Domiciliary Care Worker Job Description & Duties

Domiciliary care is a very rewarding vocation for many people. For these people, a natural tendency to truly care about how their client feels and how well they do their job will make all the difference. But it takes a combination of a desire to care for others, passion for the job, a level-headed attitude and a practical skill set for a successful career. Read on to find out more about the job and how you can apply to become a domiciliary care worker and make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Domiciliary care worker job description

A domiciliary care worker is a paid care professional who visits people in their own homes, helping them to continue living independently. Everyone is different and so the level and amount of care can vary, depending on the clients’ needs. The client might be someone who needs a paid carer one hour a week or for several hours a day — the amount of time needed varies. It can also be temporary — some people might need a care worker while they recover from an illness, and in other cases the care is long-term. Some domiciliary workers work nights for those who need round-the-clock care.

Working as a carer in the home involves:

✔ Personal care
✔ Assisting with household tasks
✔ Accompanying the client on visits to the doctor or hospital

One day you could be assisting someone with mobility issues, the next you could be helping care for someone with dementia — so the work is varied.

What are the duties of a domiciliary care worker?

A domiciliary care worker’s role is focused on the individual and their different needs, so the duties are diverse, which helps to keep the job interesting and increases job satisfaction and motivation.

Duties can include:

• Administering medication
• Making meals
• Helping with personal care such as washing, dressing, hair, nail, mouth and skin care, and eating and drinking
• Escorting clients to an activity or a medical appointment
• Chatting and engaging with relatives and providing care updates
• Companionship — communicating and taking an interest in your client’s needs
• Errands such as shopping
• Helping with household tasks, including gardening, cleaning, household maintenance, washing clothes, doing the weekly shop or making the bed
• Assisting with paperwork such as paying bills

How much is a domiciliary carer paid?

The average salary for domiciliary care is £16,164, full time.

ENA is a market-leading payer — the pay reflects the high level of service our clients receive from the best care team. Carers go home feeling very tired, but knowing that they have done a worthwhile job — enabling people to stay in their own homes and allowing them to be independent.

How to become a domiciliary care worker

It is vital to have a full, clean UK driving licence, and access to your own car. There usually aren’t any requirements to have academic qualifications such as degrees, A-Levels or GCSEs, but first aid skills and an NVQ in Health and Social Care (levels 2 and 3) are preferable. This would prepare you to work with clients living with dementia and learning difficulties.

You’ll also need background checks, such as a criminal record check and a medical check, through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). And work experience is important, so volunteer work will be valuable.

There are also apprenticeships available, where you start as a care assistant to gain experience and train on the job.

As a domiciliary care worker you will have some training on the job in health and safety and food hygiene. You also have to complete a 12-week induction to make sure that you meet the national minimum standards of care in the UK. This scheme includes:

• Equality
• Inclusion
• Safeguarding
• Health and safety

What are the benefits of working as a domiciliary care worker?

Working in domiciliary care can be a rewarding job that can lead to a long-term, stable career.

Take a look at these benefits:

✔ Making a difference in people’s lives feels good! Caring for people is fundamentally important and a huge privilege.

✔ You won’t be stuck at a desk in an office: you’ll be able to visit different people in different locations.

✔ It’s a sociable job. You will establish friendships and enjoyable relationships as you get to know your clients personally and chat during your day. Yes, it’s hard work being a carer, but there will also be moments where you are sitting down chatting to a client with a cup of tea, and getting paid for it!

✔ The training you will be given and the skills you will gain will help your own family.

✔ Your days will be varied — this prevents you from feeling bored with the work.

✔ Flexible working arrangements to fit around your lifestyle.

✔ Opportunity for career progression with transferable skills.

✔ Ongoing training and qualifications. Although you don’t need qualifications to become a home carer, you can gain them on the job, working towards degree-level qualifications.

✔ You get to talk to people from different walks of life and gain a different perspective.

How to apply to become a domiciliary care worker with ENA Care

ENA Care has the highest standards, so we make sure that the domiciliary carers we employ are the best. Our rigorous recruitment processes, including on-the-job supervision and background checks, ensure that we find people who are the right fit for ENA Care.

To find out more about working for ENA Care Group, please call 01707 383 033 or email recruitment@ena.co.uk.