How To Become A Carer

Are you looking to start a career as a care worker but are not sure where to start? With decades of experience in Health and Social care and relevant care training, we’re experts in helping people learn how to become a carer and reach their full potential in the sector.

What do carers do?

Carer roles can be very diverse. Some carers may support fairly simple tasks such as housework or shopping, to help care for someone who is still living largely independently. In other cases, carers may take on more involved responsibilities, such as assisting with personal care (like feeding, bathing and bathroom trips) or administering medication.

Because the role is so varied, there are hundreds of pathways to becoming a carer. You could be a care worker in social care, home care, advanced care or even live-in care, with the potential to work in all areas with the support of our team of experts. Read another of our blogs to find out more about a day in the life of a carer.

Skills needed for care work

While by no means exhaustive, here are some key skills we think help to make a great care worker:

• A passion for care and wanting to improve the lives of service users regardless of their circumstances.
• A positive, friendly attitude and willingness to help.
• Ability to use initiative and knowing when to ask for support.
• Happy to work alone or part of a team.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of a variety of conditions and illnesses.
• Respect for the homes and lifestyles of service users.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and have tact when dealing with sensitive situations.

A Guide to Carer Qualifications

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Care Worker?

Though desirable, you don’t require any qualifications or experience to become a carer with Abbots Care. We feel the most important qualifications you need for becoming a carer are the passion and desire to care and support others. There are some qualifications which can help enhance your experience and support you in becoming the best carer you can be.

Care Certificate

For anyone new to care, the Care Certificate is the basic training you’ll need to have within roughly the first six months of employment with Abbots Care.

The Care Certificate is a nationally agreed set of standards that outline requirements that all Health and Social Care Workers are expected to be trained in before providing care unsupervised. The Care Certificate is based on 15 standards, which all Care Workers must demonstrate their full knowledge and understanding of before the certification can be awarded. These standards include:

• Understanding your role
• Your personal development
• Duty of care
• Equality and diversity
• Working in a person-centred way
• Communication
• Privacy and dignity
• Fluids and nutrition
• Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities
• Safeguarding adults
• Safeguarding children
• Basic life support
• Health and safety
• Handling information
• Infection prevention and control

Any new Care Workers we employ will be trained in the Care Certificate by our fully qualified and competent trainers. They will support and encourage Care Workers to complete the Care Certificate in full and ensure a full understanding of the standards is met.

NVQ for Care Workers (Level 2)

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) have been replaced by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The NVQ for Carers (Level 2) is now known as a QCF Level 2 Diploma in Care. At Abbots Care Limited, we encourage progression and allow all carers to aim to achieve this qualification, with our support, if required.

Level 1, 2 and 3 Qualifications

Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications are fantastic for demonstrating you have a great background knowledge of care. They act as a foundation to the rest of your learning, and your capability will increase as you move onto a diploma or equivalent.

First Aid Training

It may be beneficial to already have some form of first aid training under your belt, but if not, don’t worry as we can cover this as part of our in-house training. 

Our fully qualified trainers are on hand to provide initial training prior to starting to Care, and then yearly first aid training, and specialised courses and diplomas (once the Carer has passed Probation) if you would like to continue to develop your learning. 

This is fully funded by Abbots Care as part of our commitment to make a difference.

How to Become a Care Worker with No Experience

Your path to becoming a Care Worker has to start somewhere, so why not start with us? Our fully qualified, highly experienced, and competent care and management team can support and provide you with:

• In-house training and support throughout your journey with Abbots Care.
• Navigating the many learning and development pathways available to you, such as diploma in Health and Social care, or more advanced training including mental health, dementia, and end of life care, along with numerous others.
• Promoting and encouraging progression within the company; there’s always a next step with Abbots Care.
• A variety of work, such as social care, home care, advanced care and live-in care; with relevant, industry-recognised training and qualifications.
• Any support you’ll need whilst out in the community.

How to Become a Carer with Abbots Care

1. The first step is getting in touch. Contact us on 0330 094 5511 for a chat with our recruitment team, or browse our current jobs.
2. If you have the dedication, drive and passion we’re looking for, then we’ll invite you to an online interview. We’ll work with you and support you to make sure you achieve the qualifications required, such as the care certificate, and ensure you meet the competencies and high standards we expect.
3. Once your initial training is complete, you’ll be partnered with a more experienced carer to follow them while you get to grips with your role.

Carer Training with Abbots Care

At Abbots Care Limited, we provide full training in-house. This includes:
• All 15 standards to complete the Care Certificate.
• Training in medication, manual handling, basic first aid, safeguarding, fire (and if applicable epilepsy, PEG, catheter and stoma).
• A huge range of additional training courses including mental health, challenging behaviour, autism, and advanced dementia.

Benefits of working as a carer with Abbots Care

Not only are we a family-run, person-centred care provider, but we also offer superior support and rewards to our valued carers. We offer salaries above the market average for care worker jobs. We’ll also support you through your training, offering you the chance to specialise in the area of care you have a particular interest in. 

Our friendly, experienced team are here to support and train you to become the best care worker you can be. Find a carer job with Abbots Care today.