Care home practitioner

You would provide care and support to adults living in care homes and help them lead happy and fulfilling lives.  

Your work would involve supporting someone to complete daily tasks and leisure activities. You might also take an active role in organising and reviewing someone’s care – this would be as a key worker.

You would be responsible for writing support plans, which describe how someone wants to be cared for.  

Everyone you support would have different personalities and preferences. You’d make sure each person’s support plan was accurate, up to date and individual to them.       

There are different groups of people you could work with. Most care homes support older people but others might specialise in supporting younger adults. 

Depending on the people you work with you would: 

• check each person’s needs and keep records of their progress 
• review support plans and find ways to improve someone’s care 
• create a safe and positive living environment 
• provide personal care, such as helping people wash, go to the toilet, dress and eat 
• arrange leisure and creative activities 
• promote opportunities for people to learn new skills 
• help with daily living skills such as shopping and dealing with money 
• liaise with people’s families and arrange family and home visits 

You would work in a team with other health and social care professionals. You’d also work in partnership with other agencies including the NHS and local authority. It will be important to maintain good relationships with family members and carers. 

Most positions will pay an hourly wage, though some may be salaried 

With experience, you could be promoted to a care service supervisor role and lead a team or manage a budget.