05/05/2021 - A day in the life of a Community Carer

07:00 – 11:00 Breakfast calls

I have already received my rota, so I know where I am due to go in advance. Depending on the area I usually have around six calls to complete for breakfast. We log in and out of our calls, so I start the call by logging in. This is so easy – we use an app on our phones!

I will support my service users to get up out of bed, get washed/bathed/showered and dressed, this is called personal care. This may involve using equipment such as a hoist, this means there are two carers required – this is called a ‘double up’. We will also complete tasks such as changing incontinence pads and emptying commodes.

Most of my service users will have tea or coffee and some light breakfast prepared and served for them. Some will require prompting and administering their medication. I have completed my medication training during the start of my employment, and I feel confident supporting others. At this point I will prepare any sandwiches or drinks to be left out for later. Some of my morning service users do not have any other calls throughout the day so I want to know I am leaving them with everything they need.

Depending on how much time I have allocated I may need to support with laundry, emptying the bin or any other domestic duties such as washing up. I always make sure I make the bed and open the curtains before I log out and leave.

11:30 – 14:30 Lunch calls

Lunch time! This involves preparing and serving meals, drinks and ensuring everyone has taken their medication. Some of our service users get meals delivered so I just support to warm these up. I also support some of my service users by emptying their commodes & changing incontinence pads. I may even just be supporting my service user to take a short walk.

To make sure the next person to visit knows what tasks I have completed, I record everything that I have done. Anything that may have been declined and of course, medication. This is recorded on ‘evaluation sheets’ and ‘Medication Administration Records (MAR).

15:00 – 18:00 Tea calls

Again, this involves preparing and serving meals and drinks. Prompting and administering medication and recording everything I have done on this visit. I usually have around four or five tea calls to complete on this rota and some of these are double up calls, so I will be working in a pair.

Some of my service users do not have a bed call so this is a great opportunity to get everything ready for their bedtime routine, I like to make sure everyone is left with everything at ease and at hand.

19:00 – 22:00 Bed calls

My rota tells me I have 5 houses to visit this evening. I usually have six, but my manager phoned me earlier to say someone had cancelled their call today and not to go. She is so helpful.

I am supporting my service users with their evening routine, which is usually preparing and serving a light supper and drink. I then support my service user to get ready for bed. This involves supporting them to get undressed and into night clothes, prompting or administering medication and support with changing catheter bags, emptying commodes. Some service users require support getting into bed and others will take themselves. That’s what I love about this job - it is so varied.

I like to leave everything to hand for my service user such as their lifeline, a drink, telephone, snacks, commode. I like to make sure they have everything they may need.

Upon leaving the building I ensure the curtains are shut and everything is locked up safe and secure.

There really isn’t a ‘typical’ day or a ‘typical’ service user. Each person has their own needs, wishes and preferences. As a carer I make sure I tailor my support to each service user.  This sounds difficult but all the information I ever need is in their home. Support Plans, Risk Assessments, Personal Contact Details, Medication Records, Do Not Resuscitate location (DNR) and of course the best person to ask if you are ever unsure is the service user themselves and your manager.