Many misconceptions about working in Care, especially reported in the media, have led many of us to have a negative view on this industry, but this only represents a small percentage and overlooks the amazing work of Social Care workers and the positive impact they have on those they care for. Even when Social Care is shown positively many people are put off choosing it as a career due to myths and misconceptions – let’s see if we can clear some of these up.

Myth 1: Social Care is a job with no opportunities for career progression

This just simply isn’t true. If you’re dedicated and have a good attitude, there are plenty of opportunities for promotion in Care. In fact, many of those in senior positions in Social Care started out in entry-level roles such as Support Worker and have worked their way up.

Many employers are more than willing to put you through further training, meaning you can learn and gain qualifications as you’re working which will allow you to progress into roles with more responsibility and work towards a specialism of your interest.

Now more than ever, Social Care is an ever-expanding sector with new roles and progression paths being created so you may find yourself working in an entirely different area of the sector than the one you start in.

Myth 2: Social Care work is badly paid

While Social Care workers do tend to be low paid when compared to some other sectors, it isn’t as low pay as you might think.

All employers in the UK must pay their employees at least the minimum wage (currently £8.72 per hour for over 25’s) and most Social Care employees are willing to pay their staff more than this. Some organisations provide entry-level staff such as Care Assistants with a competitive salary of up to £11 per hour, as well as paid training, mileage, and travel time.

If you are willing to put in the study time, completing Social Care qualifications will lead to an increase in salary and allow you to move up from starting roles. Once you have completed a Level 5 qualification such as the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and are in a management role, you could be earning on average between £33,000 to £50,000 per annum.

Myth 3: Social Care is only about personal care and working with the elderly

Social care is all about supporting people to live independently in a way that they choose, and personal care is just one of the ways you could do this.

However, if that’s off putting to you, there are many Social Care jobs that don’t involve personal care at all, such as Mental Health Support Workers, Rehabilitation Workers, and Activity Coordinators. People also need support going to work, taking part in social activities, finding housing, or recovering after an accident.

It also doesn’t mean you’ll always be working with the elderly – as much as this can be a rewarding role, if it doesn’t appeal to you there are lots of other options.

You could support a person with a physical disability, someone with a mental health condition or a learning disability, an adult with autism, a child in the care system, a person recovering from problems with drugs or alcohol, or a person who’s had a brain injury. Depending on which job you choose, you could be working with someone your age or younger.

Myth 4: Working in Social Care is emotionally draining

Putting other people’s needs before your own can leave you emotionally drained, but employers are aware of this and put measures in place to protect their staff.

It’s common practice for teams to have meetings at the end of reach shift to reflect on the day and share any emotional baggage that may have built up. They’re also given regular opportunities to have one-to-one sessions with supervisors which are sometimes referred to as ‘supervisions’. These allow staff to raise anything that they wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing in a group situation.

The training you’ll receive working in the Care industry will be tailored to the kind of care and support you will be providing so you will be well-equipped to deal with challenging situations.

It’s also the duty of Care employers to ensure they create a safe and secure environment for both service users and staff. This protects everyone and ensures that staff don’t feel at a disadvantage.

Myth 5: Social Care work is unfulfilling and unappreciated

There will be times when you might be challenged by a patient or service user and this may even lead to confrontation with their family, so you might assume that there is little job satisfaction since it can feel like you’re not being appreciated for what you do.

How much satisfaction you can get out of a job in Care boils down to what motivates you. If you’re motivated by bonuses or financial incentives, Social Care probably isn’t right for you, but if you want a career that genuinely makes a difference in the lives of others then you’re likely to find it very rewarding.

According to a survey by Skills Force, 96% of workers in adult Social Care services feel that their work is making a difference. Yes, you will get family members who will question everything that you do when you look after their loved ones. However, if you can demonstrate a positive attitude and show commitment to caring for their loved ones, family members will absolutely appreciate what you do.

Ready to start Caring? Search all the latest jobs in Social Care at [site_name].