What Qualifications Do I Need to Run a Care Home?

Running a care home is not a job anyone can do. You need certain qualifications to ensure smooth daily operations. Care homes require comprehensive management and rule establishment that can only be met by a qualified individual. Care home managers like TrueBlue of Sugarland  are responsible for running various residential homes that offer care for the following:

• Older people.
• Young people and children.
• Terminally Ill individuals
• People with learning and physical disabilities and mental health issues.
• What are the Tasks and Responsibilities of Care Home Managers?

Care home managers typically reside within the care homes. They can work up to an average of 35 to 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends. First, care home managers are responsible for calls in emergency cases. They also give consistent nursing cover without any exemption and ensure that the care home qualifies for all the national legal standards required for its establishment. Additionally, they evaluate the needs of all residents, then implement, develop and establish efficient care plans for every person while working with professionals and the patients’ families. 

Care home managers are also tasked with communicating with other professionals, like psychologists, nurses, teachers, doctors, care managers, probation officers, outside agencies, occupational therapists, and social workers. They are also at the core of ensuring suitable systems are put in place to protect young people and children and safeguard vulnerable adults.

Lastly, they connect with the people of the local area to enhance participation in community activities.

Qualifications to Run a Home Care

1. Experience

Just like any other profession. Experience in running home care is vital. Participants who want to run a care home require a certain level of experience. You need at least two years of experience as a supervisor or manager in a relevant care setting; if you have more than two years of experience, the better!

However, years shouldn’t worry you since there is a shortage of care home managers. 

• Education

To qualify as a care home manager, you need to have a level 5 diploma in Adult Care Leadership Management. This diploma is equivalent to a foundation degree and currently the most appropriate qualification to become a care home manager.

There are other previous diploma versions for this course. Therefore, before enrolling,  you need to talk individually to the course providers to ensure that their course is the right one for your career. For instance, some level 5 Diplomas are specifically tailored to caring for young adults and children, while others focus on adult care. As we said earlier, you need to pursue a course in Adult Care Leadership Management.

If you have a degree in nursing, it may not be necessary for some roles. For this reason, you need to get a level 5 diploma.

Most job advertisements for care home managers usually ask for a level 5 diploma or a Registered Managers Award (RMA) or other similar awards. Furthermore, if you have the previous RMA version, you don’t have to pursue the level 5 diploma.

Another requirement is passing through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). If you’re looking forward to serving as a care home manager, you must undergo assessment through the Independent Safeguarding Authority. This helps prevent improper individuals from working with vulnerable adults and children.

Getting Started with Care Home Career

The care home career has sparked interest in most people recently. Care home managers are always on demand since most people often need care home services. Nevertheless, care home management is rapidly expanding, especially in the private sector, due to a shortage of qualified care home managers.

As a care home manager, you may be employed by specialist employment agencies, private organizations, or charities.

After completing a care home training, you can get job vacancy advertisements in national, regional, or local newspapers and various publications. The local governments may also advertise care home managers’ job opportunities through different recruitment agencies and websites.

What Is the Salary Expectation for Care Home Managers?

Many aspects influence the salary one gets as a care home manager. This includes the number of actual beds, risks involved, resident fees, care home manager attrition, company status, company culture, and specialism. The responsibilities are not affected by the salary one gets.

Salaries may range according to one’s execution and skills of strategies. Starter care home managers get up to £35K per year, mid-range managers get up to £45K, and high-range managers get up to £75K and a bonus. 

Some employers may provide care home managers several benefits, including private healthcare and a company car.