The role of a Care Assistant: duties & responsibilities
The role of a Care Assistant can be challenging but is ultimately highly rewarding. Care Assistants provide care for people who require additional support, enabling them to continue to live independently for as long as possible.
If you’re interested in the role of a Care Assistant, why not skip ahead and apply for one of our positions at Alina Homecare today? It’s easy to apply and only takes two minutes! You don’t need any previous experience as we provide all the training you’ll need.
No two days are the same as a Care Assistant. From popping in for a chat to providing a valuable lifeline, you’ll make a real difference in our client’s lives. Read our guide to the role and responsibilities of a Care Assistant to find out more today.
What is a Home Care Assistant?
A Care Assistant, sometimes called a Care Worker, is someone who provides help and support to one or more clients, either in a care home or in their own home.
They work on the frontline of delivering care, enabling people to overcome everyday challenges. Care Assistant duties can vary but tend to include Personal Care, Domestic Care or providing valuable Companionship Care.
As a Home Care Assistant, each care visit varies in length depending on a client’s needs. Some clients require assistance with daily tasks such as attending appointments or helping with tasks around the home. Some clients require more specialist care for conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s or after a stroke.
All Care Assistants have a duty of care and respect to all their clients. As a Home Care Assistant at Alina Homecare, you’ll get to know the people you provide care for well. This includes their likes, dislikes and individual needs. No matter what, it is the responsibility of a Care Assistant to maintain client’s dignity and their right to respect at every visit.
Ultimately, the role of a Care Assistant is focused on enabling clients maintain their independence. Many elderly and vulnerable people prefer to stay at home for as long as possible. Home is often where we feel most safe and comfortable. Care Assistants play a vital role in making this possible.
5 key duties of a Care Assistant
The role and responsibilities of a Care Assistant are diverse. No two days are the same. What they do on a daily basis depends not only on the client’s needs but also their interests. A Care Assistant job description revolves around helping clients with daily tasks which may be difficult for the client to complete alone. Duties also include providing emotional support to improve clients’ overall wellbeing.
Care Assistant duties also differ depending on whether they choose to work flexibly or become a Live-in Carer, where they move in with a client or couple to provide continuity of assistance.
The duties of a Care Assistant involve a mix of practical and emotional support. For this reason, it’s difficult to list them all. However, here’s a list of five key duties of a Care Assistant:
The job description of a Care Assistant is broad as different clients have different care needs. The role and responsibilities of a Care Assistant vary depending on these needs. Some may require Companionship Care or help with everyday household tasks. Other clients may require more specialist care for conditions such as Parkinson’s, dementia or Multiples Sclerosis.
Ultimately, the duties of a Care Assistant revolve around providing person centred, high quality care to the client. To find out more about what the role of a Care Assistant entails you can read what Gary, a Recruitment Manager at Alina Homecare, describes as the main duties and responsibilities of a Care Assistant:
What’s included in a Care Assistant job description?
A Care Assistant job description often includes a summary of what you’ll be doing, your responsibilities and any necessary requirements. It’s important you read through the job description when applying for a Care Assistant job as it can help you understand what’s expected of you and if you’ll be the right fit for the role. Here’s some more information about the different elements of a Care Assistant job description:
Care Assistant job description – summary
Most Care Assistant job descriptions begin with a summary of the position and its role within the company. Typically, they include the main activities and responsibilities of the role and the type of person the company is looking for. Important requirements are also included within the summary.
Some may include additional information, such as who you’ll be directly reporting to. They allow the candidate to easily identify whether they’ll be the right fit for the role. It’s important to read through this before applying to avoid wasting your time if you don’t meet the requirements.
Care Assistant job description – responsibilities
Following the summary, the responsibilities of the role are typically listed. Most Care Assistant job descriptions include responsibilities so that the candidate can understand what is expected of them on a daily basis. It’s understandable that the role of a Care Assistant varies from client to client. Because of this, most companies just include the main responsibilities.
Here are some typical responsibilities included in a Care Assistant job description:
Care Assistant job description – requirements
Next, the requirements for the role are often found within the Care Assistant job description. This may include education, previous experience or certifications that are necessary for the role. They may also include any soft skills and personality traits that the successful candidate will need to have, such as being a good listener or highly organised.
Before applying for a Care Assistant job, it’s important to read the requirements to make sure you have the right skills and experience to be successful in the role. Here are some typical requirements found in a Care Assistant job description:
Comparing the duties of a Home Care Assistant vs a Care Home Assistant
If you are considering becoming a Care Assistant, you’ll likely have questions about the role. For instance, what kind of environment would you work in? Typically, this is a choice between visiting clients in their homes or working in a care home.
