Understand the role of a domiciliary care worker, with examples of daily duties, specialist care, and how they support independent living at home.
Inside an ageing UK population, we can expect the demand for domiciliary care workers to continue rising, with the King’s Fund predicting a further 440,000 extra roles needed in adult social care by 2035.
But what exactly does a domiciliary care worker do on a daily basis? How do they differ from other types of carers, and what kind of support can clients expect?
From the everyday responsibilities to domiciliary care examples, this blog explores the role of a domiciliary care worker in detail to help you see if it’s the right type of care for you.
Domiciliary care workers are dedicated healthcare professionals who support people with daily needs within the comfort of their own homes. Employing over 800,000 people, with around 12,500 providers, the domiciliary care industry is worth over £11.5 billion to the UK market.
Also known as “home carers” or “private carers”, the purpose of a domiciliary care worker is to empower people to live independently at home. In doing so, they play a vital role in promoting dignity, confidence, and freedom to those who need it most.
Therefore, the types of people reliant on domiciliary care support include:
Although the terms “domiciliary care” and “home care” naturally overlap, differences between the roles can include the scope of services, level of expertise, and flexibility of arrangement.
For example, depending on the individual's needs, the support a domiciliary care worker provides tends to focus on routine daily visits. On the other hand, a home carer would apply more to permanent live-in care responsibilities.
Domiciliary care refers to various services designed to support individuals who wish to remain in their own homes rather than move into a residential care setting.
The benefits of this arrangement range from independence, flexibility, and affordability, but to better understand the services you should expect, here are some domiciliary care examples:
The personal care duties your domiciliary care worker would provide include:
Ensuring proper eating and drinking habits is essential for maintaining good health and receiving the nutrition our bodies need to function effectively.
Domiciliary care examples for meal preparation and nutrition include:
Managing prescribed medications is essential to ensure clients' conditions don’t worsen. As a domiciliary care worker, you may have an essential responsibility to either remind or assist in medication support while keeping track of what medication has been taken.
However, not all domiciliary care workers should assist with medication, depending on their training and the specifications of the medicine. In some cases, medication support must be administered and supervised by registered nurses.
Beyond their direct support, domiciliary care workers can also help their clients with general day-to-day household tasks, such as:
More than simply being an extra pair of hands, the objective of performing these tasks is to create a safe and comfortable living environment integral to the client’s wellbeing.
Providing emotional support is another important aspect of a domiciliary care worker’s role. With over half of all people in the UK aged over 65 living alone, the importance of companionship is crucial to maintaining mental health and wellbeing, especially for those who are more vulnerable.
With 47% of adults experiencing loneliness and isolation, this issue has become more prevalent in our society and can easily create further mental health issues if ignored.
Some domiciliary care examples for companionship include:
Many clients require domiciliary care due to limited mobility or physical restrictions. This may require a domiciliary care worker to escort clients around their homes and help with mobility aids.
Outside of the home, dependable mobility assistance promotes independence while encouraging clients to remain active and engaged in their community, whether accompanying them to appointments, social events, and day activities.
Beyond the general assistance and support, certain clients may have specific conditions and challenges that require a specialised care approach.
By providing one-to-one support in the comfort of a person’s own home, domiciliary care makes delivering tailored, compassionate specialist support easier and more effective for both the worker and the client.
As a Hereford-based family business serving Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, Kemble at Home only employs dedicated, compassionate, and experienced domiciliary care workers to deliver our live-in care and visiting care services.
Recognised as “Outstanding” by the CQC for our domiciliary care services, our approach to personal care is gentle, non-intrusive, proactive, and professional.
If you’re looking for trusted support at home, get in touch with us today to learn more about how our domiciliary care workers can help you or your loved ones live more comfortably and independently.
Domiciliary Care Worker Opportunities with Kemble at Home
Domiciliary care offers a rewarding, fulfilling, and progressive career for people who are passionate about helping others and making a real difference.
At Kemble at Home, we’re proud to attract optimistic, “can-do” individuals who share our values of compassion, respect, and dedication.
Many of our team members have been with us for over a decade. We believe this is a true reflection of the supportive, family-like culture we’ve built. Operating within a sector known for its high turnover, it’s important we stay committed to nurturing our staff, helping them grow, and ensuring they have everything they need to deliver the very best care.
If this sounds like it could be the right fit for you, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our vacancies page to explore current opportunities and contact us directly with any questions.
