The effect of caring work with children in care on female care workers' life

Abstract

This long essay deals with the day to day experiences of women who spend a great deal of their life working as care workers with children in care in institutions, what motivates them to care, what the children in care need from them and the effect of their care work on their lives. Through the memories of the eight persons interviews and memories on the years working with children in care, one can observe some of the things which really matter and should be taken into account such as the importance of caring work, the construction of reforms and policies in children's residential care homes and the importance of support given to workers when working with children in care because of the effect it leaves in their lives. Female care workers pay a great emotional price because their work life is so similar to their personal everyday life and also because boundaries are very difficult to keep. Although these eight care workers settled successfully in their professional work, they still felt that working with children in care has marked their life, both in a positive and a negative manner. The care workers emphasized that giving individual attention is very important to children in care for various reasons, especially for the children not to lose their identity and to make sure that the children in care feel that they belong. Good administration of the Care Home as well as trained, qualified and supported care workers of both genders would enhance the service provision and the experience of the care worker.