Is it right not to ask care workers for qualifications when they will be dealing with vulnerable people?

Question

I've got the same problem as peanut. I am a national Spanish Philosophy and Literacy degree holder but I am working as a care worker at the moment because I have not been living in this country for that long and I need to go through a PGCE course to qualify as a teacher in the UK. This job is just tiding me over and the problem is I am getting sick of getting blood money for the job. I do not know what I am going to do (I think they are going to give me sack) but it is very important for me to be able to sleep at night (they have been bulling me, but I am not afraid because I know I am in the right).

Answer 1

In that case, is it not right to pay them more than a pittance? The reason that you don't get well-qualified care workers, is that local authorities and care homes won't pay wages that will attract qualified people.

Answer 2

I worked in a group home with people who suffered from mental disorders. My qualifications was zip, zilch, none.

They did a back ground check and a drug test. I took a C.P.R. class which lasted I think 4 hours or so, and the same thing for first aid training. I had a two day class training on how to pass out meds and document it. At that time I had taken a couple of psychology course's, but that is not enough to say that I am qualified.

After working for 4 months they bumped me up to assistant manager. The catch was I had to go to a different setting. I didn't know any better and took the position. They threw me into the job with no training expect for a booklet I was suposed to read while at work. The one client that I worked with suffered from bi-polar disorder. I got stressed out because I didn't know how to handle her nor did I know my position. I passed the wrong meds and turned myself in, although I could have covered it up like other workers have done.

There is no need to ask a care worker what qualifications they have because they truely don't have qualifications, just experience working. The pay sucks and these places are always hireing. The only people that have qualifications are the nurses and psychologists that come in once in awhile.

As far as I am concerned some of the workers that I have seen at a certain group home should be living in one themselves. Not all but alot of the workers treat the clients horrible. Picking and teaseing, calling names and trying to aggravate the clients.

Something disturbing... An assistant manager now the manager of the group home was giving a bath to a client who digs into her skin sometimes right down to the bone. The client started picking and the managers method was to turn the shower on her to distract her. She would scream and cry. It worked for a minute but I thought it was not the right thing to do. I handled it much different. I would distract her by talking to her. She didn't understand why her skin was black on the outside and pink inside.

Anyhow I tried to report this worker and all I got was keep your mouth shut if you want to keep your job. I saw people pass wrong meds or at the wrong time and cover it up. I gave up reporting people because all I got out of it was harassment from the management.

Answer 3

No. My brother lives in a care home and we have huge problems with care staff - they are paid really badly and the really good ones don't stay long and then they get replaced by unqualified people and the level of care falls dramatically and the residents really suffer. We're talking about people's quality of life here and rights to at least a basic standard of care. Often the residents are unable to speak up for themselves and ensure that basic things like clean clothes, being fed properly and medical issues and treatments are dealt with properly and they end up suffering in silence. Because they are so vulnerable they need qualified, well trained and caring people to look after them. Better working conditions and pay would go a long way to helping with this so the residents get better continuity of care and their needs met enabling them to have a good and comfortable life.

Answer 4

no its not right did think if you were working in the care of the vulnerable that you should have been vetted now I know why the care of the vulnerable isn't up to standards and think if you are only working there to get through another qualification and don't care about the so called people you are there to care for whilst you use the system I'm not surprised now why I removed my mum from a non caring Care home

Answer 5

Absolutely, If you were in a vulnerable state would you want say a garbage collector caring for you? I think not.In any place we in trust others with the care of loved ones, be it a child or an invalid relative they should want to know that that person has at least minimum qualifications for the job.

Answer 6

I worked as a support worker for adults with learning disabilites.
All i was asked for was a police record check. Apparently a basic knowledge of the english language wasn't necessary as one lady i worked with couldn't understand what our client (A middle aged lady) was saying (and vice versa)
By the way, I'm well educated and have much experience in this field of work. Not all support and care workers hate their jobs and inflict abuse on clients!

Answer 7

Qualifications needed nil,pay bad,the usual police check on applicants then if the get in bother later no checks.Any one can get a job even if they are straight of the boat.

Answer 8

its your right 2 ask go 4 it

Answer 9

I would have thought they should be qualified, but I don't know if it's required by law.

Answer 10

my dad died 2 months ago because of a poor care worker