The Top 8 Skills Needed for a Career in Adult Social Care
Developing skills or roles in adult social care needs a good attitude and application in your workplace. Discover the top skills employers are looking for to help you land your next role in the industry.
There are perhaps no more rewarding or challenging careers than a position in the adult social care sector. After all, caring for the most vulnerable people in our society will never come easy, but the benefits in fulfilment, flexibility and career development can rise above many other jobs on the market.
However, receiving the rewards and dealing with the challenges relies on your application to the job while utilising the top skills necessary to make a great career in adult social care.
Today, we discuss the top skills and attitudes for working in adult social care with advice on applying these qualities in your work setting.
The 8 Best Skills and Attitudes for Working in Adult Social Care
Developing skills or roles in adult social care will improve your career by helping you provide better quality care while creating more worthwhile opportunities as you progress.
However, any carer should be expected to deliver the core skills necessary within their working environment. These core skills function across areas like language and comprehension to digital competence and employability. Whether problem-solving, working responsibly with others or managing your time, these are the basic requirements we expect anyone working in adult social care to deliver.
However, to truly shine in the role, adopting other attitudes and skills in adult social care will help you exceed your employer’s expectations.
Here are the top eight skills and attitudes for working in adult social care:
1. Empathy
Having a caring nature requires considering the feelings and conditions of your Resident/clients. But while not everyone is necessarily born with the gift of natural empathy, we can all learn to develop it.
The best way to develop empathy as an attitude and skill in adult social care is to ask yourself one simple question.
“How would I feel if that was me?”
By simply imagining yourself in your Resident/client’s situation, you can begin building a greater understanding of their mindset and behaviour while recognising when and where they need your support.
2. Passion
Like in any career, the importance of being passionate about what you do should not be underestimated. But in adult social care, passion is paramount.
Those not passionate about caring for others and providing the best care they can to those in our society who are most vulnerable may struggle to adapt and motivate themselves in an adult social care role.
Applying or adopting the right skills is essential in care, but a passionate attitude to look after those in need makes all the difference.
3. Life Experience
Most entry roles in adult social care require no formal qualifications or training. However, employers will look for life experience with candidates having diverse backgrounds and experiences that can lend well to their people skills, understanding and sensitivity.
Ultimately, the more life experience you have, the better you can relate to Resident/clients from different backgrounds and cultures.
4. Communication
Communication remains crucial in both Resident/client and colleague relations alongside general working practices.
Firstly, some of your Resident/clients may have conditions that impair their ability to communicate or force them to communicate in alternative ways. Therefore, your ability to attune to their communication style will help you provide better quality care.
Secondly, communicating effectively with colleagues is crucial for cohesive teamwork and ensuring your Resident/clients receive the correct care, whether that’s passing on important information or listening to instructions.
5. Attentiveness
Part of providing quality care is having an attentive nature. Social isolation can cause an increased risk of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Remaining attentive helps your Resident/clients feel safe and secure, improves their mental health and increases their brain stimulation. Essentially, this can be everything they need to live a happier and healthier life.
Often, it’s the case where those who receive care face isolation daily. Therefore, an attentive nature can play a critical part in keeping Resident/clients’ spirits up and showing them that they’re not alone.
6. A Sense of Humour
Sometimes, especially in the care community, having a great sense of humour can prove the best treatment. As they say, “Laughter is the best medicine”.
Laughing helps release endorphins that make people feel happy while promoting better wellbeing and even providing temporary pain relief.
So, while your Resident/clients might suffer from serious illnesses and health conditions, making them laugh can do them the world of good on days when they might be feeling low.
The best way to apply this sense of humour is to learn to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously. Sure, we can all accept you have an important job to do but you can still do it with a smile.
The second you choose to be vulnerable in front of your Resident/clients with your attempts to make them laugh, the more comfortable they will feel in your company.
7. Intuitiveness
Whether physical or mental, attention to small details like minor changes in a Resident/client’s behaviour can help identify further health issues before they become more serious.
You can help improve your intuitiveness by building stronger connections with your Residents/clients, taking notes on any changes you notice and conducting consistent risk assessments.
8. Patience
Caring for anyone struggling with their physical or mental health will 100% require patience. Your job is to help people, so if you’re Resident/client has dementia and continually forgets what they say or if they have mobility issues and can’t move quickly, patience is more than a virtue, it’s an essential requirement to the job.
Develop Your Skills in an Adult Social Care Role
Working in adult social care is packed with benefits and rewards but often requires the right person willing to learn and make the most of it as a career.
At Herefordshire Cares, we help people find the ideal care roles in Herefordshire, working for decent employers who want the best for their Residents/clients.
From Care Assistants and Support Workers to Home Carers and Service Delivery Leads, we have a whole host of opportunities available on our vacancies page that might be right up your street.
If you need any advice or have any questions about the necessary attitudes and skills in adult social care, speak to a team member today.