Introduction
Social care is one of the fastest growing areas of local
government service provision, and one of the most challenging but
rewarding. It provides a range of services critical to the welfare
of a large number of the most vulnerable members of our society:
the young, disabled, older people, the unemployed, single parents
or carers, and children and families involved in adoption and
fostering. Residential workers add an extra dimension to this
responsibility - having to work with those at risk and with special
needs on a full or part time basis. They are employed by all types
of local authority and voluntary agencies like Barnardos, private
organizations and specialist employment agencies.
Work Environment
Residential workers are primarily based in children's homes,
respite houses, and elderly residential care homes. There is, as
always with social care work, the potential for danger and distress
in that the people being looked after may be vulnerable, depressed,
disabled, unstable, drug dependent and sometimes challenging:
affected in some way due to personal difficulties. Most do not
'live in', however some have 'sleep in' duties.
Daily Activities
At the core of the residential worker's responsibility is the duty
to provide 'individual care and help to create a happy, safe and
stimulating environment for the people who live at the home. This
involves either visiting, or living in, a range of homes or hostels
where children, teenagers or adults with special needs, or older
people live. This can include working with people with learning
disabilities, mental health problems, or dementia.
In children's homes they monitor the child's particular needs
and give them personal, emotional and social support: by providing
sporting, creative and leisure activities, setting boundaries to
behaviour, ensuring their safety and acting as a good role model.
They may also help to find families for children to live with and
help them settle into family life. Also, they will help young
people who are about to leave formal care to prepare for the world
outside and the demands of independent living. They will contribute
to recruitment training and support of foster carers, volunteers
and independent visitors. With adults, residential workers
provide support for residents by assisting with personal care tasks
and daily living, supporting them to lead fulfilled lives with a
sense of well being. Some help them to claim benefits, to budget,
to participate in leisure activities and develop their social and
personal skills.
In all cases the care worker will listen, talk, encourage,
sympathise, advise and support with choices without losing sight of
the need to be professionally objective. Residents are helped to
find interests which will stimulate them and are encouraged to take
up hobbies even though the care worker may not share their
particular enthusiasms or interests they would be supportive to the
individual to ensure they achieve their desired outcome. Each
day, the care worker will work closely with other professionals
including doctors, psychologists, teachers, nurses, probation
officers, colleagues and outside agencies like The Child Poverty
Action Group, Age Concern and Barnardos. They also try to develop
links with residents' families and the local community so that
residents can take part in local events.
Residential workers have supervisory responsibilities to the
Registered Manager, and can sometimes contribute to the induction
of new staff.
Skills & Interests
The care worker needs to have a genuine interest in people and so
must have:
- a capacity to relate successfully to children, young people,
families and/ or adults from different backgrounds and cultures and
win trust and respect;
- sensitivity;
- compassion;
- patience;
- tolerance;
- good communication skills;
- an understanding of equal opportunities and other appropriate
legislation;
- the ability to cope with demanding and stressful situations and
the expression of challenging behaviour, including verbal and
physical abuse;
- the maturity to be able to help people face painful and
distressing problems;
- an insight into one's own personal values;
- as regards children: an understanding of the role and
responsibilities of a statutory child care agency and of children's
residential regulations.
It is also useful to be flexible, open-minded, able to cope with
change and work as part of a team.
Entry Requirements
In Wales, people working in this area are expected to meet the
regulatory requirements, this involves:
- adhering to the Code of Practice for Social Care
Workers;
- undertaking induction training (specified through Sector Skills
Council) normally within 6 weeks of commencing
employment;
- complete Health and Social Care Qualification and Credit
Framework award at diploma level, as appropriate for service user
group (children or adults) and any additional specified training as
required for their role;
- child care residential workers are required to be registered
with the Sector Skills Council, this may also be required in future
for Adult Care workers.
It is possible to enter residential work with relevant
experience in, for example, voluntary work, or paid work with
children, young people and/or vulnerable adult groups.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
Rapid career progress is possible and qualified care workers can
move into senior workers and/or the management of residential homes
or into other areas of social work. This is a growth area of social
service and residential workers will be expected to continue
learning and extending their skills after gaining the relevant
qualification.
Further Information & Services
British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk
Care Council for Wales www.ccwales.org.uk
Community Service Volunteers www.csv.org.uk/socialhealthcare
Health and Care Professionals Council www.hpc-uk.org
Skills for Care and Development www.skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk
Skills for Care www.skillsforcare.org.uk
Social Care Association www.socialcareassociation.co.uk
The College of Social Work www.collegeofsocialwork.org
The Open University has produced an interactive resource
exploring a day in the life of a social worker:
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/social-care/social-work/try-day-the-life-social-worker
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.