A day in the life of a care worker

Grantley works in a residential home for adults with learningdifficulties. Today his shift started at 7am, helping the clients to get up and dressed. Some clients just needed a word of encouragement and a reminder of what they need to do, others needed a lot of help with their personal hygiene needs, bathing and toiletting etc. Grantley also helped to give out the medication prescribed for some of the clients. Grantley then assisted the clients to have their breakfast enabling them to chose what they wanted to eat and drink. Grantley works with other carers in the team and they all helped to plan the day. One client needed help going to do their banking, another to go line dancing, another getting to an appointment with a doctor.

Grantley then went to the line dancing class and after it finished he and the client enjoyed a cup of tea together in town. They planned a shopping trip to buy the client's brother a birthday present next week before returning home for lunch. Grantley filled in the necessary paperwork about the class and visit to town, making sure he completed the details of the financial transactions that had taken place.

After lunch Grantley recorded the menu details and assisted those clients who needed help with their personal hygiene needs. Grantley's shift finished at 2pm and before leaving he said goodbye to the clients and staff.

Sue had been a part time cook in a restaurant for many years. She found that her experience in working with people, her knowledge of food hygiene and producing a balanced diet stood her in good stead for residential care. For many years whilst her children had been growing up she had managed to organise her work and home life and these skills also helped her in her new job.