Archive

How to be a Great Care Assistant
Edited by Dr Richard Hawkins and Adrian Ashurst,
Caring Times/Hawker Publications
ISBN 1874790795,
£14.95
STAR RATINGS: 5/5

At first sight the title could appear patronising and the subject matter boringly basic, but this book is a cracker, writes John Burton.

In her foreword, Hilary Woodhead relates an experience as a care assistant: "Realising the difference between 'help' and 'work with' was what eased my transition from being good at my job to being great at it, and as soon as I was great at it I realised that I loved it."

Starting with the uninspiring raw materials of the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards, Hawkins and Ashurst create a lively, challenging and genuinely informative book. I usually groan with despair when confronted by yet another set of lists and instructions aimed at making intelligent grown-ups follow procedures and put aside their own experience, feelings and doubts.

This assumes and expects the best of people.

The editors have packed a lot in, yet it is exceptionally well laid out and organised. With spaces for the reader to make brief notes and dozens of "think about" examples to get your teeth into, it's designed for each member of staff to have their own personal copy.


Although its prime readership is new care workers, the book is suitable for everyone working in a care home, including the manager. In this sense it is a marvellous basic text. I can see it being used at handovers, in supervision and in brief training sessions. My advice is to buy it and use it.

John Burton is author of Managing Residential Care