What Qualifications Do I Need To Become A Carer?

The qualifications that a carer would need depend on the preferred area of the carer. For example if one wishes to take care of elderly patients then one would need to have done a basic course in first aid as well as preferably should have prior experience like working in a nursing home or a hospital.

If one feels that one could take care of children then one should preferably have worked before in a school, crche or even as a counselor which would enable a person to deal with any difficult situation if they arise.

A professional carer is somewhat similar to a handyman and qualifications needed could be a driving license, ability to cook, ministering duties like giving of medicines and administering injections as well as performing some small tasks depending on requirement. In some cases a medical nursing course offered by several universities in the UK is a requisite qualification.    

Before you consider committing yourself to studying ,you need to experience caring.Also finding the right place to start i.e a care home,there are many different services offered by homes such as EMI,NURSING or just a retirement home.Working in a hospital or day centres etc.Although caring is rewarding its also challenging and hard work!.Start with first aid,manual handling  and maybe palliative care etc.Then if its the career you want look into NVQs in health and social care.Once you have achieved them you will Be able to look at other courses,management and maybe degrees!!!.

Generally the most important qualification you need to be a carer is a willingness to care for someone else and to respect and maintain their dignity.  It is possible to work as a carer with very few formal qualifications, although some care agencies prefer at least some kind of qualification in English and perhaps mathematics, but this is not always the case.  Carers often have to write up case notes and so it is important that at least some basic English can be written.

It is possible to work for a National Vocational Qualification in caring, so whilst working as a care assistant you would also be expected to do some studying and use experience gained whilst at work to put theory into practice.  This is a useful means of earning whilst studying and as you progress through the various stages of the NVQ you would be able to build up qualifications which you can then take on to  another more senior post.