Domestic Staff

ddub11

Hi guys ,im looking if anybody has any information/experience even opinions here.
Iv been offered a position in a nursing home for the elderly as a domestic.
Iv never done this type of work before and was wondering if anyone has experience in this line of work and what they can tell me about it?

Whats the work like and hours?whats it like working in such an environment?
Any opinions or thoughts welcome.
Thanks.

DoozerT6

What exactly do you mean by domestic staff? Do you mean working in the kitchen preparing meals, perhaps serving them to patients, or do you mean cleaning duties? Was this not clarified to you at interview stage?

Either way I imagine it means shiftwork, which will involve early mornings and possibly evening work too.

If your work involves direct contact with patients prepare to have your heart filled to bursting, in both good and bad ways.

ddub11

DoozerT6 wrote: »

What exactly do you mean by domestic staff? Do you mean working in the kitchen preparing meals, perhaps serving them to patients, or do you mean cleaning duties? Was this not clarified to you at interview stage?

Either way I imagine it means shiftwork, which will involve early mornings and possibly evening work too.

If your work involves direct contact with patients prepare to have your heart filled to bursting, in both good and bad ways.

TBH its a new home so at the start it would involve a bit of everything ,kitchen ,laundry ,serving food etc.

Problem is i have two job offers and that was the first offer the other is in printing (what i do but no over keen to go back to)but the printing is better hours no weekend and better money.

I was just trying to get an idea of what a days work was like for a domestic worker in a nursing home.It would help me in trying to decide which job to take,me brain is fried trying to decide.

dhaughton99

They will work you like a dog for €10:50 an hour and probably a zero hour contract. A lot of these nursing homes are exploiting their workers. They know that they can keep getting the staff when others leave. Other thing is that only a certain type of person can stomach it.

DoozerT6

Working in a nursing home is very hard work, especially if you are physically caring for patients, although it sounds like you won't be doing this as such (although if you are serving food you may have to actually help the residents to eat depending on their level of independence, as in spoon-feed, cut up food, assist in other ways, as you might do with a young child). It's manual shiftwork, you'll be on your feet most of the time, and I'm guessing it won't be much more than minimum wage. Do you have a FETAC qualification, manual handling, etc? or will that all be sorted out once you start?

TBH the printing job sounds like the better option but if it's a change you're after, and you think another job in printing might come up in 6-12 months if you're unhappy, why not try a change of scene in the nursing home?

Be aware though, that with direct patient contact, you will inevitably see a deceased resident in the NH due to the nature of the job, so to speak. It may be someone you had become very fond of, and you would have to deal with that.

ddub11

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Working in a nursing home is very hard work, especially if you are physically caring for patients, although it sounds like you won't be doing this as such (although if you are serving food you may have to actually help the residents to eat depending on their level of independence, as in spoon-feed, cut up food, assist in other ways, as you might do with a young child). It's manual shiftwork, you'll be on your feet most of the time, and I'm guessing it won't be much more than minimum wage. Do you have a FETAC qualification, manual handling, etc? or will that all be sorted out once you start?

TBH the printing job sounds like the better option but if it's a change you're after, and you think another job in printing might come up in 6-12 months if you're unhappy, why not try a change of scene in the nursing home?

Be aware though, that with direct patient contact, you will inevitably see a deceased resident in the NH due to the nature of the job, so to speak. It may be someone you had become very fond of, and you would have to deal with that.

Have manual handling,people movement certs and that,s all id need as im not a carer.
Any idea of the type of shifts they do ?hours wise is it 8hrs or 12 hrs ?do they do weekends on every weekend or every 2nd weekend?I know i should ask these questions at the interview but when i asked what were the hours they weren,t to sure them selves,just saying i wouldnt be working late nights but would work weekends.
Was kinda looking at a change but im a bit worried if i dont take the print job now i wont get the chance again (at them hours and pay rate)while i was thinking if i took the print job and didint like it after six months i could look at getting into the care home work as theres seems to be more opportunity's,s in that area of work.

ddub11

dhaughton99 wrote: »

They will work you like a dog for €10:50 an hour and probably a zero hour contract. A lot of these nursing homes are exploiting their workers. They know that they can keep getting the staff when others leave. Other thing is that only a certain type of person can stomach it.

Its 9.50hr.....money is crap but was thinking the work might be different ,as in not stuck in a factory all day.
Just trying to get an idea of what its like working in a care home for the elderly.

You,r rite not everyone can stomach it and that,s one of the issue,s i was concerned about.