Although the duties of a Care Assistant can be very similar in a care home and the home of the client, working conditions can differ significantly. Consider the following points when choosing to become either a Home Care Assistant or a Care Home Assistant.
Here’s what Laura, a member of our Home Care Team who previously worked in a care home, says about the differences between these working environments:
What do Care Assistants do on a daily basis?
The daily routine of a Care Assistant changes each day, depending on the clients they care for and their needs. What Care Assistants do in the morning can differ from what they do during the day and in the evening.
Here is what a typical day may look like for a Care Assistant:
Why become a Care Assistant?
Many people want their work to have meaning. A Care Assistant role makes this possible. You’ll have a direct, positive impact not only on the person you are caring for but on their loved ones too.
Here are five reasons to become a Care Assistant:
At Alina Homecare, we value all our Care Assistants and are proud of the quality care they provide each day. Therefore, we offer a range of benefits including 24/7 wellbeing support, big discounts on top brands and paid holiday. Watch the following video to find out what it’s like to be a Care Assistant at Alina Homecare.
What skills are needed to become a Care Assistant?
We all want a job that makes a difference. Bring your caring and happy attitude and we’ll teach you the rest! If you’re wondering if you’d make a great fit for the role, here are some common skills you’d need to fulfil the duties of a Care Assistant:
To become a Care Assistant at Alina Homecare, all you need is a willingness to learn and good communication skills. Most of our roles require a driver’s licence and access to a vehicle to be able to travel between clients’ homes. If you can’t drive or don’t have access to a vehicle, contact our Jobs Team to find out if your local branch has any walking vacancies.
We will provide you with opportunities to learn new Care Assistant skills and develop your current ones, helping you to be successful in your Care Assistant role.
Can you be a Care Assistant with no experience?
You don’t need any qualifications or previous experience to become a Care Assistant at Alina Homecare. You just need to pass an enhanced DBS background check and have the right to work in the UK.
When starting your new role, you’ll receive advanced training through our Alina Homecare Training Academy to help you fulfil the duties of a Care Assistant. This includes everything from learning about our quality standards to understanding specific conditions such as dementia. Once you start, there is also the opportunity to pursue ongoing training such as an NVQ Level 2 in Health & Social Care and diplomas in the health and social care sector.
Is a Care Assistant the same thing as a Support Worker?
A Care Assistant provides care for people, often who are elderly. They enable them to live more independently for as long as possible. This often involves duties such as helping clients get ready for the day, doing daily tasks and providing companionship.
Support Workers work with people with disabilities to help them achieve their goals. This can also include similar tasks such as Personal Care, but can include support for people to access education, acquiring new skills and social interaction.
There is some level of overlap between the roles and responsibilities of a Care Assistant and the duties of a Support Worker. Although each role is different, they are both equally rewarding!
What is the average salary for a Care Assistant?
According to Total Jobs, the average salary of a Care Assistant in the UK is £19,078 [1]. At Alina Homecare, we’re proud that many of our Care Assistants earn more than this.
Your salary varies depending on different factors. This includes where you live, the hours you choose to work and the type of contract you have with us. To learn more about how much you could earn, we recommend chatting with our friendly Jobs Team.
Not only do we offer competitive pay, but at Alina Homecare we provide great perks and benefits for all our Care Assistants. This includes access to our rewards programme where you can receive big discounts on top brands, paid mileage and a refer a friend bonus! Apply now to start earning great pay.
What opportunities are there for career progression?
At Alina Homecare, we are dedicated to your career progression. Many members of our Team have developed and grown successful careers with us.
We offer our Teams the chance to work towards an NVQ or diploma whilst working for us. This can lead to a Senior Care Assistant role, as well as a Care Coordinator and Supervisor job. After gaining quality experience, we also offer managerial positions where you can run your own branch.
How to apply
Applying for one of our Care Assistant roles at Alina Homecare is easy and will only take two minutes. We don’t require a CV or a cover letter, but this can strengthen your application. Read our Care Assistant CV template and Care Assistant cover letter guides to find out more.
We have many new and exciting opportunities available, so we suggest chatting with our friendly Jobs Team to learn more about the roles we currently have available. They can answer your questions and provide a job description.
If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to have an interview. To stand out from the crowd, read our Care Assistant interview questions and answers to help you prepare.
If the role of a Care Assistant sounds like a great fit for you, apply today!
References
1. Total Jobs, “What is the Average Salary for Care Assistant Jobs?“, Reviewed 22nd May 2023
