People who need care - but choose to remain in the comfort of own home - can be helped to carry out their daily personal living by a home carer.

Once a person’s needs have been assessed, agreed and written down, it will be a home carer’s job to look after the person in their home, and to help them live the life they have chosen to lead.

This might include daily visits to care for a person, helping them with the day-to-day living needs and making their lives more comfortable.

The sorts of tasks you might be involved with include helping a person to get out of bed in the morning, or putting them to bed at night, personal hygiene such as washing, dressing, and using the toilet, giving medication and monitoring health conditions. It might include preparing meals and drinks or even running errands. Sometimes, light cleaning is also part of a home carer’s job.

 

 

Qualifications

A level 2 intermediate diploma, or apprenticeship in health and social care, is desirable for a home carer. But is not always essential, as they may be given the opportunity to progress towards their qualification whilst working.

Diplomas are the current qualifications in health and social care, which have replaced NVQs, but some workers still hold NVQs which are still valid. In the case of a home carer, they may hold a level 2 NVQ.