Dubs1990

ddub11 wrote: »

Have manual handling,people movement certs and that,s all id need as im not a carer.
Any idea of the type of shifts they do ?hours wise is it 8hrs or 12 hrs ?do they do weekends on every weekend or every 2nd weekend?I know i should ask these questions at the interview but when i asked what were the hours they weren,t to sure them selves,just saying i wouldnt be working late nights but would work weekends.
Was kinda looking at a change but im a bit worried if i dont take the print job now i wont get the chance again (at them hours and pay rate)while i was thinking if i took the print job and didint like it after six months i could look at getting into the care home work as theres seems to be more opportunity's,s in that area of work.

Normally 12 hour shifts all depends on the company, definitely weekend shifts , also you have to think of Christmas as they will be open aswell .

dhaughton99

Go for the print shop. At least you might have some way of getting ahead within the company and have some kind of future and might be interesting. Anyone who I knew that went to work in these places, left after a few weeks. The homes know that they can get foreign labor easily to exploit. There’s 4 of these homes that are after getting planning permission in Clondalkin. A growth industry and all owned by ex HSE managers.

ddub11

dhaughton99 wrote: »

Go for the print shop. At least you might have some way of getting ahead within the company and have some kind of future and might be interesting. Anyone who I knew that went to work in these places, left after a few weeks. The homes know that they can get foreign labor easily to exploit. There’s 4 of these homes that are after getting planning permission in Clondalkin. A growth industry and all owned by ex HSE managers.

judging by the wages they pay that sounds about rite.
There a 120.00 euro a week difference in the wages in the printers favour.

When i say that out loud its a no brainer decision.

Cockadoodledoo

Still undecided?

I really don’t think the grass is greener on the other side with the N.H job. I know you like the idea of a change but I really can’t see it being any better especially with less money and unsociable hours.

I’d still pick the printer job. The N.H jobs are more common and you could always leave the printer job if it really didn’t suit you and head down the N.H route.


At the same time, I’d hate for you to just settle for the better option when you don’t really have an interest in it.

Out of curiosity.... what is your dream job? If you could pick anything and start next Monday, what would it be

ddub11

Cockadoodledoo wrote: »

Still undecided?

I really don’t think the grass is greener on the other side with the N.H job. I know you like the idea of a change but I really can’t see it being any better especially with less money and unsociable hours.

I’d still pick the printer job. The N.H jobs are more common and you could always leave the printer job if it really didn’t suit you and head down the N.H route.


At the same time, I’d hate for you to just settle for the better option when you don’t really have an interest in it.

Out of curiosity.... what is your dream job? If you could pick anything and start next Monday, what would it be

The job is with a private nursing home.

As far as my dream job is thats a great question.

I,ll be honest with you i grew up in the 80,s and just getting a job was a challenge so ye took what was available and i fell into printing,and as stupid as it sounds i have never been able to decide what i wanted to do with my life career wise.

Thats something iv always regretted and still do today ,i admire people who have a career plan and how they have goals career wise.

So whats my dream job,if i could go back and change things i think a career in the emergency service be it guard,fireman,ambulance man would be a fulfilling job.

On a side note i have friends who work as general ops in the council and its the handiest job you can imagine,thats something id love to get into now but will never happen.

Cockadoodledoo

Interesting that you mention about the 80’s and taking what was available. Tbh that’s why I asked what your dream job was. I got the impression that you are still in that 80’s frame of mind

You could still follow that dream route in some form e.g. the emergency call centre (dealing with the 999 calls) or volunteering with the order of Malta or a similar group and get stuck into it outside of work.

I think you said you were 50 on the previous thread? Apologies if I’m wrong but if that’s the case there is still 25+ years to go in terms of employment. Don’t settle for second best until you retire when there is still plenty of time to chase the dream.

Edited to add: of course you have to survive in the meantime so my vote is still on the printer job lol.

But I really think you should explore what you would love to do and see where it takes you.

ddub11

Cockadoodledoo wrote: »

Interesting that you mention about the 80’s and taking what was available. Tbh that’s why I asked what your dream job was. I got the impression that you are still in that 80’s frame of mind

You could still follow that dream route in some form e.g. the emergency call centre (dealing with the 999 calls) or volunteering with the order of Malta or a similar group and get stuck into it outside of work.

I think you said you were 50 on the previous thread? Apologies if I’m wrong but if that’s the case there is still 25+ years to go in terms of employment. Don’t settle for second best until you retire when there is still plenty of time to chase the dream.

Edited to add: of course you have to survive in the meantime so my vote is still on the printer job lol.

But I really think you should explore what you would love to do and see where it takes you.

Ye i do agree with you im still in that frame of mind.

And thats why i come on here to get peoples opinions because im not as open minded as i,d like to be and i like to hear thoughts and opinions that i may not have.
And im prepared to hear things i may not like to hear.

Cockadoodledoo

It’s time to go wild! Do a parachute jump!!

I genuinely wish you the best and please let us know how you get on with whichever path you choose. Just remember, If it’s not the right path then there’s always another path