Tips for Your First Week Working in Care

Starting any new job brings a few nerves, and stepping into someone's home for the first time is no different. The first week is about finding your feet, not getting everything right straight away. A few things make that easier.

Lean on the people around you

You won't be sent out alone on day one. Shifts alongside someone experienced come first, and your coordinator is there for exactly the questions that come up in week one, the ones that feel too small to ask but matter anyway. Asking is never a sign you're not up to it. Everyone here started exactly where you are.

Get to know the person, not just the task list

Every visit has things that need doing, but the job is really about the person you're getting to know. Take a little time in those early visits to notice what matters to them: how they like their tea, what they enjoy talking about, what makes their day better. That's what turns a task list into a relationship worth having.

Write things down

There's a lot to take in during your first week, routines, preferences, the small things that matter to each person you're getting to know. A notebook, or the notes app on your phone, holds onto it better than memory alone ever could. A few things worth noting as you go:

• Daily routines and preferred visit times
• Food and drink preferences
• Small things that make someone's day better
• Anything your coordinator has flagged to watch for

Give yourself time

Confidence in this job comes with time. Most people who've been doing this for years still remember feeling unsure in their first few weeks, and every one of them got through it. That feeling passes, faster than you'd think.

Have a look at what's open near you, and take the first week one step at a time.