How to make a playlist for life

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This post provides suggestions on creating a personal playlist. For more details see playlistforlife.org.uk or download the PDF below:

How to make a playlist for life (PDF 135kb)Download

Make it personal

To be effective, a playlist for life should be

  • Uniquely personal
  • Full of meaning for the individual

They’re not really into music – what can I do?

We’re all innately musical, even if we don’t realise it. Old radio, TV, film soundtracks or audio files can all form part of a playlist for life. Dialogue, theme tunes and even catchy adverts have all been shown to be effective. Don’t forget nursery rhymes and poems, which have their own musicality.

How long should the playlist be?

  • Ideally 50-100 songs or more, but 20 is a great start and can be built upon.
  • Don’t make it too short. No-one wants to hear the same tune all day.

How many songs from one artist?

We recommend no more than 5 – 7 from one performer, unless each one really matters.

Do the detective work to create a personal playlist

Here are some suggestions to help you form a very personal playlist for someone who cannot remember:

  • What nursery rhymes and lullabies did they sing to their children?
  • What was playing when they were in their mid-teens / early twenties?
  • Might their siblings have suggestions?
  • Did they go dancing or enjoy a particular band?
  • Are there films you know they liked? Are there any memorable theme tunes?
  • Any favourite TV or radio shows? The theme tunes can be very evocative.
  • Did they go to church? What hymns did they like?
  • What music was played at their wedding?
  • Did they go to Sunday school, Boys’ Brigade, Brownies etc, with associated rhymes and music?
  • Did they sing in a choir? Is there someone who would know the repertoire?
  • Was there a school song?
  • Were they alive during the Second World War? Any
  • wartime songs that they’d be familiar with?
  • Did they play a musical instrument? Is there any sheet music you could dig up?
  • Are there any old records, perhaps in the attic?
  • Were there songs associated with family parties?
  • Are there any musical memories from family holidays – singing in the car perhaps?
  • Are there any scrapbooks, concert tickets or photos that would provide clues?

Persevere with the detective work

While we will know someone’s birth year and era, it can be harder to find out what they first danced to, what their parents listened to or sang to them as children.

  • Keep trying music you think might fit. It takes trial and error. No-one is beyond a playlist for life.
  • The right music will work its magic… 

I’m not sure about a piece of music – is it the right one?

Spotify, Amazon and iTunes offer free snatches of most pieces. Try playing it and watch for a reaction.

I’ve made the playlist – what now?

Introduce it as often as you can. Use it as an opportunity for closeness and conversation. Once you’ve established the effect of particular tunes, try offering these half an hour before an activity known to cause agitation or distress, like bathing or eating or getting clothes on or off.

It’s bringing tears – should we stop?

If a particular piece of music is causing real distress, then stop. But tears are often good and cathartic. Hold your loved one’s hand through it, stroke or cuddle them. Crying may express a sense of beauty and yearning that can be shared.

See also Whistle While you Work: The Power of Music in the Care at Home Setting

Good practice in the design of homes and living spaces for people with dementia and sight loss

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Whether adapting a family residence or designing a purpose-built care home, individual differences in tastes, needs and abilities mean that creating homes that simultaneously cater for all the people who live in them is challenging. People with dementia experience impaired memory, learning and reasoning and become more reliant on their senses. People with very poor vision face a different but not entirely dissimilar set of challenges.

For more information download the full guidance developed by the University of Stirling (PDF, 844kb)Download

Colour and contrast

Colour and contrast can both be used to enable people with sight loss and dementia to identify different rooms and key features inside and outside of their homes. Good use of colour and contrast can facilitate independent living, for example, by supporting people to find their way around and to use fixtures and facilities such as lighting unassisted.

  • Coloured doors (see also: Entrances and exits)
  • Contrasting key features
  • Contrasting potential hazards
  • Choice of colour and contrast

Lighting

Lighting is important to people with sight loss and dementia. Good lighting can make the most of people’s capabilities and help to compensate for poor eyesight; it can assist people in finding their way around both new and familiar spaces and help them to undertake specific tasks.

  • Maximisation of natural light
  • Types of artificial lighting
  • Positioning of lighting
  • Intensity and uniformity of light
  • Control of lighting

Fixtures and fittings

The design of fixtures and fittings within the home is important. Good design can ensure that those people with sight loss and dementia are able to easily identify and use fixtures and fittings in their homes. Well designed fixtures and fittings can facilitate independent living. For example, providing user-friendly kitchen devices may encourage people to prepare their own food, and suitable handrails and grab rails will support people to move independently around their homes.

