Many people think they know what care work involves, or what a typical care worker looks like. Our care home worker and student Samson, 19, breaks all the popular stereotypes.
We have a range of care jobs for students and young people that make great sense for those looking to pick up flexible hours, such as seasonal or part time work to fit in around studies or lifestyle.
Healthcare student jobs – Samson’s story
After completing A Levels in Maths, Physics and PE, Samson was searching for a job – slap bang in the middle of the first Covid lockdown – until he was set to leave for University.
Samson liked the idea of doing his bit to help during the pandemic, and decided to give care a go.
Samson possessed little practical experience of delivering care himself, but had an idea of what it entailed thanks to his Grandmother receiving home care and live-in care from Agincare.
Agincare welcomes students for care jobs
After finding an advert on our recruitment website, Samson signed up to join our team at Waterloo Care Home, near his home town of Wimborne in Dorset.
I decided to give care a go and found it quite different from any other job I had done before, but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to carry on until I left for Uni.
I was familiar with Agincare from when they looked after my Grandmother and knew about the kind of care she received, which was centred around her own individual needs.
Samson anticipated the personal care elements of taking up a part-time care home job; such as getting residents up and about, meals, medication and supporting people with personal care throughout the day. But the real eye opener for Samson was dementia care:
I had never really encountered dementia before, and didn’t quite know what to expect so found it a bit tricky to start with. But I soon finished my dementia training, and the more I worked in the home, the easier and easier it became to adapt, understand and learn what to say and do.
Samson’s confidence grew to such an extent that he decided to challenge himself and grow his experience by taking other care home jobs working night shifts at our Trafalgar and Cheriton Care Homes.
I’m passionate about what I do, and it’s great for building social skills and confidence.
When I discuss my job with my friends, I tell them how much I enjoy working in the care homes. It’s a flexible and very rewarding job, much better than getting shouted at in a bar.
In the beginning it was a job, but in care you create a bond with the residents and learn more about them. I come away feeling that I have done something good to help other people, and have had a positive impact on their lives.
I look forward to going to work to see the staff and residents, that’s the part of the job I really enjoy.
Care work whilst you study
In September, after a year or so working at care homes, Samson set course for the next exciting chapter of his life in Nottingham, where he is studying Sports Engineering at University. Samson will be sadly missed by the workers and residents he’s left behind, but hasn’t quite left care work behind him. He still has planes to look for care jobs for students in Nottingham by signing up with a care agency in Nottingham to earn a bit of extra income working a few hours around his University commitments. And come the festive break, Samson plans to return to duty at Waterloo Care Home, saying:
They’ve already lined me up to play the part of Santa Claus at the Christmas party, but I’ll need to stuff a few pillows up my jumper if I haven’t filled out a bit by then!
Flexible care jobs for students
We’re looking for incredible people to join our care teams.
Like Samson, our care workers come from all walks of life with a range of backgrounds and life stories, but have one thing in common – the heart to care. You don’t need health or social care experience, just the heart to deliver high quality care and we’ll do the rest. Care work for students and young people makes great sense for those looking to pick up flexible hours, e.g. seasonal or part time work to fit in around lifestyle or studies.
Care jobs for students are great for people who want to improve their CV with practical experience alongside studying social care or health related subjects at college or university.
Our care homes are great places to work
Agincare has great opportunities for those who want to kick off a career in care and get training and support to develop and progress. Although Samson worked in care homes, Agincare also has other types of care work too. Home care work is where you visit a client in their home to deliver high quality care according to their individual needs. Or live in care, where you go and live with a client in their home, with food and accommodation provided, delivering the exact level of high quality care and support they need. Each role brings the job satisfaction of making a very real and valuable difference to those cared for – an emotional reward that you can’t put a price on.
The benefits of a career as a care worker with Agincare are rewarding too, for example a care home assistant receives:
- Flexible working – we can work around you
- Above average pay rates for the sector
- £500 welcome bonus
- Paid induction training and ongoing support
- Fast track job offers
- DBS paid up front
- Pension contributions
- Long service bonus
- Excellent career progression
- Free meals on full shift
- National Health Discount Scheme, offering up to 60% off high street names
- Discounts offered by the Blue Light Card
- Employee Assistance Programme with access to medical, financial and emotional support
- Supported training
We’re hiring
We’re looking for incredible people to join our care teams, including students.
As one of the largest care groups in England with over 3500 staff, there will always be support for the job you do.
We also provide you with full training so that you are equipped with nationally recognised qualifications as you embark upon, and progress your career in care.
Agincare is a leading independent provider of care nationwide and one of the few companies that offer a comprehensive range of care options to tailor care to the person as their needs change.