Care Escort
Job Description:Care escorts travel with elderly people or people with disabilities to help them get to their appointments.
Job Category:What you will do:
As a care escort, you could:
- take people to and from appointments
- make sure passengers, wheelchairs and bags are secure
- deal with emergencies
- supervise passengers at all times
- keep the vehicle clean and tidy
- fill in paperwork
Skills:
You’ll need:
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- sensitivity and understanding
- a desire to help people
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork)
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- organisational skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
Entry Requirements:
To become a Care Escort, specific qualifications are not always mandatory. However, certain subjects and skills can be beneficial in preparing for a career in care escort roles, which often involve assisting individuals with medical or mobility needs. Care Escorts primarily require skills related to patient care, communication, and empathy. Here are some subjects that can be helpful:
- English Language: Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for Care Escorts, as they interact with individuals in their care, their families, and healthcare professionals.
- Mathematics: Basic math skills can be valuable for tasks like measuring medication, calculating dosages, and managing appointment schedules.
- Science (Optional): Courses in science, particularly biology, can provide some understanding of basic medical concepts and health-related topics.
- Health and Social Care (Optional): If available, courses in health and social care can introduce you to healthcare principles, patient care techniques, and the ethical aspects of caregiving.
Post School
You can get into this job by taking a college course or by volunteering:
College
It’s helpful to have completed a college course but it’s not essential.
A course like a Certificate in Health and Social Care can give you an introduction to working in the care sector.
Volunteering
A common way into this job is to volunteer as a care escort with your local community transport organisation.
There are no set entry requirements but you might find it useful if you have experience in social care or customer service.
You’ll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Working Hours and Environment:
You could work from a vehicle & you may need to wear a uniform.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could move into other similar jobs, such as an:
- admin assistant
- dispatcher
- driver
- supervisor