The iSavta Team | 20.06.2019

 

The average pay for respite workers

 

In Canada

According to Neuvoo.ca, the average salary for a respite working in Canada is $16.44 per hour. This may vary depending on the area as sometimes rural areas command a higher salary than urban areas as respite workers are more in demand.

 

In the UK

Indeed.co.uk found that average salaries for respite workers in the UK were £8.98 per hour based on the last 36 months, although there are some reports that jobs can pay around £10 per hour. This will depend on your place of employment. Jobs in the southeast of the country tend to pay a higher salary but there is a higher cost of living in the areas around London.

 

How to start a career as a respite worker

 

So, you want to become a respite worker?

Respite workers do not usually provide medical care, so you do not necessarily have to have any special qualifications. However, if you can get any training or qualifications, this will help you immeasurably, along with any relevant experience. At the very least, make sure that you gain as much knowledge as possible about how to work with the elderly. 

 

How can I get relevant experience?

 

Try volunteering with the elderly in your community or at a local nursing home. Working with elders alongside trained staff with giving you an insight into the kind of things that you will be dealing with as a respite worker.

Looking after friends, family members or other elderly members of your community will also give you experience and look good on your CV when you’re applying for respite worker jobs.

 

Where can I get training?

There are some courses that you can take that will prepare you for the world of respite work.

 

First Aid training

You will need to know first aid if you want to work as a respite worker. There are likely to be local first aid courses available in your area.

It’s important to get first aid training if you want to be a respite worker.

Respite worker courses

There is an online course available at Safeguards Training that will get you ready for a range of aspects of working as a respite worker, for example:

• Providing personal care
• Health and safety
• Communication skills
• Boundaries
• Creating a positive environment.

In Canada, you have a high school diploma, you could also take a course to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. You can find more information about these courses here.

In the UK, you can take an apprenticeship with the NHS that will train you to work in the health and social care industry. You can find more out about that here.

 

Who would you work for?

 

Respite carers often work for agencies as they will work as a cover for carers temporarily. Here are some websites where you can look for agencies to work for:

Neuvoo.ca is a great resource for jobs in the respite care industry.

 

LinkedIn not only has jobs posted regularly but it can also be a great potential resource for networking with people in the same industry as you. If you have any former colleagues or acquaintances who work in respite care, they may be able to help you find a job.

 

Workopolis has numerous job opportunities for prospective respite workers.

Glassdoor is a useful site with both job opportunities and information and reviews of various organizations, so you can see what previous and current employees think about the company.

 

You may want to search for terms such as ‘residential support worker’ to find similar jobs.

What knowledge do you need to become a respite worker?

 

It is important to learn about the different conditions that affect the elderly. As a respite worker, you could work with lots of individuals with different conditions, and they all have different needs. Some of the conditions that you could work with (and should learn about) are:

 

• Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Hearing loss
• Loss of sight
• Mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety)
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Arthritis

 

Responsibilities of a respite worker

 

Your responsibilities can vary hugely depending on the client that you are working with. Some older people will only need some companionship and help with household tasks. Others who have more needs may need help with going to the toilet, bathing and feeding themselves. When looking for a job, try to find a job that will provide you with the requisite training.

 

Transportation

Working as a respite worker can mean working in multiple locations. If you live in a city, you may be able to get to work using solely public transport. If you live in a rural area, you may need a car if you don’t have adequate public transport links.

 

Essential qualities for starting a career as a respite worker

If you want to work as a respite worker, it is important that you have a number of key personal qualities to make sure that you can be successful in the position.

 

Communication and listening skills:

Communication and listening skills are important in the workplace, but they are even more vital when you work as a respite worker. You will need to listen carefully to and remember information about the clients that you work with. You will also need to be able to communicate effectively with the client’s usual carer as well as the client themselves.

 

Compassion and empathy

In respite care, your clients are usually cared for by friends or family, and they can be very used to having care from a particular person. They may find it challenging to have a respite carer as there is now a stranger responsible for their personal care. Having empathy and understanding for your clients is an essential quality if you want to start a career as a respite worker.

 

For more information on the skills and qualities needed to work with the elderly, check out our other article.

 

Summary

 

Respite workers generally get paid more than the national minimum wage, but salaries will vary depending on the where you work.

 

Online courses can be useful in preparing you to be a respite worker.