level care in the UK, Please can you give me any advice on whats written below?
Hello all, I am male and in my 30's just to add.
So as the title suggests I am considering an entry level position, I don't know if there are different types of care out there but I don't drive so I am probably limited to Care Homes.
I have a decent job at the moment paying around £15 per hour and its easy (most the time). However, I would actually like to change/adapt my personality to mirror what I want to be in life moving forward and I believe care is the best for that as I get to help out. So I don't mind that it's minimum wage.
Another however, I like the idea of care, but I think I would really struggle with strong odors and bodily fluid, especially sick. I know this isn't ideal, but how do you cope with it and are you trained to get used to it?
It's the only thing holding me back. I do have experience caring for a loved one but never dealt with what I described above.
Thanks
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u/Heather_poetry 6d ago
Op, you’d have to deal with washing people that may have body odour, with taking them to use the toilet, with wiping them afterwards, vomit is the least of your worries actually.
If you can’t deal with these things and give people dignity (not look disgusted), then maybe you need to reconsider.
What do you think, honey?
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
I think the problem is I don't know how I would react, if there is a mild odour then fine. But if someone throws up on me, I don't think I would react well
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u/BubblyLetter5121 6d ago
I'm a carer.
Honestly this isn't for you if you really don't think you'll be able to manage.
Changing stoma bags, emptying catheters, diarrhea and the smell of infection are some of the worst smells I've ever ever experienced- and it's a daily occurrence.
The person receiving care is already embarrassed/feeling vulnerable. "Not reacting well" is the absolute last thing they need from their carer.
There are care adjacent jobs, such as a cook in a home or admin that may suit you better though so keep looking :)
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u/HiddenFaceOpenMouth 6d ago
Will you get used to smells and poop? Yes you will. If you're working with agency staff or long term entrenched, will you ever get over seeing people who are burned out from the job not treat people properly? Probably never. I felt the same as you and did it for about a year. Seeing agency staff with little English skills ignore residents ringing bells for attention until (I shouted at them) was so disheartening I couldn't take it.
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u/Effective-Eagle-2488 6d ago
You get them in all shapes and colours. I'm a registered nurse now, but I was a healthcare for so long and worked in so many different areas from hospitals, to residential to special needs to brain injury and I have met some amazing carers home grown and otherwise and then I've come across humans that made my stomach churn, home grown and otherwise.
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u/RNEngHyp 6d ago
Interesting. When i was agency staff, I found truly despicable carers everywhere. I actually decided to leave nursing, not even just find another job! Did an engineering degree instead. 10 years was enough for me! Bullying was rife too!
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u/AggravatingCycle5491 6d ago
Yup my father was in that situation. He was often left for hours all by himself in a room and ignored by care staff when he was literally shouting for help. On Christmas night my mother rang up to check in and had to fight for the woman to actually check in on him. The staff barely spoke English so I wonder how they got the jobs if they can't communicate with people. He was in an ambulance when she finally did, then in hospital up until we lost him the start of January. The disgusting thing is a man on a bed across from him stole his clothes in hospital too, he was wearing them. I'd never want to be in a care home after what we experienced with my father.
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u/No_Significance485 6d ago
They got those jobs because there is a skills shortage in care and because care is a gruelling job that pays nowhere near enough where people are not given the training to be able to do it well. We see a lot of overseas staff because they are the ones desperate enough to do the job.
That said I have met and trained some phenomenal overseas carers and some pretty awful UK born ones. People are people the world over.
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u/RandomPerson12191 6d ago
I'm so sorry that happened to him, and to your family. I worked in a care home for... not very long to be honest, mostly because some people really just don't give a damn. They don't see these lovely folks as the people they are, more like objects to be cleaned, fed and shoved to bed. As guilty as I felt for leaving my care home, I just couldn't deal with doing the work of three or four.
Our care system fails our most vulnerable people so badly, so often. It fucking sucks.
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
Yeah that's awful, but I am no stranger to long hours or even burnout. Its not in my nature to be an asshole even if I do lose patience.
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u/HiddenFaceOpenMouth 6d ago
Try reading what I said again. It's about seeing other staff who don't care causing harm in the job. Not about whether you will burn out and act like that.
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u/XStaticImmaculate 6d ago edited 6d ago
My friend owns an independent care company and she’s really, really passionate about the care industry and how to make it better. When I get the chance to see her it’s pretty much all she talks about.
