Why St Martins

You will learn new skills and build confidence

As well as getting formal qualifications, you learn on the job too. Every day, you’ll be faced with different situations, from the serious to the trivial. Learning to deal with things as they happen means care workers are an adaptable and resourceful bunch - your experiences at work will give you useful transferable life skills that can benefit your own family and wider community too.

It is fun and interesting

Working with residents who each have unique personalities and life-experiences can be eye-opening and lots of fun. You’ll get new perspectives on life, hear some wonderful stories and learn about what’s important in life from people who want to pass on their wisdom. Although care work often involves helping those who are facing adversity, you’ll be inspired by the human capacity to see the positives and humour in so many situations. As life-affirming jobs go, it doesn’t get any better.

You will gain useful qualifications

Care is a highly regulated industry, so you can build quite a CV when it comes to qualifications. Not only are there plenty of job roles to keep you busy, it can also act as a useful stepping stone to gain experience for a career in nursing or social work.

It makes a difference

Every job has its merits but there’s something extra special about care work. The smallest things can make the biggest difference to someone who is struggling to cope due to ill-heath or old age. The feeling of knowing that you’ve improved someone’s life make every day worthwhile.

No two days are the same

They say variety is the spice of life and that’s certainly true in social care. You’ll look after a wide range of individuals with differing health conditions and ever-changing needs. Every person you encounter and situation you face is unique and that’s what keeps life exciting.

Flexible working

People don’t just need care from 9 to 5, which means hours are available around the clock in a variety of combinations.

You are a valued member of the team

No one in social care works in isolation – as a member of a care team you’ll make friends and get support from others who share your values and goals. You’re also part of a wider network of health professionals like doctors, district nurses and social workers. Perhaps the most important group you become a part of is that of the resident’s circle of family and friends – all working together in the best interests of the person you look after.