Care Worker (nursing home)

You support residents with meals, bathing and toileting, help them move between bed and wheelchair, and assist them when they get up in the morning and go to bed at night. Each unit of about ten residents has its own small team, so you come to know every resident's daily rhythm. Shifts rotate: early 7:00-16:00, day 9:00-18:00, late 11:00-20:00 and night 16:30 to 9:30 the next morning with a two hour break, about four to five nights a month. You keep the care records for your shift, make the night rounds and report to the unit leader. Overtime averages about five hours a month.

Residence status Specified Skilled Worker (i), nursing care, or the test passes that qualify for it

Japanese at JLPT N4 or above, or a pass in the JFT Basic test

Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test and Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test passed

Care experience welcome, those new to the trade are trained on the floor

Willing to rotate early, day, late and night shifts

Fit to assist residents with transfers and bathing through a full shift

Basic English (A2) for paperwork, daily work is in Japanese

Monthly pay from 281,000 up to 340,000 JPY

Night shift allowance of 6,000 JPY per shift, about four to five shifts a month

Bonus twice a year and a pay rise once a year

Full social insurance: health, pension, employment and accident insurance

Commuting allowance up to 30,000 JPY a month

108 days off a year, 10 days of paid leave after six months

Home leave: a longer break to visit your home country, arranged within the team

After three years of practice, staff who pass the national Certified Care Worker exam receive a qualification allowance and can move up to unit leader, at about 350,000 JPY a month.

A unit care home with private rooms, a shared living room on each floor and assistive equipment such as lift baths for residents. Gloves, aprons and masks are provided, and uniforms are lent free of charge.