06/09/2016
Most companies will at some point in your training, have an interview where they review your skills, what your strong points are, who you would prefer to work with and where you would choose to go and work. This is your opportunity to put your views across and you should think through these things, especially the question of where you want to go.
City based clients have very definite advantages such as accessibility to shops. You will find everything from Chemists and supermarkets to shoe shoes and mobile top up stores. Cities and towns always have banks and libraries where you can print of boarding passes if needed. There will normally be buses and trains to take you to nice places on your breaks. Sometimes there are pretty parks where you can just relax and read a book. Most cities have plenty of interesting things you can see in your break, you can plan short visits to explore the area and see things that you normally would not see. London and most large cities are alive with wonderful things that you can fit into a break! The down side of cities and large towns is of course the noise and often the traffic and pollution which comes with it. If you have any chest problems such as asthma this will be something that you should take into account. Day after day of an attack of irritants may not be what you need to keep you healthy and in top form to care for someone.
Rural areas are often extremely pretty with a local church and country walks in and around the village centre. The down side of rural life is of course the isolation. You may go for days on end with only your client for company. Not every client is able to hold a stimulating conversation with you so you should consider whether you can cope with the quiet periods. You might also find that your breaks are not on every day because there is no one to relieve you. They might be rolled over to seven hours on Saturday and seven hours on Sunday. While this would be great in London, it might not be quite so acceptable in a village where you have no where to go and nothing to see. There might only be a corner shop in a village so you would need to take enough books and needlework to keep you busy until you were able to get to a town to buy anything. If you do not mind solitude and quietness, wide open spaces and all that goes with country living, then this choice will be a good option.
Whatever you feel you can work with, you should be sure to let your support team know at your interview. Contrary to what you may think, a decision to avoid cities (or villages) will not be held against you. Your company will appreciate knowing how you honestly feel about a placement. They have clients in both cites and villages and need carers for both situations. It is in your best interest to consider where you would feel your best and let your company know.
