Outt - Social Care Shifts

Whether you’re an established social care worker or thinking about applying for a care staff job, you know that social care training is just part and parcel – no matter how much of a drag it is. The thing is, training feels almost designed to be inconvenient.  You have to turn up for one hour every week for what seems like forever; and by the time you’ve registered, everyone has made a cup of tea and sat down, it’s time to go home again (did anyone say ‘course extension’?). And even when you’ve been good and done all your updates and refresher courses, something else crops out of the woodwork to add to your bursting-at-the-seams to-do list.   Let’s stop right there.   – It doesn’t have to be stressful.   – It doesn’t have to be expensive.   – It doesn’t have to be time-consuming.   – It doesn’t have to be difficult.   OUTT ACADEMY: THE NEW WAY TO UPSKILL  Let’s be honest – the more certificates and training you’ve done...

  Personal protective Equipment (PPE) has always been a vital resource in care homes.   Social care workers are accustomed to safety equipment such as masks, gowns and gloves. The performance and quality of facemasks however, has become increasingly important and is likely to remain so in the post-pandemic years to come.   Different facemask grades present significantly variable levels of protection from respiratory diseases and airborne viruses. Here we explore the contrasting PPE grades, and which models are most appropriate in care home settings.   THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY IN CARE HOMES   Of course, PPE isn’t only for the protection of care workers but is equally vital for vulnerable and immunocompromised residents. Care workers may be required to undergo more thorough decontamination and take additional preventative measures to avoid transporting viral particles into a care facility. Covid-19 is most commonly transmitted through close contact, o...

  we get it – you’re in the middle of a busy social care shift, have a short lunch break, and haven’t eaten anything since you snagged a bite of toast on your way out of the door this morning. It’s always tempting to grab a quick bite to eat from the canteen, or even nip out for a cheeky McDonalds! However, as a career, we’re willing to bet you’re on your feet for most of the day, and always feel that energy lag creeping in towards the end of your shift.  To stay healthy, and put as much care into yourself as you do into your patients, it is essential to make sure you’ve got a decent lunch! Not only will that keep your energy levels up right until end of shift, but it’ll make you feel so much better about your food choices. SELF-CARE FOR CARERS Self-care may be a buzzword you often hear, but it’s also essentially important. We all know you can’t pour from an empty cup, and since we’re all human, it is never going to be possible to work at 100 mph running on fu...

  care workers are key-workers and for perhaps the first time ever, the world is really beginning to appreciate just how important our roles are! The unsung heroes of the healthcare world, care workers suffer similar stresses to other healthcare professionals. Working in the care sector is extremely stressful for many reasons, and each role and responsibility can have its own pressures; physical, mental and professional. It’s unlikely that any care worker agency will find their role entirely stress-free, but there are things that can be done to help negate the effects of workplace intensity and tension. Here are a few tips on the best ways to manage care worker jobs stress. WHY IS STRESS A PROBLEM? It may sound like common sense, but a happy worker is an effective worker – people work better when they’re secure and clear-thinking. People under undue levels of stress and duress often suffer from fatigue, confusion, a lack of mental comprehension and even physical s...