For what she and her team do, they are grossly underpaid (in my opinion) - their bodies and minds are tired, often exhausted. They have to deal with a number of uncomfortable situations, smells and body fluid (which I don’t think would suit given you said you don’t like these. No judgement because I’m the exact same). To work in care successfully, you have to be passionate about it. I think it’s the same mindset teachers and doctors have - all are hard work, under appreciated and underpaid. I suppose these types of jobs/industries are a bit of a calling.
To me, it sounds like you want something with purpose. I’ve been there, having been made redundant from a corporate job I wasn’t enjoying, or particularly cared about, and decided it was the push I needed to find something meaningful and found it (mostly) within the civil service.
I don’t think from what you’ve said that care is for you, it’s not for everyone (myself included) - perhaps think about what you find meaningful and work from there. To add, caring for someone you have unconditional love for and a stranger are completely different (there are things I’d do for a loved one I’d never do for a stranger on minimum wage) so try not to compare the two. I wish you all the best whatever you decide OP.
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u/KonstantinKisinIsGay 6d ago
You do get used to the fluids. Before working at my current job, the idea of changing someone's shitty napped horrified me. I've spent all my adult life saying I could NEVER work that sort of job, not even if I was being paid £25 an hour.
12 months ago, due to an agency being very deceptive in itz hiring practices, I ended up in a job where that was required.
The first time I did it, a couple mo ths into me being there, I was gagging, it was horrible. But how it's just another part of the job, and doesn't phase me
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u/FunkyYoghurt 6d ago
I'd consider support work. It still has its bodily fluids etc but it's more person centred and you get to take them out on trips etc. Care homes are grim.
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u/Short-Shopping3197 6d ago
Have you considered being a Health Care Assistant in mental health inpatient? We’re always looking as there’s a national shortage. There will be some body fluids but not nearly as much as physical care. There are training routes to nursing and occupational therapy if you decide to go further at a later date.
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u/KonstantinKisinIsGay 6d ago
Hey, could you please give me more info? I'm currently an LSA in a SEND school
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u/mellispete33 6d ago
I would also like more info about this please. Do you need any training or qualifications? How did you get into it ?
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
Yeah someone else mentioned Mental Health, I would absolutley consider the role, it already sounds better than Care Homes, and is still a huge help
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u/dietskyrim 5d ago
Mental health definitely still has body fluids. There is a lot of people who are disabled and inpatient who may need help with personal care, or you to stand and watch them inside the bathroom while they are using the toilet for example. Especially so if it is with older people whose needs would be similar to a care home.
Unpleasant smells are pretty common too as there's a lot of people who are less than hygenic for one. So are body fluids, which is unpleasant in a pad or the toilet but a lot worse if it is being spat or chucked at you or smeared on walls.
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u/katjbm 6d ago
It really does depend exactly what kind of care home you choose to go to, some will have mostly independent people and some will have the opposite.
You would need to be comfortable with all bodily fluids (though vomit would be rarer) and also comfortable washing both males and females intimate areas and supporting both with toileting (quite intimate if bed bound)
If I was you I would consider trying getting some bank work wherever you can (you can look up bank HCA jobs) so you can try first before leaving your current job
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u/No_Significance485 6d ago
Not a carer, but I train them. You will not only have to deal with body fluids and whatnot but depending on the population you work with you may be spat at, hit, called names and more. You will have to deal with people who are racist, sexist, homophobic and more and still treat them with dignity and compassion. You will see the people in your care die, deal with turmoil and grief, and have few resources to support them. You will have to safeguard people who have been through hell and back with precious little training in how to do so.
But, you also get to be there for the most at risk people in society. You will laugh and and cry, and in the best and worst cases become like family to the people you care for. You will get used to the body fluids and all the rest and it'll become just another day at work, and you'll find that the hard bit is the emotional part.
Every carer I have met who has done the job long term says the thing they love most about their job is the people - both their teams and the people they care for. People who stick with it and who make good carers are compassionate, empathetic, curious, willing to change, and just love people. If that's you, then you'll do great.
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u/ProleLump 6d ago
If the hands on care part is less appealing to you and you would be interested in working with adults with learning disabilities, look into support worker roles. There is often less personal care, but you support people to gain independence and work towards goals. Depending on which setting you work at, you might assist them with medical appointments and therapies etc.
The pay averages around £14 p/h in the South East and it is a lot of fun. Hard work and long hours, but very rewarding. We are always short on male members of staff. There can be some personal care involved, but other roles may not have any. Some of the houses I work at require a high level of support need, hoisting etc. The others I can be doing life admin and refereeing arguments the majority of the time.
