Conclusion
Access to social care starts with an assessment of need by the local authority. The benefits and barriers associated with accessing social care can shape how easily people adapt to this change in their circumstances. Having looked at access, you then considered what home care workers do in their provision of social care. Home carers help people to live independently in their own home. Flexibility and reliability, kindness and respect were seen as key personal qualities. Friendliness is important but care workers must maintain personal boundaries and not become friends.
- Home care workers provide a vital service in enabling people to stay in their own homes when they have care needs.
- Home care workers work to a care plan which determines what they do for each client.
- Home care workers need to manage relationships with clients so that there are clear boundaries between being friendly and being ‘a friend’. At times this makes considerable emotional demands.
- Personal qualities are important, but not enough. Home carers need technical skills too.
- People value home care that is reliable and flexible, and which is delivered with kindness and with respect for them as individuals.