What does a Child Care Worker do?
A Child Care Worker works with children with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. They are concerned with the physical and mental health of the children and focus on providing quality care and education to enhance their lives.
Child Care Worker duties and responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a Child Care Worker depend on the needs of the child they care for. Some of the possible duties and responsibilities of a Child Care Worker can include:
• Assisting with washing and dressing the child
• Preparing their food and help them eat
• Doing household tasks, such as shopping and laundry
• Getting to know the children, their needs and interests
• Monitoring their health and weight and recording any concerns
• Making sure they take prescribed medications
• Supporting their mental and physical wellbeing through different activities
• Working with other social care and health care professionals
Child Care Worker skills and qualifications
A Child Care Worker will have various skills and qualifications, these typically include:
• Sensitivity to and understanding of people
• The ability to work with different types of people
• Patience and the ability to remain calm during stressful situations
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Excellent customer service skills
What are the different types of Child Care Workers?
The main types of Child Care Workers are those working in a child care centre where they work with teachers to develop activities to educate, stimulate and monitor the development of the progress made by the children under their care. Residential Child Care Workers work and live in a child’s family home, or a community home for children and take care of the basic needs of the child under their supervision. They are also responsible for stimulating, educating and monitoring the child’s development.
What is the difference between a Day Care Worker and a Child Care Worker?
A Day Care Worker provides out-of-home care for children during their parents’ workday, while Child Care Workers can provide at-home care for children, even at times when the parents are available. Both positions cater to children’s basic needs and organise activities to stimulate their emotional, intellectual and physical development. A Child Care Worker may frequently work with children with specific emotional, social and behavioural difficulties, which requires additional monitoring and development focus.
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could:
• check the needs and progress of residents
• provide physical care, which could include bathing, toileting, dressing and feeding
• provide one-to-one advice or group support sessions
• teach daily living skills like budgeting, shopping and claiming benefits
• provide leisure and creative activities in a safe and supportive setting
• help residents to deal with problems and become independent
• talk with residents’ families and arrange family and home visits