Marketing the job role

“We will support care providers by encouraging positive changes that will actively raise the standard of care, each care provider is responsible for listening and acting upon concerns raised which benefits the care being provided. Nightingales Army is here to raise awareness about the concerns that are being expressed and unaddressed”

 

We see fake news every day, it is hard to know what to believe when reading information online. We have all fallen for fake Newsline, photoshopped images, or adverts. Where do we draw the line? When media, such as photographs and videos could potentially be the cause of a fatal accident, why do companies allow these to be advertised and displayed knowing it is portraying maneuvers that are not acceptable in the care environment because of proof of injury occurred when used, or implying the incompetence of a care staff member suggesting unskilled, uneducated and untrained. Using these fake adverts to lie to the public to gain interest for profit only is not how the care sector should be managed.

The role of a care assistant is being marketed unrealistically

…and thereby staff are entering a job without the certain skills required to achieve the job role with confidence. Together with some interviews not being conducted honestly, employees do not know what questions to ask their new employer questions are generic. Neither side receives a clear and factual introduction of each other.

How the role of a healthcare assistant is being marketed also gives the false impression that the job is “fluffy slippers and cups of tea.” It promotes an illusion that as a healthcare assistant you will have lots of time to spend with the service user, chatting and socializing. Suggestions through advertisement that the only attributes and qualities one needs to undertake this role are that of kind, caring and understanding. Is false advertising and contributes massively to high turnover, it attracts the wrong people into the industry.

A verbal statement from a managerial position: “if we were to market the true job role, pressures and detriment one would suffer as a healthcare assistant, we would never get any new staff ” This is wrong and unjustifiable, just like the Army, it’s not for everyone but it attracts a certain type of person. False advertising needs to Stop!!

These are just a few examples, we recognize these photos misrepresent the job role taken on by the health care assistant and it encourages others to practice these poor maneuvers increasing the risk and accidents happening in the community between relatives and unqualified staff. 

We often see relatives, friends and partners trying to support their spouse from under their arms, pulling their wrist or pushing their backs. Without the knowledge of the damage their are causing not only to their loved one but them self too. If you are aware someone is struggling to move unassisted by a friend or loved one you need to consider a mobility aid, reclining/profiling bed and chair for their needs. 

Questions we have been asked on Social media:

Nightingales Army has witnessed. Staff being put up in to a role they didn’t ask for, with new responsibilities they are not prepared for. This is a high risk maneuver and will be detrimental to all parties. We have seen staff receive verbal warnings and are scrutinized for not completing work they have not been trained to complete. If it is not reflected in the job role it should not be expected of the employee.

Every single person who is interested in working in health and social care could be an asset to the team, but because they are unsure of what to expect of their employer or what is to be expected of them we often lose these fantastic carers as there is no support for their concerns they are just expected to be compassionate, kind and honest. In reality the job role and requirements are significantly greater than just caring.

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“As the shortage of nurses continues to bite, shifts are increasingly filled with more unregistered care staff,” said the RCN’s general secretary, Janet Davies. “Support workers play an extremely important role, but they should supplement the work of nurses, not replace them.”

The Guardian – Two Thirds of NHS Healthcare Assistants doing Nurses Duties

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