In this article, we’re going to be marking the end of Good Care Month by discussing what makes a good care worker and what qualities they should possess – both professionally and personally – to ensure they can provide the highest level of care for their patients.
A reliable care worker can be their patients’ rock
It is absolutely paramount that a carer is reliable. After all, the relationship between patient and carer is one in which the patient is often very much reliant on the carer for a lot of their needs.
For example, carers are often responsible for their patients’ nutrition, making sure they have sufficient food and drink, as well as ensuring they take any required medication at the correct times. These are all vital things that patients often need their carers to help with, highlighting just how important it is that any carer is reliable.
Empathy in care workers
Empathy is about being able to deeply identify with the feelings of others. This quality is crucial amongst care workers as it gives them the special ability to understand their patients and what they’re going through.
Empaths have the ability to see things from other people’s perspectives much easier, which goes hand-in-hand with being a great carer, as they’ll therefore be able to comfort and care for their patients much more effectively.
Communication is key in the care industry
A carer must be able to communicate effectively and clearly with their patients, and since their patients may be elderly or disabled, for example, it’s crucial that care workers have the skills to be able to communicate in various ways to meet the language needs and preferences of individuals.
There’s much more to communication that you may first think; it’s not all about talking face-to-face. Along with the typical verbal communication method that includes words, volume, and tone, there’s also the aspect of nonverbal communication. Care workers much be sufficiently trained in this type of communication too, including knowing about body language, eye contact, position and proximity, as well as symbols and pictures.
As a care worker, being a good communicator will go a long way in helping your patients feel comfortable and respected.
Positive energy can be a game-changer in care
Being a positive and bubbly person can be vital when you’re caring for people. Part of the job is building strong relationships with your patients; they need to be able to trust in you and get on with you as a person. However, there may be scenarios when a patient may be feeling anxious and resist receiving some care, and simply having positive energy can make all the difference in putting them at ease again.
Furthermore, some elderly people may be suffering from depression, and so it is extremely important that their carer is someone who can lighten the mood and put a smile on their face.
Always being respectful to patients
Whilst the above point above about being positive and upbeat is still true, it’s also important to ensure you are always respectful and remain totally professional. This doesn’t mean you can’t have jokes and banter with your patients if that’s the type of relationship you have, but it’s important to be careful not to take this banter too far, as it risks upsetting them and ruining your working relationship.
Plus, due to the fact that the mental capacity of elderly people may well be reduced, you must avoid patronising them in any way.
Care workers should be highly observant
A good care worker will have a sharp eye, keeping their wits about them to ensure that nothing unusual goes under the radar. Their top priority is the care and wellbeing of their patients, so they must always keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, including signs of any new physical or medical issue, as well as any indication that a relative or friend of the patient may be abusing them or mistreating them at all.
There are, of course, many other qualities that a good care worker may possess, but these are just a few of the key characteristics that can help someone in delivering high-quality care to their patients. It’s important that – beyond July’s Good Care Month – we continue appreciating the amazing work our social care workers do all year round.