|
Job title
Currently Acting Senior Team Leader - Older People's Service, Kent
County Council.
How did you come to be working in Social
Care?
I started making cups of tea and serving cake
as a Saturday girl in a local nursing home and gradually got more
and more involved.
What is your working pattern?
I work 30
hours a week. 2 days on the rota as duty team leader. This is a
long shift where I start work at 2pm and work through until 2.30pm
the next day sleeping in the home overnight. I spend the other 2
days off rota to do my office.
How long have you been working in this
role?
I have been a team leader for 4 years but have been seconded into
my acting post for the last year.
Could you briefly describe a "typical"
day?
It depends if I'm on the rota or on an office day. When I am on the
rota I take handover from team leader who is going off duty and
then handover with the care staff. I check diaries, deal with
General Practitioners and Duty Nurse's on behalf of our service
users and often meet with related professions such as Care
Managers. I dispense medication, order prescriptions and ensure
there are enough staff in the building to meet our registration
requirements. I also review care plans with residents. Every day is
different and these are only some of the tasks. Effectively the
role does a bit of everything from being hands on with service
users to number crunching. It is just a matter of priorities!
What is the best thing about your job?
Working with people who are so interesting and the role varies day
to day. Older people are often forgotten and they need support to
be heard.
My ambition for the future
To become a
registered manager and manage a unit for long term or short term
care.
How would people get into this sort of
work?
You need to be 18 years old to undertake any 'personal care' tasks.
For the majority of jobs an NVQ level 2 would be an advantage but
it is possible to start work in a direct care role without this. To
become a team leader an NVQ level 3 is usually required.
The Facts and Figures
Salary: This depends on the company that you
work for but a team leader working full time in local government
might earn around £26000 - this would be pro rata if working part
time.
Hours: 30 hours per week
Annual leave: 25 days (pro
rata) |