From young children to adults with additional and/or complex needs, there are many vulnerable people in our society who benefit greatly from the support provided by an experienced and qualified support worker.
A reputable home should offer a wide variety of training opportunities for support workers to ensure that the highest quality services are consistently being delivered to service users. Whether you are leaving school or are looking to change careers and are interested in applying for care home jobs in Southampton, it is important to be aware of the different types of training that will help you to excel in your chosen role.
Before applying for any role in the care sector, it is important to first determine whether caring is the right career for you. It might be a good idea to do some voluntary work and there are a variety of resources available that can help you with this, including the NCVO who can help you to identify a suitable volunteering opportunity.
Once you are certain that becoming a support worker is right for you and you are willing to be checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), let’s explore the training you might need. Although many support worker roles don’t require applicants to have formal qualifications, it is important to demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of the social care and welfare system. Undertaking your own reading on the subject will help you stand out as a candidate but remember that you will learn more when you’re on the care home job.
Foundation Courses, QCFs, Apprenticeships  and Degrees
Many Southampton homes will provide support workers with the opportunity to undertake a variety of different training courses. In some cases, this could mean attending a local college or university for one day each week as you work towards achieving your qualification. In addition to induction courses, there are also part-time QCFs which cover subjects including health and social care, and care and management. Induction Training is comprehensive.
If you choose to do so, you could also study for a degree in a related subject once you have the qualifications and/or experience to meet the entry requirements.
The Care Certificate for Care Home Jobs in Southampton
The Care Certificate is comprised of a set of standards that all care and support workers must adhere to. These standards are set by Skills for Care and Health Education in England and include understanding your role, equality and diversity, communication, health and safety, privacy and dignity.
During your career, you might also be given the opportunity by your employer to take part in a range of other courses on specific topics such as conducting risk assessments, the safe handling of medication, and effective record keeping.
The career progression prospects for support workers are good and you can make a real difference to the lives of people in your local community.