  • Handrails and grab rails
  • Rugs and mats
  • Controls (e.g. on appliances or for central heating)
  • Light switches and electrical sockets
  • Room furnishings
  • Assistive technology
  • Signage
  • Colour and contrast (see above)

Kitchens

Good layout and design of kitchens can make preparation of food and drink easier and thus facilitate independent living for people with sight loss and dementia.

  • Lighting (see above)
  • Worktops
  • Colour and contrast (see above)
  • Ovens, hobs and microwaves
  • Cupboards and cabinet design

Bathrooms

Good bathroom design can support more independence with washing, toileting and personal hygiene. Good design can also help with identification of the toilet and bathroom, especially during the night.

Entrances and exits

Good design of entrances and exits is important for people with sight loss and dementia. With good design

of both internal and external entrances and exits, people with dementia and sight loss will be able to move easily between rooms and to enter and leave buildings freely.

  • Door security
  • Accessibility of entrances and exits
  • Visibility of entrances and exits (See also: Colour and contrast)
  • Lighting at entrances and exits (See also: Lighting)

Outdoor spaces

It is important that people are able to access gardens and outdoor areas adjacent to their homes. Going outdoors has been shown to have multiple benefits including:

  • providing physical exercise
  • helping to maintain normal sleeping patterns and daily rhythms
  • improving mood and helping people to cope with stress

A well-designed outdoor space can be enjoyed by people with sight loss and dementia, as well as their families.

  • Accessibility of outdoor spaces and path design
  • Perimeter fences
  • Plantings

Diary of a Care Worker – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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As Care Workers, we are able to support so many amazing people, but working with Service Users with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is always a real privilege. It’s a chance to really get to know someone, their likes and dislikes, help with triggers and stimming (self-stimulatory) behaviours, and to play a positive role in their lives. 

However, much of what those of us who work with children and adults with ASD know, can be helpful to everyone – and we can all do ‘our bit’ to educate others. Here are some useful facts and tips about ASD, which affects more than 1 in 100 people in the UK.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability which can make it hard for those with the disorder to form relationships or express themselves. They may sometimes (but not always) have a learning disability. According to the NHS website, the following traits are common to many with Autism:

  • finding it hard to understand how other people think or feel
  • finding things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
  • getting anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
  • taking longer to understand information
  • doing or thinking the same things over and over

If, as a Care Worker, you are providing support to someone with ASD, there are some things you can do to help build a positive working relationship during your visits:

Help to accommodate change

We might often have to make a quick assessment of a situation which can cause anxiety for someone with ASD, and it’s at times like this, that knowing them well can help.  For example, if a Service User is used to being able to ‘tidy up’ his favourite tins of soup when he goes shopping, restrictions like Covid make can make buying the weekly shop problematic. Managing a situation like this can be easier if you know what the person is likely to respond to positively, and taking time to introduce change, slowly, can help with a transition.

The small details matter!

As there will often be times when a Service User with ASD may have a different Care Worker coming in, no detail is ever too small to note. Anything from a lost or broken favourite item, or the introduction of a new daily activity can be easier for the person to handle when everyone is in the know.

Give people with ASD time to process

As with all of us, someone with ASD might have a lot of things going on in their mind when you speak to them.  This is why giving someone plenty of time to process and respond is vital.  It can be frustrating to be rushed – and more so, for someone with ASD.

Be methodical and structured with instruction 

Someone with ASD or Aspergers is likely to need clarity in instruction, and it can be frustrating for them when they don’t understand what you’re asking of them. Be clear and brief in your instructions or questions, avoiding conversational fillers that can dilute your message or confuse it.

Take things in your stride 


Those who work with, or live with, someone with ASD will know that there will often be challenging occasions! Don’t take offence when something is said that might be considered rude or aggressive.  In particular, people with ASD can often find social situations difficult, and your calm approach can help to lower their anxiety and to self-regulate.

Be adaptable

Being able to accommodate the needs of the person, for example, changing approach when something doesn’t work, can enable us to learn more about what works for someone.  Being flexible – and sometimes just accepting ‘not today’ – opens up possibilities for a better tomorrow.
It’s not always easy to get things right, but as with any relationship, there’s a little trial and error in there! Find out more about complex behaviours, and 
 why not share what you know with others? After all, disability awareness starts with each of us 🙂

Healthy Working: Back Pain

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Back pain accounts for a huge 35% of all cases of work-related ill health in the UK – with around 50% of care workers reporting incidences of back pain each year. However, by being more aware of what can cause this common issue, and by looking after our joints and muscles, we can help to reduce our likelihood of back injury in our day-to-day lives.

