Home care jobs and care home roles can both be rewarding, but they’re quite different. If you’re thinking about working in care, one of the first choices you’ll face is where to work. Care homes and home care both offer rewarding careers, but the day to day experience can be quite different. Understanding those differences can help you decide which suits you best.
Working in a care home
In a care home, carers support a group of residents who live together in one building. You’ll usually work shifts alongside a team of colleagues, with nurses or senior staff close by. Many people enjoy the sense of being part of a busy team and the chance to support lots of residents during a shift.
What home care jobs involve
Home carers, sometimes called domiciliary carers, visit people in their own homes. Rather than working in one building, you travel between visits, supporting each person with the things they need to live comfortably and independently. That might include personal care, meals, medication prompts, household tasks and companionship.
One to one time
One of the biggest differences is the time you spend with each person. In home care, each visit is focused entirely on one individual. You get to know people really well, learn exactly how they like things done and build genuine relationships. For many carers, this one to one connection is what makes the role so rewarding.
Independence and variety
Home care suits people who enjoy a degree of independence. You’ll often be the only carer in someone’s home, so you need to feel confident making sensible decisions, while knowing support from your office team is only a phone call away. Your day also has plenty of variety, with different homes, people and tasks from one visit to the next.
Travel is part of the job too, and many home care roles need a driving licence and access to a car, particularly in more rural areas. You can get a feel for a typical shift in our post on a day in the life of a home carer.
Helping people stay where they feel happiest
Most people would rather stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Home care makes that possible, helping people keep their routines, their independence and their connections to friends, neighbours and community. Being part of that is a real privilege, and it’s at the heart of what dignity in care means to us.
Which is right for you?
Neither option is better than the other; they simply suit different people. If you enjoy being part of a large team in one place, a care home may be a great fit. If you value one to one relationships, variety and independence, and you like the idea of helping people live well at home, home care could be perfect.
Many of the skills are the same in both settings, and experience in either is valued across the sector. Our article on career progression in adult social care shows where your career could lead.
Home care jobs suit people who enjoy variety, independence and getting to know people well. If that sounds like you, it could be the start of a very rewarding career, and you can always talk to us before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Do home care jobs need a driving licence?
Many home care jobs, particularly in rural areas, need a driving licence and access to a car, as carers travel between visits.
Are home care jobs right for me?
Home care jobs suit people who enjoy one to one relationships, variety and a degree of independence in their working day.
How do I compare employers for home care jobs?
Check each provider on the CQC website, read their reviews and ask questions at interview. Good employers for home care jobs will be happy to talk openly.
Join our home care team
Dignicare is a CQC rated Good home care provider supporting people across Ilkley, Bingley, Skipton and the surrounding areas. If you’d like to find out more, read our tips on applying for a care job, browse our current vacancies, apply now or call 01943 818274.
