At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013 - (Page 393)

Helping hands // CAREERS // National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). The most appropriate NVQ for foster carers is the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (www.cache.org.uk), which allows you to develop your expertise in childcare. ● DEVELOP A SPECIALISM It is possible to dedicate your care to young children with special needs. However, you will need to, at first, develop basic care skills before you begin to concentrate on a specialism. What to expect There are two options to progress, these being Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) and Local Authorities (LAs). They both provide allowances for carers that are designed to cover the cost of travel, food and clothes for the child you are caring for. Allowance terms do differ, however: with IFAs you receive a basic weekly fee of £400 regardless of the age of the child. Comparatively, LAs use the nationally recommended fee and allowance rates depending on age. In London, these figures range from £154.30 a week (child aged four) up to £266.01 (aged 16+). C ar ing for ‘I never fail to be amazed at the strength and resilience of children’ PAULINE KENNEDY THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED Pauline Kennedy, 58, is director of operations at The Children’s Society ‘I work for a major children’s charity based in London and I oversee our direct practice. We have roughly 70 programmes and children’s centres across England. ‘A lot of our work focuses on adolescent neglect. We help children who are at risk of sexual exploitation or living on the streets, refugee and disabled children, and young people living in care. We provide advocacy for many children, helping them to verbalise their needs. ‘Many women work in social care, but we are under-represented in management. I’ve worked at The Children’s Society for 15 years, starting as a parent support worker and gradually taking on managerial roles. Before this, though, I gained lots of practical experience working with families and young people in many different environments, including a nursery and a mental health unit. ‘My advice to anyone interested in social care would be to get some hands-on experience first, through volunteering or paid employment, then develop your theoretical knowledge. Working with young people is a challengeLEFT:the rewards but caption here a xxxx xxxxxxx are fantastic. I never fail xxxx Picture to be amazed at the caption here a strength and resilience of xxxx xxxxxxx children who have had to xxxx Picture battle against thehere a caption odds. All they need is someone xxxx xxxxxxx xxxx to believePicture caption in them.’ here a xxxx Social care The social care sector is an area which allows its employees to make a real difference to people’s lives – but of course, as with any career choice, it demands its fair share of hard graft, too. In 2012, social workers worked an average of 45.9 hours – much higher than the 37.2 hours they are contrated to work, according to a survey by the British Association of Social Workers. Therefore, a determined mindset is a driving force behind social care and the changes it makes to people’s everyday lives. It’s a rewarding opportunity to provide support to those who need it most, but it needs to be a matter you’re passionate about: as with any care-based role, your job may prove emotionally challenging, and without a genuine concern for the cause, carving a top career could prove tricky. The breakdown Despite being a branch of care itself, social care is not a one-dimensional path. There are two main spheres in the sector: The first is domiciliary care, which is focused around the care of a group of people – for example children, the elderly or disabled – in a residential school or care home. This offers help for them to live in a community, encouraging independence in their daily lives even if they are not in their own homes, covering important tasks such as medication, personal care and meals. The other – field social work – is focused on improving social conditions for particular individuals or families in the community. As a support service this form of social care provides help to those living in their own homes, ensuring involvement within the local community and offering assistance with areas such as budgeting and ensuring the person being cared for has a healthy lifestyle. Where do I start? If you work within residential care, the initial position that you are most likely to enter as is that of social care worker or care assistant. The general responsibility of the role involves providing help and support to the daily activities of people who are experiencing difficulties. The setting of this work varies from care homes and day centres to people’s own homes. Duties cover personal care, housework and investing time in getting to know individual clients – especially as building a comfortable relationship with those you are caring for is an essential aspect of the job. Work can be reasonably MARCH 2013 ● 57 55-58 Take Care FINAL.indd 57 17/1/13 10:18:58 http://www.cache.org.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013

EDITOR'S LETTER
LORRAINE KELLY UPDATE
NEWS UPFRONT
SAVE THE DATE
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
BEAUTIES IN BLUE
LIGHTEN UP
BAGS OF STYLE
BUCKLE UP
IT'S A WRAP
IF THE SHOE FITS
SETTING TRENDS
THE BIG REVEAL
GET THE LOOK
LONG REIGN LORRAINE
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
EXPECT THE WORST
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
WOMEN'S HEALTH A-Z
COULD YOU BE DEPRESSED?
SLEEP EASY
GET BACK TO YOURSELF
WHAT A PAIN
LISTEN UP
CHINESE CUISINE
A TASTE OF ITALY
SNACK TIME
DRINK IT UP
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
EXERCISE'S NEW GROOVE
SPRING INTO SHAPE
OUT AND ABOUT
BEAUTY BLOOPERS
CROWNING GLORY
MAGIC MAKEOVERS
I LOVE MY NEW BODY'
FLASH A SMILE
YOUNG AT HEART
SAFELY DOES IT
LOOK AFTER THE PENNIES
THE GOOD LIFE
ROOM REVAMP
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
WHAT A BLINDER!
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
THE EMERALD ISLE
SPRING BREAKS
REST AND RELAXATION
ANIMAL ACCESSORIES
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND
BEASTLY BEHAVIOUR
STYLE SAVVY
TV FAVES
LAST WORD
STOCKISTS
CRAFT NEWS
WE LOVE BEING CRAFTY!'
HOME SPUN
FRAME WORK
MAKE THE CUT
CLEVER CARDS
KNIT ONE...
SPARKLE!
KITTED OUT
THE ICING ON THE CAKE
HELLO CUPCAKE
LORRAINE'S ROAD TO SUCCESS
THE WORLD OF WORK
AN AGE OLD PROFESSION
THE ONLY WAY IS UP
JUST THE JOB
MOVE OVER, MISTER!
BEYOND THE SHOP FLOOR
THE BANK JOB
ARE YOU COVERED?
CAREFULLY DOES IT
EQUAL RIGHTS
BALANCING ACT

At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013