Most common types of back pain in care workers

Whilst Lumbago – usually pain in the lower back – is one of the most commonly reported types of back pain, there are others which can seriously affect our ability to carry out our usual tasks. 

Sciatica

A sharp pain coming from the sciatic nerve; this can be debilitating, and cause numbness or tingling in the leg, sporadically.

Slipped disc

This can often occur through lifting something which is too heavy, or by impact, such as falling.

Frozen shoulder

Often associated with repetitive injury, inflammation around the shoulder can cause long-term pain and stiffness

Whiplash

A sudden impact can cause injury to the neck, which can take a few days to appear and last several weeks, or longer.

How to take care of your back 


Of course, we all have our training (and SCA does have excellent training!) but there are other things that we can do to keep ourselves safe and healthy, and our backs, pain-free:

Be mindful of your posture!

Consistently bad posture whilst sitting or standing can actually cause back pain or exacerbate pulled muscles. Check your posture regularly – and if you find yourself slouching (we all do it!), roll back your shoulders and straighten your back. Also, when standing for long periods of time, try to keep your weight balanced on both feet – this helps to straighten your spine and prevent long-term back problems.

Remember your manual handling training!

Our training helps keep everyone safe – especially when we have to undertake difficult manoeuvres, such as supporting Service Users in awkward or small places! Stretching too far, twisting the wrong way, or moving a person without fully assessing the risks can lead to injury for both you and those you care for. Our manual handling training is there to keep us all safe!

Recognise your Limitations

We can sometimes overestimate our abilities, carrying loads that are too heavy, or pushing or dragging large items awkwardly. When we are tired or have a larger than normal workload, it’s even more important to consider our strength and energy levels, and what we can do to mitigate risk. 

Stay hydrated and eat well

This may seem like strange advice to help prevent back pain, but drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and eating a balanced diet ensures that your body has all that it needs to maintain, build and repair muscle. Low blood sugar can also make us feel a little ‘fuzzy’ and reduce our ability to make good choices when it matters most.

Exercise Regularly

As care workers, we are, of course, always busy and active – but other types of exercise, like swimming or walking, will help to support your body in all that you do. Stretching regularly, and taking yoga or pilates classes can make the world of difference to your mind and body! 

Above all, if in doubt – speak to your line manager about your concerns and look for professional advice where necessary. At SCA, our top priority is the health and well-being of our staff. We can’t do the great job we do without you!

Find out more about working with us.

Why a Positive Mindset matters more than ever in Care

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Demand for social care in the UK has never been greater; and whilst social care jobs account for around 8% of all Scottish employment, it’s simply not enough. In fact, a recent report by Audit Scotland reported that an average of 13% of social care workers supply 50 hours per week or more. And this is as much the case in Edinburgh as it is in other parts of the country.

But why are care staff experiencing these pressures? Around the country, the gap between supply and demand is being driven by a combination of stretched resources through dwindling budgets, a low takeup of vacancies, and a record number of workers on long-term sickness absence. 

In the meantime, social care providers must do what they can to maintain a high standard of care for those in need of support.

Supported staff, supported Service Users

Offering competitive rates, career opportunities, and a caring, healthy working environment is critical to maintaining our standards of care-at-home provision, and at SCA, we understand the challenges that our staff face right now. We work hard to ensure that our staff feel rewarded and valued, committed to promoting staff wellbeing, and providing competitive rates and training opportunities, to empower our staff to give their best to our Service Users.  

And this is what it’s all about – giving our best. 

SCA: positive people, positive care

During this time – the very time when we may feel stretched – a positive, empathic approach towards those we support is crucial to giving vulnerable people a sense of security in the services they receive. And whilst we might feel under greater pressure right now, as carers, we must continue to ensure that we meet our clients’ psychological, as well as their practical and personal care needs as we work together to improve care provision. 

Social Care needs more carers with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of those they support. That’s why SCA takes great care to recruit – and keep valued employees with a positive, proactive mindset.
Interested? Get in touch.

Care work: Finding Fulfilment

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New Year – new career. It’s a common mantra which makes January the most popular month of the year for job-hunting! But how we work, where we work – and who we work with – are all hugely important in finding the perfect job. And for many, social care provides the freedom to work in our local communities in a role which is as rewarding as it is challenging.

