Become a caregiver with this free online course that explains how to provide health and social care to the infirm.

Elderly, sick and disabled people often require care and support to live happily. Compassionate and well-organised professional care assistants support people in this position to help them lead fulfilling lives. They help clients keep track of care plans and meet all necessary requirements to ensure that they are well cared for without complications. Their day-to-day tasks include assisting clients with prescribed medication, mobility, personal care and hygiene. This course teaches you the duties and responsibilities of a care assistant and explains how to deliver top-notch care services to clients.

The course distinguishes between the three elements of health care and the four aspects of social care provided by care assistants. We then identify who provides social care services to service users and the steps taken to do so. Care assistants who work with food must adhere to food safety and hygiene practices. This is because all food handlers are required by law to understand and implement food hygiene practices in order to protect the food they serve from contamination. We examine the laws that govern food safety in the United Kingdom, how these laws are enforced by food safety officers, what is expected of food business owners under these laws and what might happen when they contravene the laws. We also discuss food poisoning, its cause, symptoms and control measures.

The course explains the concept of equality, the duties of a health and social care worker, the relevant codes of conduct and how to safeguard vulnerable individuals. We establish the importance of communication and outline how to identify vulnerable children. We show you how to make decisions for people that face difficulty in making their own, the principles of service delivery and legal responsibilities in health and social care. Lastly, we define common medical terms and lay out the important roles technology plays in health care. There are no prerequisites for taking this course and it is designed for all learners. A career in health and social care allows you to help people who are infirm, elderly or sick. Sign up to turn your compassion into a career and make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable people while protecting their wellbeing and dignity.