What makes care rewarding?

Arguably one of the most talked about advantages of working is social care is how fulfilling the role is. The opportunity to change someone’s life for the better is sure to put a smile on your face, too. If having a job that sends you home with a sense of satisfaction is what you’re looking for, then it’s worth considering a role in social care. 

The sense of fulfilment isn’t the only reason so many people find care rewarding. Though it’s one of the main attractions, it’s combined with several other benefits that are often overlooked. 

The sector and future social care employees could benefit from everyone having a better understanding of the rewards that come hand in hand with a social care role. With that in mind, we thought we’d clear up a few myths and bring together our favourite reasons for choosing a career in care. 

So, why the misunderstanding? 

There are a few reasons why social care hasn’t been appreciated for how rewarding it can be. The media play a strong role in forming impressions, as does the news and other televised documentaries, which hasn’t helped to build an accurate picture.

When the media focuses on the negatives and dismisses the role's significance, it’s not surprising that the rewards are often unclear. Anyone who takes the first step into a care career will see the benefits, but for the sector to truly thrive, it needs to attract applicants who appreciate the opportunities available. 

Another portrayal that has caused some difficulty for social care is that it’s often seen as an untraditional role for men. The rewards of care are just as true to men as they are for women. The misguided perception that the work isn’t for men denies half of the population the chance to progress in a satisfying career. 

Men requiring support would undoubtedly benefit from having more men in social care, especially when many would likely feel more comfortable around a male carer. Frontline work isn’t the only option within the sector too, there's a role in marketing, catering, HR and IT all providing excellent benefits. 

What makes care rewarding?

To say that a role in care is rewarding without getting specific is also one of the reasons that many people are unaware of the benefits. Identifying the rewards helps people understand whether or not care would be a suitable role for them to pursue. Not only that, it can give you a better understanding of the kind of work environment to expect and it highlights the skills that are appreciated and required. 

A love for supporting and caring for others could be the basis for a career in social care, however, it’s not the only attribute that plays a part. There are also pragmatic decisions to be made; the demand for care is only likely to grow and not diminish, meaning a job in care is a safe and stable prospect. 

Let’s dig into some specific reasons as to why care is so rewarding. 

Flexible Working 

Choosing a career within the social care sector means you don’t have to narrow your options or make too many compromises with your time. Care roles often come with flexible hours and shift patterns, meaning it’s highly likely you’ll find a position that suits your timetable. 

Frontline carers often work in shifts. This means, you can take shifts that fit around your other responsibilities, whether studying or childcare. Within social care, it’s possible to find the balance to pursue a career without compromising on your other life choices. 

Many skills in social care are transferable, which also allows you to stay flexible. It’s worth noting that there are different roles within social care that may suit your skillset or lifestyle better. Care can revolve around dementia care, elderly care or supporting those with disabilities, to name a few. Each specialization has its own challenges and the rewards will differ slightly depending on your skills and character. 

Diversity 

If we’re being honest, it’s often the monotony of the daily grind that can make a job seem unappealing and dissatisfying. Working in a frontline care role, no two days are the same. The tasks often bring variety, but the most importantly, it’s the people. 

Interacting with a variety of different people daily brings you into contact with some amazing characters and entertaining stories. As you adapt your care process to best suit the individual, you’ll feel the benefit of the jokes, the wisdom and the life experience stories that will enrich your life in a way you can’t replicate elsewhere. 

It’s not just the day to day that’s diverse, there are many different opportunities and roles in social care to mix things up even further. If you’re not giving care directly, you can still contribute to the betterment of people’s lives; keeping services and systems running effectively behind the scenes is vital to delivering the best quality of care possible. Social care as a whole can draw on so many different skills - a passion for food could see you as a cook for example, or if you’ve got technical know-how, there’s jobs for that too.

Challenges and Growth

Once you’ve started on a career in care, you don’t need to stagnate; growing with the demands of the sector brings along with it satisfaction and several other rewards.

Once you’ve got your foot in the door, you could choose to specialise in a specific area, and undergo further training and qualifications in order to get there. Not only will expanding your skill pool move you into new and interesting areas but they’ll help you deliver care to even higher standards.

There’s always ample opportunities to learn new skills and put yourself into new environments, making each day feel different and exciting. 

If you started out as a caregiver or support worker, you can stay on the frontline and tackle a supervisory or management role. You could also progress to care coordinator or registered manager. Your experience in all aspects of care can help you progress into administration roles too. Your understanding of the service and connection with people will be invaluable, so you can still contribute whilst exploring other avenues. 

Opportunities Await 

Interesting work that involves fun tasks partnered with the incredible potential for career progression make a role in social care a rewarding and promising one.

Although social care is required at different times throughout the day, you don’t have to work unsocial hours, and the flexibility offered means that you’ll have time for life’s other priorities. 

We hope that our shortlist of the top reasons why care is rewarding has inspired you to take a leap into the care industry. As a next step, why not get in touch and see if we can match you to your perfect care role? Our positions come with added benefits such as your own specialist consultant, training, access to further education and so much more. Send us a message, and start making a difference today.