You can find out more about what it’s like to work with Social Care Alba, and the training opportunities we provide our staff 



but of course, that’s only half the story! 

What you want from a career is pivotal to making a wise – and lasting – career move this January 


If you enjoy working with people,

you’re in luck at SCA; you’ll be spending time with a great team, with plenty of opportunities to catch up (our Foodie Fridays are enjoyed by everyone!). You’ll also have the opportunity to buddy up with colleagues as a new team member, and really feel part of the SCA family as you move through our career plans and training opportunities.

If you love helping others in need,

you may well find providing care to be incredibly fulfilling. Those who enjoy providing much-needed support are typically empathic, caring people and feel that they are using their skills to the max in care jobs.

If you have a knack for problem-solving,

here are many situations as a care-at-home worker which will need your skills! Everyday problems might require some quick thinking, whilst changes to a person’s situation – whether abilities or needs – will often need a pragmatic approach. Being resourceful, creative and solution-focused is important in all aspects of care.

If you are a team player,

you’ll find you’re in good company at SCA. We do all we can to make sure that every staff member feels supported and valued, and encourage our team to do the same for each other. That’s what makes a great team, after all!

If you’re at your happiest when you’re busy,

there will never be a dull moment as a personal assistant! Your day will be varied and full-on as you provide personal care, administer medications, take Service Users on outings or shopping, and provide general support around the home.

So if you’re considering a new career in home care, why not check out our Careers Page for vacancies? This might just be your year for the perfect career!

Keeping Busy this Christmas

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Cold, wet days needn’t put a dampener on Christmas spirit; there are many fun and easy things to do that can get us all in a festive mood! Here are some of our top Christmas activities that can be enjoyed with those you support, to help bring a little Crimble cheer 


Homemade Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are always more special when they’re handmade – and significantly cheaper than shop-bought cards! With basic items, like gold and silver paper, and glitter glue from any superstore, the sky’s the limit! If you or the person you care for is crafty, you can get as creative as you like; but at its most basic, a simple motive of bells and holly, or a snowman, is all that’s needed to make a card that will make the recipient smile. Add an even more personal touch by cutting up old Christmas cards to make thoughtful gift labels, by cutting them into label shapes and using a hole-punch to threat the ribbon through.

Deck the Boughs!

Making or putting up Christmas decorations might not be feasible for some in later years, so if you know someone you care for celebrates Christmas, find out if they could use a little help! For those who go to town at Christmas on decorations, it can be a whole night’s work; but very little is needed to create a Christmas atmosphere in the room where someone spends most of their time. Even little activities like untangling the Christmas lights or unboxing baubles can bring back fond Yuletide memories of childhood or parenthood, and help to top-up on Christmas cheer.

Simple Christmas Treats

There are many quick and simple treats that need not take a lot of time or expense, but can be a lovely gift to give to friends and family. Find out what, if anything, the service user likes to – or used to – make as treats. Things like fudge or shortbread, cookies are great – but anything can be made christmassy with a dusting of icing sugar! One of the simplest no-bake things to make is Marshmallow Snowmen – great for those little elves who come to visit!!

Marshmallow Snowmen

Time: 20 minutes | Cost <ÂŁ5
  • Bag of Marshmallows
  • Icing sugar
  • Black and Orange colouring (or packet of edible gel pens)
  • Bag of pretzel sticks, such as Twiglets
  1. Place 3 marshmallows on top of one another, stuck together by brushing a little water on the base, and pressing lightly.
  2. Break the pretzel sticks in half and insert into the middle marshmallow to create snowman arms
  3. Decorate the face with an orange carrot and two coal eyes, and the body with black buttons

Let the gel or icing sugar set and wrap in cellophane tied with some ribbon at both ends.

Voila! Marshmallow Snowmen!

Christmas Shopping from the Couch

For those who are unable to leave home, finding Christmas presents for loved ones can be difficult – particularly when they are not confident in using technology. An online shopping day can be a practical way of enabling service users to choose gifts from shops they can’t get to.  Make your time a little more special with some hot chocolate and Christmas music in the background, just to get everyone in the mood! It’s not only about the shopping; there’s the added lift of having something we’ve ordered being dropped on the doorstep. Who doesn’t get a buzz from a postal delivery!

