Care Assistant job confusion

panda100

I applied recently for a job as a care assistant in a nursing home. This was the descrption :
'Duties to include assisting residents in a nursing home with general day to day activities to include feeding, dressing etc. Applicants be competent in the English language. Must be interested in partaking in activities in our rehab/ABI unit. Experience in AB I care essential. Applicants must have Fetac Level 5 qualification. '

So basically a care assistant is general dogsbody to the nurse, and doing a lot of the sh*tty feeding and cleaning jobs noone else wants to do. It is work that I love doing as you get to create a bond with people.

Anyways, I went for an interview yesterday and it wasn't really what I expected. My experience and qualifications go far and beyond the roles of care assistant I know this and they focused on this a lot in a positive way.

The head of the nursing home asked me at one stage If I would make a good leader? I was a bit stumped as I hadn't really prepared anything along those lines as it was just for a care assistant position.

I just recieved a phonecall from them this morning asking If I would come in tommorow and meet with the head of staff,who has a psychology degree,to further interview.

This all seems a bit much for the position Im going for? I've worked as a care assistant when I was in college and they let any Tom,Dick and Harry do the work. I'm starting to think that there may be another position that they think I applied for?

I'm really unsure at what to expect from this pscychologist tommorow now.
Does anyone have any advice or tips on what to prepare for? Or what is the usual procedure for care assistant positions

mrpink6789

sounds like they have you in mind for another position, thats why they were changing the interview structure away from the care assistant role. Definitely go in and see what they have to say. I suppose since they haven't indicated what the other role might be there is no way to prepare properly but since you are meeting a psychologist i would expect questions like "how do you get on with people", "cope with pressure" , "motivate people" etc.

Best of luck,

LadyMayBelle

panda100 wrote: »

So basically a care assistant is general dogsbody to the nurse, and doing a lot of the sh*tty feeding and cleaning jobs noone else wants to do.

I know you said you love doing the work but I don't think you should have described it as that, I work as one at the moment, I enjoy it, and don't se myself as being a dogsbody as I try take pride in my work. And at any time me or someone close could end up being the service user and I wouldn't like someone to see the work as that! Just saying, might be nitpicking, but again, just saying.

Moving on...

Maybe they have you in mind for a co-ordination role? One of the last jobs i had as a PA/care staff position I got thrown into being the co-ordinator for a small group of people, didn't mind, just involved doing rosters, liaising with families and making sure the clients met their goals?

They are getting pickier about who they employ though in nursing homes, i just had a chat yesterday with my housemate who said their nursing home is going through that HIQA accreditation or whatever, and their staff are meant to be of a higher standard...I dunno..
Good luck though.

panda100

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

I know you said you love doing the work but I don't think you should have described it as that, I work as one at the moment, I enjoy it, and don't se myself as being a dogsbody as I try take pride in my work. And at any time me or someone close could end up being the service user and I wouldn't like someone to see the work as that! Just saying, might be nitpicking, but again, just saying.

I apologise,I didn't mean to cause offence,I was just thinking of the easiest way to describe the role. However, you are completely right. The work care assistants do is vitally important and they should be treated with the utmost respect. In many places I have worked before they are not treated as an equal member of the team so hopefully it will be different in my new job

LadyMayBelle

How did you get on anyway??

panda100

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

How did you get on anyway??

Yep got it,and am managing the ABI unit. I'll be over the staff,in charge of activities, liasing with the families etc, so while they advertised it as assistant it was more of a managerial role.
Should be good craic,looking forward to it First day Monday!

Ashlawn House

So basically a care assistant is general dogsbody to the nurse, and doing a lot of the sh*tty feeding and cleaning jobs noone else wants to do

Maybe you shouldn't bother coming in Monday then if that is the way you feel.

Wishbone Ash

Congratulations on getting the position.

panda100 wrote: »

So basically a care assistant is general dogsbody to the nurse

The ratio of nurses to HCA's is much lower in private nursing homes than in hospitals. Although nursing homes are legally obliged to have a minimum number of nurses on duty, many keep it to the bare minimum. As a result, the HCA's in these homes have a lot more to do. In some nursing homes, there may be only one registered nurse on duty and he/she will spend much time doing what others may not qualified to do, e.g. dispensing medication, liasing with doctors, filling patient notes et.

Remember, if something goes wrong, the nurse will be deemed responsible and has to carry the can even if the mistake is made by the HCA. The nurse can be struck off the register. AFAIK - there is no such register for HCA's.

panda100

Ashlawn House wrote: »

Maybe you shouldn't bother coming in Monday then if that is the way you feel.

Hi Ashlawn House, I hear you have a great facility In Nenagh.
I have only worked as a care assistant in Hospitals before this when I was much younger and underestimated the importance of their role in Nursing Homes as Wishbone House pointed out.

In the hospitals where I worked I did the menial jobs that the nurses did not want to do. I appreciate now that care assistants in residential nursing homes have an extremely important role not only in the physical but also the social and emotional well being of the client.

I apologise for my poor job description of the role but I wrote it at a time when I didn't rully appreciate what the role entails.

LadyMayBelle

Ashlawn House wrote: »

Maybe you shouldn't bother coming in Monday then if that is the way you feel.

I believe Panda100 corrected herself and apologised for her remarks so maybe we can cut her some slack.

Congrats on your new job, it's exciting and challenging. Well done xo

Columbo

Congratulations on the new job Panda100. Good to hear a good news job story...

rose.a

hey.... i have an interview tomorrow for care assistant in nursing home!!!!

if you guys have any tips or advice....any thing at all...i would really appreciated it.

reetu

Hi guys

I am new to this forum.

Currently i am doing fetac level5 care assistants course and making my 1st assignment in care support.

Can somebody please share their experience in nursing home? preferably first, second day experience, how start, and the experience in nursing, the residents you cared, etc...

please help

thanks