To work in care is to make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. Adult Care Workers need to have the right values and behaviours developing competencies and skills to provide high quality compassionate care and support.

Overview

They are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives, which is at the heart of person-centred care. Job roles are varied and determined by and relevant to the type of service being provided and the person supported. Adult Care Workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings. This Apprenticeship covers both Adult Care Workers and Personal Assistants. Personal Assistants do the same job as an Adult Care Worker and work directly for one individual,l usually within their own home. Working with people, feeling passionate about supporting and enabling them to live a more independent and fulfilling life, is a rewarding and worthwhile job which provides excellent career opportunities.

Key skills they will develop

The job you have to do, your main tasks and responsibilities. The tasks and responsibilities of your job role are relevant to the context of the service in which you are working. This could include supporting with social activities, monitoring health, assisting with eating, mobility and personal care:

• Professional boundaries and the limits of your training and expertise
• Relevant statutory standards and Codes of Practice for your role
• What the ‘duty of care’ is in practice
• How to contribute towards the development and creation of a care plan underpinned by the individual’s preferences in regard to the way they want to be supported
• How to identify, respond to and escalate changes to the physical, social and emotional needs of individuals
• How to access, follow and be compliant with regulations and organisational policies and procedures
• The importance of having the right values and behaviours
• How to support and enable individuals to achieve their personal aims and goals
• What dignity means in how to work with individuals and others
• The importance of respecting diversity and treating everyone equally
• The importance of communication
• The barriers to communication
• The impact of non-verbal communication
• The importance of active listening
• How the way you communicate can affect others
• About different forms of communication e.g. signing, communication boards
• How to find out the best way to communicate with the individual you are supporting
• How to make sure confidential information is kept safe
• How to support individuals to remain safe from harm (Safeguarding)
• What abuse is and what to do when you have concerns that someone is being abused
• The national and local strategies for Safeguarding and protection from abuse
• What to do when receiving comments and complaints
• How to recognise unsafe practices in the workplace
• The importance of whistleblowing
• How to address any dilemmas they may face between a person’s rights and their safety
• How to promote health and wellbeing for the individuals you support and work colleagues
• The health and safety responsibilities of the self, the employer and workers
• How to keep safe in the work environment
• What to do when there is an accident or sudden illness
• What to do with hazardous substances
• How to promote fire safety
• How to reduce the spread of infection
• What a risk assessment is and how it can be used to promote person-centred care safely
• How to work professionally, including your professional development
• What is a professional relationship with the person being supported and colleagues
• How to work together with other people and organisations in the interest of the person being supported
• How to be actively involved in their Personal Development Plan
• The importance of excellent core skills in writing, numbers and information technology
• Where and how to access specialist knowledge when needed to support the performance of the job role

• Occupational Summary (Detailed)

The main tasks and responsibilities according to your job role:

• Support individuals you are working with according to their personal care/support plan
• Ask for help from an appropriate person when not confident or skilled in any aspect of your role
• Provide individuals with information to enable them to have a choice about the way they are supported
• Encourage individuals to participate in the way their care and support is delivered
• Ensure the individual knows what they are agreeing to regarding the way in which they are supported
• Contribute to the ongoing development of care/support plans for the individual you support
• Support individuals with cognitive, physical or sensory impairments
• Treating people with respect and dignity and honouring their human rights
• Ensure dignity is at the centre of all work with the individuals you support, their families, carers and advocates
• Demonstrate all work is person-centred, accommodating the individual’s needs wishes and preferences
• Demonstrate empathy (understanding and compassion) for individuals you support
• Demonstrate courage in supporting people in ways that may challenge your personal/cultural beliefs
• Communicating clearly and responsibly
• Speak clearly and exhibit positive non-verbal communication to individuals, families, carers and advocates
• Use the preferred methods of communication of the individual you support according to their language, culture, sensory needs and their wishes
• Identify and take steps to reduce environmental barriers to communication
• Demonstrate you can check for understanding
• Write clearly and concisely in records and reports
• Keep information safe and confidential according to agreed ways of working
• Supporting individuals to remain safe from harm (Safeguarding)
• Recognise potential signs of different forms of abuse
• Respond to concerns of abuse according to agreed ways of working
• Recognise, report and challenge unsafe practices
• Championing health and wellbeing for the individuals you support and work colleagues
• Promote the health and wellbeing of the individual you support
• Move people and objects safely
• Demonstrate how to reduce the spread of infection, including use of best practice in hand hygiene
• Demonstrate the promotion of healthy eating and wellbeing by ensuring individuals have access to fluids, food and nutrition
• Demonstrate how to keep people, buildings and yourself safe and secure
• Carry out fire safety procedures when required
• Use risk assessments to support individuals safely
• Recognise symptoms of cognitive impairment, e.g. dementia, learning disabilities and mental health
• Monitor and report changes in health and well-being for individuals you support
• Working professionally and seeking to develop our professional development
• Reflect on your own work practices
• Demonstrate the development of your skills and knowledge, including core skills in writing, numbers and information technology
• Demonstrate your contribution to your development plan
• Demonstrate your ability to work in partnership with others to support the individual
• Identify sources of support when conflicts arise with other people or organisations
• Demonstrate you can work within safe, clear professional boundaries
• Show you can access and apply additional skills required to perform the specific job role competently