Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

Homecare workers are there to ensure that some of the people who might otherwise be admitted to institutional care for social reasons could continue to live at home.

Support the personal care of people who need help to cope within their own home. This may be because of illness, a physical disability or a problem related to old age.  
 
The Homecare workers aim is for the client to keep as much independence and quality of life as they can. As far as possible, this means that they enable people rather than just helping them, looking for ways to improve or maintain their self-sufficiency, and therefore helping clients to keep their dignity.  
 
Homecare workers may visit up to eight people a day, spending between forty-five minutes and an hour with each person. Some people need intensive help, so the care assistant will visit in the evening and at weekends, as well as for longer periods during the week.

Sometimes, a Homecare worker will live with a client who needs round-the-clock care, for example, up to two weeks and then have time off before returning to live in.  
 
Homecare workers help and enable a wide variety of people. They may visit elderly people who are frail or have Alsheimer's disease, people who are partially sighted or blind, have mental health problems or physical disabilities, or progressive illnesses. They may help single parents with disabilities to look after their children.  
 
The level of personal care given by a Homecare workers depends on the client's needs and ability. On a morning visit, the first task may be to help clients wash or bathe. They may help clients to dress, prepare breakfast and feed themselves. They take clients to and from the toilet whenever necessary.  
 
During the day, Homecare workers do a number of tasks to make the client's life as comfortable as possible. They may clean and tidy the house, make and change beds, and wash clothes. On an evening visit, they may prepare a meal and help clients get undressed and go to bed. It is also a responsibility of home help assistants to remind clients to take their medication. 

As well as helping with physical tasks, Homecare workers give emotional and social support to people who would otherwise feel lonely and isolated. Homecare workers often develop trust and friendship with the people they look after. They help people to keep in touch with family, friends and the community. They may do the client's shopping, collect benefit or pension money, or help them to pay bills.

Homecare workers play a vital role as the contact point between the social services department and the client. They must report back to the department on any changes in the client's mental or physical health, or other circumstances.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
• Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
• Bathe patients.
• Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
• Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
• Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
• Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
• Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
• Perform a variety of duties as requested by client, such as obtaining household supplies or running errands.
• Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Homecare workers under CORU healthcare professionals qualifications require a minimum of level 5 NFQ care & healthcare support qualifications. Experience of caring for people, either on a paid or voluntary basis, is an advantage.  

**application for CORU license and employment in this ococupation may require garda vetting & security check**

Key Skil certs 

SOVA Supervision of vulnerable adults

Infection control 

Patient handling

Due to the dispersed nature of home help, a full drivers license is important, as you move between supporting clients' in their home.   

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder

Courses for entry into Home care: 

FET Centre Traineeships Healthcare NFQ level 5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET Centre courses Health care / Social care/ Ability support NFQ level 5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET Centre PLC Courses Healthcare/ Social care/ Ability support NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

There are a very wide range of courses available for those wishing to enter this career. Courses are available at Certificate, Diploma and Degree level for progression. Candidates should consult the prospectuses of their local institutions for information on available courses.
 
Career progression is possible, and with experience and training you could progress to become a senior home help assistant and then manager of a particular area.

Apprenticeship Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €44k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, roles & duties, shift pattern, experience, and qualifications. 

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Glassdoor/ Excel / The Wheel

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the annual average employment growth rate for this occupation was below average, employment has been growing since 2020. Those employed in this occupation are primarily female, a high share are employed in part-time roles (41%), and more than a quarter are aged 55 years or older. Recent job hires in 2022 exceeded employment growth indicating a level of job churn. There was a large volume of vacancies advertised through DSP and over 200 new employment permits were issued in 2022; in addition, in December 2022, a quota of 1,000 general employment permits was announced for carers and home carers.

The high number of persons employed in this occupation, and the older age profile, indicates that replacement demand alone will create a high number of job opportunities for these roles; the increased demand for these services with our ageing demographics suggest that shortages are likely to continue in the short-medium term at least. Issues with the attractiveness of the job and job churn are further exacerbating the shortage.

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here