Social Care
Help people get more out of their lives and get more out of your own
Helpline
0300 123 1100
What is social care? Meet some social care workers
Lisa Kirkby - Homecare Assistant
"At the moment I'm working a double-handed ‘put to bed' round three evenings a week, plus some weekend afternoon rounds. On the evening rounds I'm working with a colleague going into people's homes to help them settle down for the night. They are unable to walk unassisted so it needs two of us to manage their moving and handling, and provide personal care.
I've been doing care work for 7 years, first on a casual ‘bank' system and now on a permanent basis with a local council. I have two children at school and the hours fit in well with my husband's work. I get a lot out of it. For some of the people we visit, their carers are the only people they see every day, so you build up a bond with them. You're helping them maintain a greater degree of independence and have a better quality of life.
As the kids get older, more options will open up for me in terms of when I can work and the kind of work I do. I'm getting training and qualifications as I go along. I've done other jobs, but I can see myself carrying on with this right through until I retire."
Lisa did a variety of jobs, including managing a car hire office, before she started a family. She came into social care work because the hours suited her family commitments. While she has worked the training offered by her employer has taken to her to NVQ level 3 in health and social care.
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