Working in social care

Amie, Kerry and Pearl describe their experiences as social care apprentices.
 

Video transcript

Amie: Would you like a drink Joyce?

Joyce: I wouldn’t mind a drink

Amie: You wouldn’t mind a drink?

My placement is with Turning Point, and I work at Alfred Deller Court. My job involves supporting Joyce; taking her out in the community and doing things with her; and making sure that you’re happy (Joyce) is the main thing, isn’t it.

Joyce: Yes

Amie: Yeah

Louise: From the individual’s point of view, they’ve benefited hugely, there’s lots of different activities that they’ve been able to do, because we’ve got the apprentice.

Kerry: I work for All Seasons Care Services, which is domiciliary care within the community. All my previous job roles, have been either sales or administration. And then decided I’d had enough of sitting on my bum all day and wanted to do something that could actually help people.

Maria: I’m Maria Cursons, I’m Development Manager and I work for All Seasons. Being the Development Manager, willing to develop the business in different ways and thought that this scheme would offer that perfect opportunity and help someone come into care and thoroughly enjoy it.

Interviewer: And what do you have to do?

Kerry: Just go round to client’s/people’s houses; go in, do there personal care, domestic care, make their food, if they want food. I think I was worried I would be quite lonely, but I’m not all because of the clients. They’re really nice and you get with them when you talk to them.

Pearl: I go to college once a month, at West Kent College, and I have my NVQ Assessor come and meet with me once a month.

Linda: All the information she needed, in terms of her NVQ pathway had been agreed and the college dates. And it, really, was down to me then to sort of integrate her in to the home. I meet with Pearl regularly, it’s really, we’re all trying to work in partnership to support her.

Pearl: It’s informal you know, it’s, your assessors and the people here ain’t like Mr. or Mrs. they’re more friendly. It’s like they’re your mates, even though they’re are older of course and that.

For getting a qualification and for getting experience, it’s like your being paid basically for work experience. I’m so glad that I have done this because it’s given me insight into what the job is actually like.

Kerry: It’s given me the experience I need, it’s given me the chance to almost boost my confidence with meeting new people.

Amie: I want to become a support worker after I’ve finished my apprenticeship and then I want to work hard to become a project worker.

Pearl: Even if you don’t want to like, pursue it as, like, a career, there’s always something you can come back to because you’ve gained a qualification.

Amie: When I come to work I make a difference. I make a difference in people’s lives and help them to go out and experience new things. I think that’s the best thing, that you get job satisfaction out of this job.