A career in the care sector is renowned for being one of the most rewarding jobs you can do, and for many good reasons. Being a carer means you are able to make a real difference to peoples’ lives on a daily basis – from cooking their favourite meal to making sure they are safe in their own home.

While building a unique connection with your customers is an essential part of being a carer, there are many additional benefits of working in the care sector that can enhance your personal and professional life. If you are considering a career in care, read seven of the best reasons to become a carer today.

Why become a carer?

1) Being a carer is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do

Working in the care sector is an incredibly rewarding job, so it’s no wonder that it is one of the most commonly spoken about reasons to be a carer. Everyday you will be making a difference to someone’s quality of life, supporting them to remain living in their own home, independently. Being a carer can be challenging for a number of reasons, but when the person you are caring for smiles at you as you walk through the door, or begins to open up to you over a morning cup of tea, you will know you are making someone feel truly valued.

2) Flexible working hours

One of the biggest benefits of working in the care sector is the flexible care work that is on offer. While you are required to provide care for your customer for the length and time of your assigned job, you are also able to choose the amount of time you work for and how much you have off inbetween jobs. If you have children off during school holidays or you are studying for your care qualifications, the flexibility of being a carer means you can fit work around your other commitments.

3) Training and development opportunities tailored to you

While care qualifications you have already obtained are going to be beneficial for a care role, you don’t always need to be fully qualified to work in the care sector. Most employers provide on-the-job training to make sure their staff have all of the necessary skill-sets to do the job in hand. There are also often many opportuinities to work towards further care qualifications, such as an NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care. Depending on your career goals, NVQs are available up to level 7 for managerial care staff.

4) A range of perks…

Many care roles come with a range of employee perks alongside the benefits of flexible care work and opportunities for professional development. These often include:

• Competitive pay
• Carer and ongoing training
• Diploma in health and social care
• £130 welcome bonus
• Paid holiday entitlement
• Pension scheme
• Free uniform (if applicable)
• Company paid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service)

5) No two days are ever the same

One of the most exciting aspects of working in the care sector is the variety of the role. Being a carer means you will constantly be introduced to new people, new environments and new challenges. This level of diversity will help you to develop skills in adaptability and provide a more personalised care service – no two customers will ever be the same!

6) Real job satisfaction

As well as being among the most rewarding jobs you can do, being a carer also provides true job satisfaction. Providing care for someone on a regular basis allows you make a real difference to someone’s life, particularly when you are supporting someone who is living with a condition that requires a wider range of more complex care needs. Whether it is making sure someone is taking their medication correctly or ensuring they make it to their doctors appointment on time, knowing you have done your best for your customer will provide you with a sense of job satisfaction rare in most other professions.

7) Providing piece of mind for family members

Although the person you are caring for is your main responsibility, being a carer means you are able to provide extra piece of mind for their family. If you are providing 24 hour live-in care, you may pick up on issues that arise before family members are aware. Feeding this information back to your customers’ loved ones is invaluable, as issues like decreased appetite, increasing confusion or irritability can often be signs of a more serious problem. If your customers’ family have decided to take a holiday, they can rest assured that their loved one is safe in your care.

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