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Looking after vulnerable people and helping to maximise their quality of life in the face of old age, illness and disability is an incredibly important and responsible role.
While knowledge and experience are very important, the most exceptional carers are often those who also have extremely good people skills and who integrate our values in the way that they deliver care each day. As part of our induction, we ensure that everyone new to the team understands and lives our vision and core values, which affect everything they do. We have also aligned the qualities required of our carers to our Canford Healthcare values.
Core skills of exceptional care workers
To develop effective teams, we need a mixture of care workers with complementary skills, which may include one or more of the following:
Clear communication skills
You will need to be able to read and write clearly in the language used by the service. Being a good listener is also essential. Interacting successfully with people from different backgrounds with individual (and often complex) needs is not always easy. Listening attentively to them, explaining what you are doing and asking their permission will help to forge a healthy and happy relationship. Clear communication with colleagues ensures that all residents receive an excellent level of care.
Strong interpersonal skills
The ability to work effectively on your own as an individual or as part of a team – whatever is required in a particular situation – is a highly desirable skill. This means being able to get on with the job under any circumstances and communicate clearly with all parties concerned, especially where conflict is involved or where people exhibit behaviours of concern.
Good organisational skills
Working in a care home requires planning and co-ordination with the rest of the team to ensure that residents receive their medical and personal care, nutrition and activities. You will also have to manage your own time and know how to prioritise tasks, sometimes when requirements change at very short notice. There’s a lot to remember, too, about the health, capability and needs of each resident – so being well organised is vital.
Problem-solving skills
Carers work in an increasingly complex industry. They must be able to think on their feet, always being alert to changes in a resident’s symptoms and behaviour so they can head off potential health problems before these become more serious. The ability to find solutions to resolve issues and challenges efficiently and effectively is very valuable.
Team skills
To develop an effective team, we require people who enjoy working as a team member under direction. We also need those with good leadership and organisational skills at all levels to create a constructive environment and enable colleagues to feel engaged, motivated and focused on the vital job in hand – delivering high-quality care to society’s most vulnerable people. A big part of leadership is about ‘walking the walk’ – consistently demonstrating good work practices and thereby positively influencing the quality of care throughout the home.
Proficiency with a smartphone
Most people nowadays can easily use computers, printers and other equipment. But for us, the ability to use a smartphone is essential because all our homes are digitally equipped. We pride ourselves on using current technology – not only to deliver care but also to free up time for more! You will need to be able to keep in touch with families, colleagues and professionals, especially in emergency situations.