Summary
What is the role of the caregiver?
Provide daily care
The carer takes care of the well-being of the elderly person or the disabled person. She helps him get up, go to bed and assists with his toilet. She also provides moral support by listening and being cheerful.
The role of the carer is also to guarantee a social life for the person they are caring for. It can suggest activities and accompany outings.
Manage household and administrative tasks
The carer also provides assistance in carrying out daily tasks: shopping, meal preparation, housework, etc.
He can also accompany the person in carrying out certain administrative procedures.
How much does a caregiver earn?
The remuneration of a carer is between the minimum wage and €1,900 gross per month depending on experience and the employer.
Note: the home help sector is recruiting. Demand will continue to increase as the population ages.
What are the working conditions?
A work from home
The carer intervenes at the home of the person in charge. He is usually present for a few hours a day depending on his needs. The jobs offered are often part-time.
Staggered hours
Depending on the person’s dependency, the carer is required to be there at sunrise and bedtime. Working days can therefore start very early in the morning or end late in the evening. The caregiver is also required to work weekends and holidays.
Public sector or private sector
The carer can be recruited by different types of employers:
- private companies (80% of jobs);
- the municipality: the carer then has the status of social agent;
- home help associations.
How to become a caregiver?
The state diploma of social life assistant
The state diploma of social life assistant (DEAVS) is the reference.
This training is subject to an entry test (topical questionnaire and interview) and accessible from the age of 18. Essentially focused on practice, it lasts 6 months. It is also possible to access it through the validation of acquired experience (VAE).
The theoretical courses take place over a period of 9 to 36 months and are completed by a 4-month internship.
BEP support, care and personal services
After the 3e, the BEP ASSP also provides access to this profession. It replaces the BEP health and social careers and then offers the choice between entry into working life or training in 3 years of the Bac pro ASSP.
To note : if it is still possible to practice without a diploma, the profession of carer is becoming more professional. A qualification is increasingly demanded by employers.
What qualities are you looking for?
Daily energy
The carer must be in good physical condition to be able to handle disabled people.
human qualities
Tact, listening and dynamism are necessary to support the people in charge. This profession also requires an interest in human and social problems.
Content updated on 07/09/2012