Care Assistant Review

As a care assistant, I spend my work days caring for the elderly, the majority of the individuals I care for have Dementia making the role a little more challenging. It is my role to offer person-centered care, each individual has completely separate needs and preferences to how they are cared for. It is my duty to provide the best care for these individuals, this often involves me assisting an individual with eating and drinking, moving in and around the home, this could be by hoisting in and out of chairs and beds, using wheelchairs and Zimmer frames. A lot of our customers are incontinent and will need assistance in the bathroom. I also assist customers with washing and dressing.

I have learned so much since I began my journey with Anchor, I have been of three training courses up to date, all of which I have learned so much. I have become very confident in providing care and learned a lot regarding person-centered care. For a long time I believed everyone that suffered from Dementia was cared for in the same way, I now recognise this as being incorrect. After going on the Dementia awareness course I have begun to notice a positive change in how I work in the home. I spend a lot more time focussing on alternative activities for the customers and try to chat to as many people as I can for at least 5 minutes a day. After going on the moving and handling training I recognised a lot of wrongdoings in the home, I myself would have put into practice if I had not gone on the training. In previous work, I have been shown the appropriate ways to move and handle people and objects and I went onto the course with some knowledge. I did learn a lot on the training on how to move and handle individuals of different sizes and mobilities.

I haven't been happier for a very long time, I go into work every day with a smile and leave with one. I'm not saying it doesn't have it's challenging moments, I have already been in quite a few uncomfortable situations but even on the days when I've had an unpleasant experience I soon get over it. It's such a pleasure to work for Anchor, they offer an incredible amount of support and I know if ever I have an issue they will support me the best they can.

I believe the programme is very well organised, it's nice to have some flexibility on deadlines but to have a visual structure of when things should progress by is important. I know not to worry too much if I am a little behind on things knowing that I am struggling I can speak to my managers and find a way of completing the task that suits us both.

I personally don't feel I need support in the workplace as I have settled in very comfortably. I have asked for and been supported with my course work. I had worried about time restraints and was reassured promptly. The company offers an incredible amount of support for so many different things and I feel grateful going forward in this position that Anchor is by my side the whole way.

I have expressed my concerns regarding course work and have been offered more than enough support. The support that has been provided was surrounding my concerns with my course work. I had my work looked at and was reassured I was providing appropriate answers and I am working well. I was also provided with information for support lines for anxiety.

I feel going through the qualification while working is an incredible way for myself to engage in the role. I feel I can put what I am reading about into practice and what I am learning practically then transfers onto paper. Often I have been in a situation either it be while I am working or while I am studying when I have used the other to assist me in the task at hand.

Having not been in the workplace for very long I have not yet noticed any ongoing extra-curricular activities but I would be very interested in becoming involved with and even organising some. I have a few hobbies that I have found I share with a few colleagues and would enjoy spending the time in such activities along side work.

Yes

I have such a pleasant welcome from Anchor, the home I work in is lovely. I honestly haven't been happier in a long time. I look forward to going to work, I feel I can be myself and not judged for it. I really like the people I work with and the residents I look after.

Ask as many questions in your first couple of weeks. There's so much to learn and I'm sure the person you're shadowing has heard the same question a million times but honestly, they will answer you and if they can't then you've both learned something new.