Care home managers are responsible for running residential homes that provide care for one of the following groups:
The work of care home managers may include:
Care home managers work around 35 to 40 hours a week, which could include working weekends and evenings. They may also be on call in case of emergencies.
Care home managers are normally based at a residential home. They may live on the premises or sleep in on a rota system.
Starting salaries for care home managers are around £20,000 to £27,000 a year. Experienced managers may earn between £30,000 and £40,000 a year. Some managers may earn over £45,000 a year.
Employers may provide managers with a company car, private healthcare or other benefits.
Care home managers are employed throughout the UK. Employers include:
This area of work is expanding rapidly, particularly in the private sector, and there is a shortage of qualified care home managers.
Job vacancies may be advertised in local, regional and national newspapers and in publications such as Community Care and Opportunities. They may also be advertised on the Local Government Talent website and on the websites of local authorities and recruitment agencies.
Entrants to care home management need experience of working in social or medical care. For many jobs there is a specified minimum length of experience. This is usually at least two years' management or supervisory experience in a relevant care setting within the past five years. Many managers have worked as care home assistants or deputy managers.
Care home managers need relevant qualifications, such as:
They also need a competency-based management qualification, such as the NVQ Level 4 in leadership and management for care services.
All entrants to care home work have to undergoCriminal Records Bureau (CRB). They will also be assessed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority, with the aim of preventing unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
All professional social workers in England have to be registered with the General Social Care Council (GSCC). It is planned that care home workers and managers will also, in future, be required to register with the GSCC.
While working, care home managers may study part time for further qualifications, such as:
Care home managers may have to supervise care workers who are working towards NVQ's. In that case, they will need to qualify as an NVQ assessor by working for qualifications such as:
The Level 3 Award in assessing candidates using a range of methods (A1), or the Level 3 Award in assessing candidates' performance through observation (A2).
Care home managers who are qualified social workers must renew their registration with the GSCC every three years. One of the requirements for renewal is that they have kept their training and learning up to date, through continuing professional development (CPD).
Laboratory technicians carry out routine laboratory tests and perform a variety of technical support functions to help scientists, technologists and others with their work. They can work in research and development, scientific analysis and testing, education and manufacturing.
They are employed in a wide range of scientific fields which affect almost every aspect of our lives.
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A care home manager should:
Experienced care home managers have a number of options for progression. They may manage a larger unit or become an area or regional manager. Other options include moving into care home inspection work or into training.
They may also move into other social or health care work or leave social care for a management role in a different organisation.
Children's Workforce Development Council,
CWDC, 2nd Floor, City Exchange, 11 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5ES
Tel: 0113 244 6311
Website: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
Department of Health Social Services
Website: www.health-ni.gov.uk
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