What’s on around Edinburgh this Christmas

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The familiar sights and sounds of Christmas are in the air again! Ever-ready with Christmas cheer, we have looked out a few seasonal events in and around Edinburgh for you. Whether you’re looking for some yuletide fun with your family or a special seasonal outing with someone you support, below are some great ways to get into the Christmas spirit!

An Edinburgh Christmas Carol

You can’t get more Christmassy than a night at the Lyceum for the play, An Edinburgh Christmas Carol! 🔗. Sit back and relax in the warmth of a Victorian Christmas in this adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens.

Once Upon A Snowstorm

Based on the beautiful storybook, the Traverse theatre 🔗 tells a tale of a father and son who live an isolated life in the woods. A great story for families, with BSL interpretation to immerse signing children and adults alike in this fairytale-like show.

Price(s): ÂŁ5 – ÂŁ15

Five Sisters Zoo Christmas Illuminations

The Five Sisters Zoo will once again illuminate the zoo for another year, and Santa will be visiting too! There will be an ASN evening on Wednesday 7th December, and tickets for this date can be purchased via this ticket link 🔗.

Christmas at the Botanics

Great fun and tempting treats await you at the Botanical Gardens 🔗 this year, as you discover sparkling tunnels of light, bejewelled trees and flickering flames in the fire garden. And if you’re just looking for a Christmassy environment to enjoy some great food, you’ll find a whole range of talented independent street food vendors ready to serve you with some seasonal dishes as you explore the gardens.

Carers go free

Christmas Wreath Making Workshop

Enjoy a few hours of crafting and make your own fabric wreath for the Christmas season at this fun wreath-making class run by The Edinburgh Sewcial Club 🔗! Fill up your cup of festive spirit with friends and family or join in solo and meet other like-minded crafters as you make your lovely fabric wreath. A fabric wreath can be re-used year after year and is a sustainable door decoration that you can cherish rather than part with when Christmas time is over.

Don’t forget too, the Edinburgh Christmas market – always a great way to enjoy the seasonal ambience – and pick up a few select gifts on the way!

A Candlelit Christmas Concert, Morningside Church

Join Octavoce 🔗, the award-winning acapella group, for an hour of Christmas classics to Christmas crackers in the atmospheric setting of Morningside United Church on Thursday 8th December!

Castle of Light: A Kingdom of Colours

Prepare to see the jewel in Edinburgh’s skyline sparkle and glisten in brilliant colour this festive season as Castle of Light 🔗. Back for a third spectacular year, 2022 sees Castle of Light transform Edinburgh Castle into a “Kingdom of Colours”. An all-new and expanded show will create truly unmissable moments as extraordinary projections dance from the castle walls and immersive illuminations guide you throughout the castle in a sea of twinkling lights and colourful displays. 

Enjoy spending time with friends and family as you take in our kaleidoscope of colours and discover the mesmerising stories of Scotland and the castle along the way. Start your festivities with a magical night at the castle.

Merry Christmas one and all!

So, that’s our top picks for the festive season in Edinburgh! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the very best for 2023.

The SCA team.

Helping Others Stay Warm this Winter

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Good boilers, draft excluders and energy efficient heaters are all critical in saving energy and keeping warm, but as a care worker, there are other simple ways of making sure that service users stay cosy and healthy 
 

Check the dial!

If it seems chilly, speak to the service user and find out if they have turned their heating down. The World Health Organisation recommends a room temperature of 18-21ÂșC for healthy people, and higher for elderly people or those with health issues. You’ll have seen in the news that many older people are trying to live without heating, which can be incredibly dangerous; a consistent temperature of 16ÂșC or below can lower resistance to respiratory diseases, increase likelihood of stroke, and can exacerbate existing health conditions.

Turn down heating in unused rooms

Explain how shutting off unused rooms can help to save money without affecting the temperature of their most used rooms. In particular, the bedroom and bathroom should be kept a little higher to allow for undressing and temperature drop during sleep. Keeping doors closed to prevent heating unneccessary hallways can also make a huge difference.

Woolies for bedtime!

Wearing extra warm clothes to bed can really help; layers are always better, as air becomes trapped between them, and keeps us much warmer than one thick layer. Wearing a hat to bed can also be a good idea; whilst it’s actually a myth that we lose half our body heat from our heads, we do still lose some. And, of course, a good pair of thick wooly socks can keep those tootsies warm on chilly Winter nights!

Shut the curtains in the evening

It’s obvious that closing the curtains will keep out the draughts, but try to encourage service users to keep some of the curtains open during the day. Daylight is incredibly important for our physical and mental health – particularly if it’s too cold to go outside. 