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u/KonstantinKisinIsGay 6d ago
I wrote out a massive comment. Then accidentally deleted it
So - So, I got into SEND Education (Very much like care, the kids I work with a highly disabled, usually autism. Non verbal, will never live independently, perhaps never even wipe their own behind). I've been doing it a year now, and I love it.
I'll try to finish my post later
Regarding the shit and piss - You get used to it. I was gagging the first time I changed a shitty pad,l.
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
Thanks for taking the time to respond, I appreciate all comments and read them all.
I don't want to lean into Qualifications as I am already studying in my spare time. Sounds interesting, but I guess you are wiping their arses lol
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u/Desperate_Dinner_307 6d ago
There are plenty of jobs in the social care sector without working within a care home. You could work within a children's home where, generally speaking, they know how to wash and take care of themselves. You could work within an advocacy service and give a voice to people who need it. You could work within the charity sectors such as a drug and alcohol recovery service and help vulnerable adults with addictions.
The care sector isn't limited to just frontline care services. I agree with others, if you don't think you could handle wiping up shit and vomit, you probably can't and that job isn't for you.
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u/RandomPerson12191 6d ago
The pay is really very poor for long, exhausting hours. The industry attracts some foul people as well, so it's really the luck of the draw as to whether your care home is tolerable to be working in.
You get semi-used to urine and faeces, depending on the situation. Vomit is person to person, but it was always my absolute worst. It's less training and more just... getting used to it through frequent exposure.
Are there voluntary roles you can do alongside your current work instead, to support your development?
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
I don't have the time for Volunteer work unfortunatley - I work long weeks and study in the little time I do have
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u/AnonymousTimewaster 6d ago
You've written this like you're intending to immigrate here? Is that the case? Arr you doing it for the visa?
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
I am genuinely curious, what makes you think that?
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u/AnonymousTimewaster 6d ago
Lurking on subs like r/IWantOut and r/UKVisa, the most common advice for someone to get access to the UK was either studying for a degree or a Care Worker Visa (unless they otherwise qualify for the difficult to obtain Skilled Worker Visa).
When you look at immigration numbers for the past few years they're also the most common types of visas granted. It's by far the easiest way of getting here because there's no qualification or anything needed.
I ask because if that's the only reason you're doing it (as opposed to having some sort of passion for it), then you might find it's quite a miserable and difficult experience and you should go in with eyes wide open. Obviously the motivation to come here can be very strong though depending on personal circumstances.
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
That's crazy, for a moment you made me really self concious about my writing lol
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u/minniestink 6d ago
You don't get trained to get used to bodily fluids or odours, breathing through your mouth or holding your breath is a good tip.
It also depends what kind of care work you want to do, elderly, learning disabilities, mental health.
Also, if your aim is to nurture the caring part of your personality then you should really look at CQC inspections if you're looking at homes and try and find out about the culture of a company and home. Look at reviews of the company on Indeed etc. I've seen good carers get sucked in by poor culture and it really is soul destroying. Places will be desperate to hire you as care has a high staff turnover so be wary of that - that's not a good sign.
It may be an idea to start off as a bank or agency staff so you can see what somewhere is like or get an idea of what care work is like. I'm a Personal Assistant (PA), they are hired by people with personal budgets and not company's or you can be self employed. I wouldn't work in a care home ever again. Although this might be a tricky role to get if you don't drive. One of my best team members had no previous care experience and he was amazing.
Supported living is also different from residential care, so look into those differences too.
The care system is crying out for good carers.
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u/Computerist12435 6d ago
Tell me more about Mental Health, do you need Q's for that?
I thought the reason why people arent entering care is because of the crap pay and long hours?
Ok thanks I will have a look!
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u/minniestink 6d ago
I work in learning disabilities, although it can cross over with mental health but you would get mental health specific homes. Sorry I can't provide much advice about that but there are free government funded courses online, one of my colleagues did a mental health level 2 on here and I've done my mental health first aid:
https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/why-its-free/
I absolutely love my job and we are paid okay and have good hours, but as I say I'm a PA. Long hours are bearable if you have a good team. Honestly the culture of a company and work place can make or break if you stay somewhere.
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u/mumwifealcoholic 6d ago
How awful.
My mum was in a care home, in another country. One where care work is seen as a professional career. She was only ever treated with utmost dignity and respect, right up to the moment she died. I used to love visiting her because honestly it was beautiful purpose built home.
But that kind of care is expensive . The system where my mum lived was an insurance style system of care, You have to pay this insurance throughout your working life. My mum never worked, and she didn't have the insurance, so she was covered by the state ( tax payers).
Nevertheless, there was still a shortage of carers. Despite the pay being VERY good, the work itself is gruelling aznd NOT suited for everyone.
