Jobs in Healthcare You May Not Know About

Since the pandemic, we as a country have seen more than ever how important healthcare workers are to the very fabric of our society. Whether they’re helping us in hospitals or visiting homes to lend a hand to new mothers, older community members, or disabled community members, healthcare workers help countless people live happier, healthier, and easier lives.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in healthcare but aren’t sure where to specialise yet, here are some lesser-known healthcare jobs that make a huge difference to people’s lives every single day.

Care of The Older Person

As we grow older, everyday tasks can become quite difficult, which is why care assistants for the elderly are so important to our communities. As an elderly care assistant, your role is to help older people to live their lives as independently and “normally” as possible by lending a hand with everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping. Elderly care assistants often work in their community visiting people in their own homes, but can also work in assisted living communities and nursing homes. This job is a flexible one, where the care assistant generally makes their own schedule when working in the community. This career is one that’s also best suited to an outgoing and extroverted professional, as it involves a lot of talking and relationship building, which is often quoted as the best part of the job for both the care assistant and older person.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

While many of us are familiar with the role of an occupational therapist, did you know that the role of occupational therapy assistant also exists? An occupational therapy assistant works alongside an occupational therapist to provide help to individuals with disabilities or health conditions, assisting them to live as independently as possible. Examples of this help include gentle exercises and the therapeutic use of everyday activities to build strength, confidence, and ability. Unlike the role of an occupational therapist, which requires a level 9 QQI degree to practise, an occupational therapy assistant role can be achieved by completing a level 5 QQI course, meaning less study time, fewer years required, and more flexibility.

Disability Support Worker

Similar to an elderly care assistant, the role of a disability support worker often takes place within the individual’s home, with the care assistant helping the person in question to live as independently and easily as possible. Disability support workers work alongside individuals with both mental and physical disabilities to provide supervision in the home while also helping with various everyday tasks like shopping, cooking, cleaning, socialising, and more. This role requires empathy, patience, fantastic communication skills, and the desire to help on a personal basis with individuals. Again, similar to the role of an elderly care assistant, disability support workers often end up making very strong and important relationships with the people they care for, which is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

Here at Barrow Training & Consultancy, we offer a range of online healthcare courses and blended learning healthcare courses to help you get on the healthcare career ladder as a beginner or established professional. What’s your next healthcare career move going to be?