Male care workers say stigma around men working in care 'is changing'

A group of male home care workers in Mansfield is urging men to consider a career in care, saying the stigma around men working in care is changing.

Nationally men make up around just 15 per cent of the frontline workforce in home care and this is something that Respectful Care, based in Park Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, wants to change.

It has launched a campaign to recruit more males into the sector and is highlighting the work of some of their own care workers to show men can care too.

Ben Shaw was a teacher for seven years and took on a job as a home care worker after caring for his grandmother.

He said: “There has historically been a stigma around men in care, particularly around the element of personal care of the older generation and female clients.

“But that is changing. We find that sometimes people can be unsure about having a male carer to begin with but when they see that you can do the job with care and compassion, they soon welcome you.”

Mark Cohen is a former IT manager, a role he held for about 10 years. He cared for his own grandmother and decided it was time for a job change.

He said: “I’ve had lots of positive comments from people and family about the job change. It’s a rewarding job to be doing and it’s great to see that people’s perceptions of the sector are changing. Now is the time to come into home care.”

Adam Clements is a client relationship manager at Respectful Care, where he himself started his career as a care worker.

He has found it to be “such a rewarding job to be in”, saying: “ In this role, you have to treat people with dignity, kindness and respect.

“Helping people to live independently is such a different job from the norm but I think you’ll find it is so much better because it really is about people.”