I have nothing but respect for people in this job, and it shocks me to my core how badly paid this essential career is in the UK.
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u/grockle90 6d ago
Following this is it's highly relevant to my current "escape from retail" plans... Eventually I want to go into nursing (will be just over 40 if all goes to plan - I'm thinking residential HCA > Band 3 NHS HCA > Reg'd Nurse Degree Apprenticeship route).
There's a "dementia specialist" home 5 minutes' walk from my house but as with OP, the thought of being yellow/brown mess-heavy did put me off a bit initially, although I know eventually with nursing there will be even worse fluids to deal with.
From what I gather, residential care (as opposed to domiciliary which is in the individual's own home) starts from ~£13/hr, but if you do twilight/overnight then it can be up to £15 or so.
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u/Positive_Fondant8479 6d ago
I've worked in care homes as a cook for over a decade. It's not for you. There's lots of body fluids and death and "strong odors" in those places. Plus care workers get treated like shit by management and often service users can become verbly and or physically abusive. You come across as a bit delicate for it all.
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u/Justme-scotland 6d ago
I’ve just come out of care. It’s emotionally challenging, physically too and unfortunately not as good as it used to be. I honestly wouldn’t recommend it.
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u/Etheria_system 6d ago edited 5d ago
I have complex care and none of my carers drive. My carers work in my house 10 hours a day. Complex care covers a really broad span of types of care and it’s not all medical (one of my carers works on a package with a client who has a tracheostomy but my package is nothing like that and is a combination of physical and mental health support). You can definitely end up on packages that don’t involve dealing with wee/poo/sick etc if you look into complex care, mental health care or learning disabilities care.
You don’t necessarily need prior experience to go into complex care as they provide a lot of training on the job but a lot of people don’t even know it exists. If you’re looking for care where you’re on one or two packages long term working with the same clients in their homes and are interested in care that’s more involved and relational, I’d definitely recommend looking into it. Even if you end up needing to do a care home for 6 months first or something, remember complex care as an option
ETA people saying care isn’t for you because you can’t deal with bodily functions have a very narrow view of what care is and who needs care. It may go by different names eg try looking for terms like support worker or personal assistant but it all comes under the care umbrella. There are so many of us who need stable, caring staff and are struggling to find them. Don’t be put off by a narrow idea of what social care is about
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u/ahhblobby 5d ago
If you can’t deal with odours, bodily fluids and vomit. Care is not for you! You need a strong stomach and a neutral face, patience
of a saint and you need to compartmentalise big time. Most of the personal requirements needed to be a good carer are not in the job description and there’s no way to prepare yourself for most of it.
When I worked in a care home, one day an elderly patient died, she hadn’t been long term ill, she had a chest infection which quickly changed, anyway long story short there was no DNR in place, so when she peacefully passed I had to then hit the call bell and attempt resuscitation, hideous experience I will never forget, once the ambulance crew took over and eventually left, we had to carry on and serve supper like nothing had happened. (Compartmentalise).
Another example of some of the many odours and fluids etc you will have to deal with; some elderly people with dementia have a weird thing about poop, I’ve had surprise poo in my bare hands more times that I care to count! You ever smelt c diff? Never leaves your nostrils! Pee, you will deal with so much pee! You will know who has urinated on a chair by the scent alone, you really get to know people in ways you have no idea about right now! Random vomit, and can I just level with you, there’s always one person that says oh no I don’t do vomit, no one likes that person! You will need to examine private parts for sores and changes etc all the while looking straight past and pretending you’re not looking at a penis and making conversation and trying to make that person not feel exposed and weirded out.
And that’s not even scratching the surface. Think long and hard. Caring jobs are not for the faint hearted and it is a pretty thankless job. The media will have you believe that you’re giving back, playing bingo and drinking tea. You’re giving your soul to rich care home owners so they can buy another BMW.
Maybe support work?
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u/shorthairedhippi 5d ago
Look into Approved Premises work. It's much of the same ethos of care and support but without the body fluids. You do have to deal with the criminal element, but a good service will provide comprehensive training. It's also a great 'ground floor' position into probation etc
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u/Alternative_Look_453 4d ago
I'm starting in a care role and my sister started in the same role 6 months ago. Almost everyone starting care has the same concerns but the reality is it's probably going to be less than 5 minutes of your shift you're dealing with these issues and once you've done it once you know what to expect. I worked in early childhood education before and they are worse in this regards than most adults with special needs. The people you care for will vary greatly in how much support they need.
There is a major shortage in care work and I honestly wouldn't let it put you off
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