Who is right for this industry?

I’ve learned this the hard way: having years in care, a folder full of certificates, and all the right qualifications doesn’t automatically make someone a good carer.

I’ve met people with decades of experience who could recite policies word for word — yet somehow missed the most important part of the job: the person in front of them.

And I’ve met people new to care, still finding their feet, who brought more compassion, common sense, and heart into a room than anyone else.

Because care isn’t just something you do.

It’s something you are.

You Can’t Train Kindness

You can train someone to use a hoist.

You can train them to give medication safely.

You can train them to follow care plans and protocols.

What you can’t train is kindness.

You either notice when someone is uncomfortable, scared, or having a bad day — or you don’t.

You either speak gently, respect dignity, and treat someone like a human being — or you treat them like a task.

Some carers do everything “by the book” but forget that there’s a person attached to the job.

And that’s when care starts to feel cold.

Initiative Changes Everything

The carers who stand out to me are never the ones who just do what’s written down.

They’re the ones who:

Spot when something’s not quite right and say something.

Don’t walk past a problem because “it’s not my job.”

Think ahead.

Ask questions.

Care enough to act.

They don’t wait to be told. They own it.

That kind of initiative doesn’t come from a qualification.

It comes from caring enough to want things to be better.

This might sound harsh, but sometimes the most “experienced” carers are the hardest.

“I’ve always done it this way.”

“That’s how we did it in my last job.”

“I’ve been doing this 20 years.”

Care changes.

People are different.

Families are different.

Needs are different.

When experience turns into stubbornness, it stops being a strength.

The best carers I’ve worked with — no matter how long they’ve been in the job — stay open. They listen. They adapt. They don’t assume they already know best.

What matters most in care is who you are when no one’s checking.

Do you still speak kindly?

Do you still respect dignity?

Do you still do the little things properly?

Do you still care when it’s hard, when you’re tired, when it’s “just another shift”?

That’s where real care shows up.

Not in audits.

Not in certificates.

But in everyday moments.

The Truth

Yes, qualifications matter.

Yes, experience matters.

But they’re not enough.

Being a good carer comes down to:

Empathy.

Respect.

Patience.

Initiative.

And genuinely giving a damn.

You can teach skills.

You can’t teach someone to care.

And in this job, that makes all the difference.

hashtag#care hashtag#socialcare hashtag#leadership