Care Officer and Senior Care Officer

A Day in the life of a Care Officer

SOME OF THE GOOD POINTS ABOUT THIS JOB

• There is a great deal of satisfaction in seeing a child developing their abilities and talents and knowing that you have played a part in that
• There is a good team spirit and a warm friendly atmosphere.
• There is usually plenty of laughter and fun going on
• It’s a responsible job with high standards to maintain
• Shift work, fits in with personal commitments
• You get to join in the activities that the children are doing
• Building up relationships with the mums and dads – they are a major part of our team
• Our countryside location is a lovely place to work

All the children and young people within our care have epilepsy and many have other complex neurological needs including autism. Some of our children are unable to communicate verbally and so express themselves in other ways such as by the use of a Picture Exchange Card System and Makaton. They live in houses around the centre which as far as possible mirror a normal home environment. All the houses have a lounge with a television and video, a quiet room for reading and playing games, a kitchen, laundry facility and garden area. The children’s bedrooms provide them with space to have privacy and time alone and accordingly we always knock before entering their rooms. All of the bedrooms are personalised according to the likes and dislikes of the individual. They are encouraged to have toys, belongings, pictures and photographs. The houses are all named after trees.
The meals for the children are cooked by the care staff, offering them a wide choice as well as considering their individual requirements and any cultural influences. The older children are encouraged to shop and assist in the preparation and cooking of meals.

Care Staff support the children on a one to one basis throughout the day providing assistance with intimate care, daily living skills and activities (organising and joining in the fun!). The children have 2 “key workers” who are named Care Officers who know the child and provide consistency and continuity for them.

In all that we do we aim to respect each child’s individual choice, dignity and privacy and show that we are sensitive to their needs. We encourage them to use and improve their skills so that they can achieve as much independence as they can in their daily living. For example, some of the young people take their own medication and are independent enough to travel on their own. We also have a wide range of activities both on and off the Centre. Regular access to the community is important to promote social awareness and integration. There are a variety of activities for them to do such as bowling, swimming or trips to the park.
The children, young people and their parents are consulted about their care, their likes and dislikes, plus their religious and cultural needs. This may include a desire to attend a place of worship. Where appropriate, young people are encouraged to recognise and acknowledge cultural differences within their environment.

All our houses have dedicated, hard working care officers. Joining our team means that you become a member of a highly motivated and professional multi disciplinary team.
Below is an outline of a typical working day for a Care Officer on Childcare.

EARLY SHIFT
We start work at 7.30 a.m. when we all meet up and have the handover – this is where we discuss things that are important e.g.: which child we will be caring for, their medical needs and any appointments the children have on the day. We are also allocated our jobs around the house for that shift.
The routine is to get the child out of bed and take them for breakfast. We prepare their breakfast and help them if needed. After breakfast we go back to their rooms and get their wash bag and clothes ready. We take them for a shower, wash their hair and get them dressed. Once the child is ready, we go back to their room and get their bags ready for school ensuring they have everything they need for the day. Then we tidy and clean their rooms and do any jobs around the house e.g.: laundry, washing up etc.
In school, the class consists of the teacher, two classroom assistants, 6 students and their care officer. It is the role of the care officer to sit with the young person and help them with their work in class. This can be quite repetitive and sometimes requires plenty of patience.

The class quite often goes out for trips in the minibus, perhaps to the park or shopping and the carer looks after the child they have been allocated to care for. One morning a week, there is horse riding or swimming for the children. Morning school finishes at 12:15 and the students are taken back to the house for their lunch. Again the carer sits with the children and staff. After lunch there is time for the children to relax until afternoon school. The care staff can use this time to tidy away the dinner pots and wash up. At 1.30 p.m. we go back to school. In the afternoon, we may go for a walk or swimming. In the swimming lessons the care staff generally go in the swimming pool with the children and help them do what they have to do. We then go back to school and have a drink and a break for 15 minutes. After this we do some work in the classroom, such as drawing, painting or cooking , dependent on how willing the child is. After school at 3.30 p.m. the child is taken back to the house and usually given a drink or a snack. The carer then hands the child over to the carer on the evening shift who will be looking after them. There is then time to fill in the paperwork which is just a brief record of what the child has done and how they have been.

EVENING SHIFT
One member of staff will be delegated to cook the evening meal; everyone else will get ready to take over the children when they arrive back from school. Usually the child will enjoy a quiet time after school and the carer will sit with them, helping them with whatever they choose to do. The evening meal is normally cooked in the home but some evenings there is a take away or a trip to McDonalds for a meal. After the meal, the young people take part in activities such as swimming, painting, creative play, soft play or visiting the Centre’s youth club. The child is then bathed and got ready for bed. The carer ’s then clean and tidy the house and complete any paperwork.

WEEKEND SHIFTS
Weekend shifts are much less structured and the children are allowed to lie in if they want. There is quite often a bus trip to the park or perhaps the seaside. The children still need all their personal care attending to and the jobs around the house still have to be done but the day is much more relaxed than an average school day. 

Day in the life of a Senior Care Officer

A Day in the life of a Senior Care Officer, Adult House
What is it like working as a Senior Care Officer? (SCO)
“No two days are the same. I have worked in all the houses all over The David Lewis National Epilepsy Centre and thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the job including the various shift patterns. I currently work at Alan McDougal House which houses 16 residents.

“As a SCO my main goal is to assist the residents/service users to lead as normal a life as possible and to get involved in outdoor activities such as Ten-Pin Bowling, local cinema, day trips and holidays abroad!"
“The training at the Centre has come a long way in recent years which has assisted in my achievement of NVQ Level 3. I now have the skills to be an assessor for other employees working their way through the NVQ Career Path.
“This is a very people orientated job. Much of my working day is based on the need to communicate with a wide range of people- the resident’s families, staff members and local fundraising initiatives. This is both challenging and rewarding.”

About our SCO:
Recently our SCO was involved in a fundraising activity which involved diving into a shark’s tank with the residents cheering her on! She enjoyed every minute of it, especially the £1000 she raised during the event.
Our SCO started work following completion of her college course in Home Economics and Family Care. After this she joined Saint Thomas’s Hospital in Stockport as a part time rehabilitation assistant for patients recovering from a stroke.