So you are thinking of becoming a certified care home manager. Well, you need to be applauded for this career choice! There is something incredibly noble about helping people when they need help the most. Needed as much as doctors and surgeons, the healthcare administrators and care home managers ensure that everything runs smoothly, and patients are taken care of. They assess a patient’s short-term, as well as long-term needs with professional caregivers to formulate a program and address those problems. Read on to know what it takes to become a certified care home manager.
Career Requirements To Work As A Care Home Manager
You can get into the job of care home manager through an apprenticeship, a university course, or working towards this role. You could do a higher national degree or diploma in health and social care before applying for a place on a graduate trainee scheme. The entry requirements are 1 or 2 A levels, for a foundation degree or a higher diploma, and 2 or 3 A levels, for a degree.
Further, you could start on a higher apprenticeship for young people, children and family managers, or leadership, care, and management. After this, you could go for on-the-job training. Also, you could opt for adult care higher apprenticeship.
Besides, if you have previously worked in social care or are currently working in any of the job roles of the healthcare industry, you can apply for training. Within three months of taking up your job, it’s best to start a Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care online courses to climb the ladder to managerial care home jobs. You can choose to go in several pathways, including practice in adult services, practice in children and young people’s services, management of young people’s residential services, etc.
If you have any previous qualifications required to work as a care home manager, they are still valid. However, your employer would support you to go for a Level 5 diploma, if you want to advance in this career.
The Key Skills You Need
A care home manager must be experienced in a range of abilities and skills, such as-
- Working with residents or patients, as well as their families.
- Knowledge of psychology.
- Sensitivity and understanding.
- Good communication skills.
- The ability to understand and handle people’s reactions.
- The ability to accept criticism or work well under pressure.
- Staff Management.
- Financial Management.
- Liaising with different organizations and professionals, etc.
A Success tip- Try to participate in field experience or volunteer healthcare activities. Students in nursing diploma programs or associate’s degree programs can gain multiple field experiences in a care management firm. Also, interning with a care manager will allow you to network with professionals and perform the tasks involved in their jobs.
Do You Need Previous Experience?
Along with qualifications and skills, the experience will help you with your career as a Care Home Manager. As discussed, the job role of a care home manager requires some skills. And, these skills can only be developed via on-job-training or participating in volunteer healthcare programs. So, the answer to this question is ‘Yes.’
However, you don’t have to have worked in a home care setting before. Even if you have previously worked in nursing care, domiciliary care, live-in care, or daycare centers, you can still move over into a care home setting and make a successful career. So, don’t let the deficits put you down.
What You Can Do
Remember, experiences come in many different forms. And, working in real life with people from different backgrounds, or illnesses will add a bonus. For example, working with autistic children, people with dementia, or those with chronic or long-term health conditions would give you a rich experience in care.
Keep Your Portfolio Updated
As a pro tip, it is crucial to keep your resume or portfolio of work experience updated. Supervision, training certificates, or any emails or letters thanking you for the care given will make a great reading at the interview.
What If You Don’t Have Experience?
Well, the answer to this question is to get some. You need to ask yourself whether you can get this experience in your current job role or look for other opportunities. If you aren’t getting it in your current post, simply ask your employer. There is a turnover in staffing in healthcare facilities. Moreover, some organizations will place a value on growing their team into more senior roles.
Think strategic yet broad. Sometimes you have to build your experience by moving from one post to the other and ascend the management ladder slowly. Hone your skills, improve your knowledge, and identify the areas you lack in. This would go a long way helping you to succeed in your career as a Care Home Manager.