Hot tea for days!

Hot drinks are a given – but again, carers are reporting that service users are reluctant to put their kettles on, for fear of using too much electricity. One idea is to suggest a coffee flask – like the ones used in meetings or coffee mornings. Filling it up once in the morning is far more energy efficient, and the bonus is that there is hot tea or coffee at any time of day, ready to be poured!

Stock up and Heat up

If you are out shopping with those you support, suggest more cupboard foods, to ensure that service users have plenty in their kitchen that they can make a hot snack from when it’s too cold to go outside. Tins of soup, cheesy pasta and tinned meats can be a handy go-to and quick to make.

Look out for signs of hypothermia

The current energy crisis is set to heavily increase the average 9,700 deaths per year in the UK from living in a cold house, according to National Energy Action. Look out for the following symptoms of hypothermia, and take action if you’re unsure:

  • Pale, cold skin
  • Shivering
  • Feeling tired
  • Showing signs of confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • Rapid breathing

Pick up on energy concerns during your visits

Of course, simply being vigilant around those you support is the best way of knowing if they are cutting back, by not cooking meals, or reducing their heating. Finally, you may want to check out the Scottish Government website for advice on which grants may be available to service users. And, importantly, take your own advice and stay safe and warm yourself! We are, after all, in the same boat this Winter! 

Want to work with us?

Check out our blog on ‘Working with SCA’.

Tips for the new Care Worker

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At Social Care Alba (SCA), we know it can be daunting in a new job, which is why we like to make sure you have all the support you need to help you become a competent member of our team.

All of our new staff undergo a strict induction process which includes going through our policies and procedures, from infection control and medication management to complex behaviour, as well as Moving and Handling, and other practical elements of the care-at-home role. As care workers, it’s critical to understand the responsibilities we have towards those we support, and each session will give you the knowledge and skills needed to perform the regular every day tasks that you’ll be expected to undertake. 

We want you to get to know your colleagues

Our team is super friendly, and have all been where you are, so relax and get to know your colleagues as well as you can. We hold regular get-togethers, like lunches and occasional nights out to help everyone gel as a team, but you’ll also be spending much of your day with your colleagues on the job. Getting to know your team is incredibly important, as communication is key in our line of work, and we need to be able to share concerns and seek guidance quickly as situations arise. We say to everyone who starts with us, don’t be shy! Get to know who you’ll be working with and help to strengthen our great team!

We know nobody’s perfect!

If you are new to care, it will seem as though there are just too many things to remember – multiplied by every service user you come into contact with! However, many of these things will become second nature, as typically repetitive elements of keeping our service users safe and healthy. We know you’ll get there 
 and we do our best to give you a great start. 

For the first while, you will have a work buddy to shadow and learn the ropes from as you learn about your clients and their individual needs. Feel free to ask your work buddy questions, and don’t be afraid to query things you feel might be obvious; you won’t be the first to ask, and you certainly won’t be the last!

We are carers – we care

The clue is in the job title! Be aware that this job is psychological as well as physical. We are not just administering medication or delivering personal care. In this profession, we work with people of all ages, and all walks of life and we need to be open and non-judgemental in our approach, as well as offering compassion and kindness. People who gravitate towards caring professions generally have these qualities; our aim at SCA is to provide a strong foundation to help caring people be at their best!

Practical tips for your first days in your new role

A few tips for your first days with SCA 


Wear sensible footwear – quite apart from the fact that you will be on your feet for much of the day, sound footing is also crucial when supporting others who may not be so steady on their feet. Further, you need only once have a wheelchair go over your toes to know that sturdy shoes are a must!

Pre-plan your meals – Shift work can be difficult to get into and work around, so its best to pre-plan your meals until you get the hang of it. This includes bringing in lunches and snacks that will keep you going throughout the day, and having meals ready for when you get home. The first few weeks may leave you with little energy to conjure up a healthy meal when you get home!

Try to avoid wearing jewellery as it can catch easily during personal care, or be lost in any number of homes you visit – so try to minimise what jewellery you wear for your own safety.

Bring a notebook – make notes of whatever you can, and don’t feel awkward about asking for a second to scribble something down. Reading through your notes in the evening can also help to drive new information home 

And lastly – be yourself! It takes all sorts to make a tight team, and we appreciate and value every single staff member for the challenging but rewarding role they do.  If you haven’t applied yet, head over to our careers page for information on current vacancies 
and we hope to see you soon!