Job Description
The concept behind being a Live-In carer is to ensure that all your clients needs are seen to, and to allow them to stay in their own home for as long as possible.
As a live-in carer you will be expected to assist the client with this, and your duties would be but not limited to:
- Nutritional needs of clients – all cooking
- Shopping
- Assisting with medication
- Personal care – bathing, showering, brushing of teeth
- Companionship
- Driving to appointments and activities
- General housework
- Recording of daily activities and medication administration
- Incontinence care
Responsibilities
As a Live-In carer you will be responsible to ensure your client has the best quality of life while they are still able to live in their own homes.
Your responsibilities will vary depending on the needs of the client. There are various care packages available:
Companionship:
Your client is still able but needs more of a companionship assistance – these duties would range from driving your client to various activities, appointments, cooking and general housework. You will have to keep your client entertained.
Companionship with personal care:
Your client has possibly got early onsets of dementia or Alzheimer’s and may at this stage be incontinent so will need assistance with changing incontinence pads, cooking, going to appointments, general housework and many need assistance with medication administration.
Advanced care:
Your client has advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s. These clients would be too scared to get into vehicles, sit on low chairs and have motor movement problems. They will be doubly incontinent so will need help changing incontinence pads, possible feeding, assistance with personal care, general housework, administration of medication.
Activities on the Job
As a Live-in carer you will need lots of patience, empathy and caring for vulnerable people be them old or young. As a carer, one may look after someone with a spinal injury, MSD, physical disabilities, or mental illness.
- Gather Information
Find out as much information on your client so it will assist you with topics to talk about, their illness and their likes and dislikes. You will have a client support plan in each home which will aid in this matter.
- Online training and information
In your down time take the time to read about your client’s ailments to help you better understand their situation. There are online courses that you can do on Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s Disease and many more. The more you know and understand the better equipped you are to assist your client.
- Create Meal Plans
Where possible include your client in the preparation of meals and try plan ahead by doing weekly menus.
- Track Client’s daily activities
You will have a daily logbook and a Medication Administration Record book where you have to document daily activities completed for your client and whether or not they have taken their medications. These logs are crucial as should something happen to you (leave / absence), the new carer can read them and understand at what point your client is. It is also vitally important to let your line manager know of any changes in your client’s health, behaviour, or activities so they know if they need to come out and reassess the situation.
Skills
| Communication | Must effectively communicate with your client and company. You are the eyes and ears for the company in the client’s home |
| Active Listening | Offering your full attention to an individual person in order to fully understand problems and their nature. |
| Patience | You will have to have immense patience to deal with your client |
| Empathy and caring | You will have to have an empathic and caring nature to be a carer |
| Nursing | For very advanced client’s a nursing degree may be required |
Working Conditions
You will be living in your client’s home and be responsible for your client Sunday to Sunday until your assignment is over. As it is private care, the homes you will go into will be well kept. Your assignment will vary client to client, and you could also look after couples.
How to become a Carer
To become a Live-in care in the UK you will need the following:
- The right to work in the UK – British passport, UK ancestral Visa, UK spousal visa or Graduate Visa with the right to work
- Prior care experience either on a personal level or professional level
- Valid drivers (not essential for all agencies)
- Clear SA police clearance
- Funds to get you to the UK
Salary
£ 88 TO £ 115 PER DAY
THE SALARY WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE NEED OF THE CLIENT AND WHETHER IT IS A SINGLE PERSON OR COUPLE
