What to expect at each stage of the care application process

Sep 05, 2023 | News

Being a carer can be one of the most fulfilling careers out there, and live-in care is especially rewarding, because you’re providing dedicated support to people in their own homes. This allows you to build strong connections with clients and offer a personal approach to care that can make a real difference to their lives.

You may worry that you’re not qualified to work in care, but the fantastic thing about care is that you don’t need any professional care qualifications to get started.

Applying for any new role can be daunting, but we’re here to walk you through the stages, so you’ll have the best chance of landing your dream job in care.

How to apply for a job in care

Before applying

While professional qualifications are not essential to starting your career as a caregiver, your personal qualities and attributes are. To be a good carer, you need to be kind, compassionate and caring, with a genuine desire to help others.

You also need to have good communication and organisational skills, being resourceful and resilient is important too.

Before applying for a care job, think about the sort of person you are, why you are applying, and where your strengths lie. Perhaps you find it easy to recognise when someone is unhappy, under the weather, or maybe you’re great at thinking on your feet and coming up with solutions to problems.

If you do have care experience already, gather any paperwork relating to your qualifications and training before applying. Make sure all of your training certificates are in date.

Even if you haven’t worked in a professional care setting before, having some experience of care is beneficial. So, think about times when you might have cared for a relative or close friend, and how you made a difference.

The application process

You can apply to be a carer with OxleyCare by filling in the online application form. It will ask about your eligibility to work in the UK, and other skills such as driving and cooking.

You will be asked about your education, previous employment and to provide 3 references. These should be from your most recent employer, plus other professional connections most relevant to care, not friends or family. Check they’re happy to provide a good reference.

There will also be an opportunity in the application for you to say why you’d like to work as a live-in carer and why you are suited to the role.

What happens after applying?

Successful applicants will be invited to a face-to-face interview. An interview helps the employer see if you would be a good fit. However, it’s also a chance for you to learn more about the job, so please ask any questions you have.

It’s natural to be nervous before any job interview, but there’s no need to worry about it. Remember why you want the job, the qualities that would make you a great carer, and share examples of when you have put these skills to use.

If the interview is successful, you will then be welcomed to the team.

Apply for a job with OxleyCare and kickstart your career in care today.