Social

Care

Thinking about
a career in
social care?
Thinking about a career in social care? 3
A worthwhile job. A rewarding career 4

How do I get started? 6

Understanding the role 7

Home care 8
Residential care 8
Personal assistant 9
Community work 9
Working with children 9
Case studies 10

Training and support 15

Induction training 15

NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) 16

Apprenticeships 16

Degree in social work 17

Support from Jobcentre Plus 17

Next steps 18

Current job vacancies in social care work 19

Voluntary work 19

Thinking about a
career in social care?

Now is a great time to get into social care – there are more
opportunities than ever. Social care is a growing sector and
can provide long term, secure employment.

Working in social care covers a huge variety of jobs in many

different settings – all helping people with their everyday
lives. Through practical support, you will help people to
maintain their independence and lead fuller, more secure
lives. By building partnerships with the people you work with,
you will encourage them to get the most out of life.

You may be helping older people who are having difficulty

doing things they once found easy; children and families
who are struggling to cope with the challenges they face;
or people who need support because of disabilities.

It might be small things that you enable people to do, but it

makes a very big difference to how good they feel – and how
you feel too.

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 A worthwhile job.
A rewarding career.

One of the advantages of social care work is that it is often

local, and can be flexible in terms of fitting in with your
other commitments. There are many part-time as well as
full-time jobs, and some that offer shift patterns to provide
care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You’ll be encouraged to develop new skills and gain

qualifications that can take you into more senior roles
as your experience grows. Whether you start with a few
GCSEs, a degree, or life and work experience gained as
a parent or carer or in some other career altogether, you’ll
receive training to help you reach your full potential.

How far you go will depend on your ability, your enthusiasm

and what you feel happiest doing.

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 How do I get started?

The most important qualities you need to start a career

in social care are an interest in people and respect for what
makes them individuals. It might help if you have already
been a “carer” – say for your own children or a relative
– or if you have done voluntary work. But it’s not essential.
You will be given induction training when you start, with
further on-the-job training to follow. You will soon acquire
the skills that mean you can do your job well, and gain the
formal qualifications that prove it.

If you are interested in working with children or adults

in vulnerable situations, you will need to undergo a
pre-employment check with the Criminal Records Bureau.
From November 2010 you will need to be registered with the
Vetting and Barring Scheme. Most employers will be able to
provide assistance with this. If you have any questions about
your suitability or would like more information, contact the
Independent Safeguarding Authority on 0300 123 1111
or visit their website: www.isa-gov.org.uk

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Understanding
the role

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 To help decide on the role that would suit you best, think
about your own experience and skills. Would you prefer
to work with adults, older people or children? Would you
like to work as part of a team, or more independently?
Where would you want to work – in people’s own home,
residential homes or day centres? What hours of work
would suit you best? See “Next steps” at the end of this
booklet for information on finding job vacancies.

Home care
Home care and day centre workers give the practical
support and regular social contact that are so important in
helping people to maintain their independence and well-being.
Home care workers become part of a vital support network,
linking with other social services, health professionals,
neighbours and families.

Residential care
Residential care can become the best solution for people who,
because of age or disabilities, are no longer able to cope in
their own homes. Residential care staff work to create safe,
clean, cheerful and fulfilling environments where people can
live in comfort and are treated with dignity and respect.

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Personal assistant
A new role in social care is that of the personal assistant,
who works closely with an individual to provide whatever
practical support they need. Helping to put people in
control of their own lives is the key to helping them live
independently. There is a wide variety of roles available,
depending on the needs and wishes of the person you are
working with.

Community work
Within any community there are people who, because of
poor mental health problems, a learning disability or other
problems, need help to cope with everyday life. Social care
workers provide practical support that helps people to lead
fuller, more fulfilling lives whatever difficulties they face. For
example, outreach teams, under the direction of a social
worker, visit homes where parents are struggling to cope.

Working with children

Social care workers build relationships with children to
support them as they develop. They work in youth clubs,
drop-in centres and residential homes. For looked-after
children, relationships with social care workers can go a long
way towards building their trust in adults and confidence
in the adult world.

See pages 10-13 for case studies

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 Laura Taylor (personal assistant)
“I’ve known Joe since I was about 11 years of age. We used to go to
primary school together. When I turned 16, his mum asked me if I would
like to start working with Joe, taking him out at weekends to the pub,
just doing normal everyday activities. I get a buzz looking after Joe
– just being able to see how happy he is, because I’m taking him outdoors.

I get satisfaction and I always go home feeling happy, knowing that Joe’s
happy from what we’ve helped him do during the day. I don’t think I’d
get the same satisfaction working in a different job.

I do probably see myself progressing in this job role. But I see myself
being with Joe for a very long time, just because we have a good bond,
a good friendship.”

Laura has two part-time personal assistant positions; both involve

caring for physically disabled clients. Her position involves walking,
social outings, and assisting with meals and hygiene. Laura is one
of nine personal assistants for Joe, who needs two-to-one support
at all times.

Follow Laura for a day at www.socialcarecareers.co.uk

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Stuart Eaton (support time and recovery worker)
“I work for a mental health early intervention team. It requires passion
and maybe a bit of life experience. It’s about what you’re like as a person.
But once you’re there, it’s a great stepping stone to move on to other areas.
There’s lots of jobs within the team that you can grow into. The experience
that you gain from working with people day in, day out, is invaluable.

The journey from problems with mental health to recovery can be a lengthy
one. It’s about small steps. Being the person who can just help with those
small steps, that’s what really gives me a sense of achievement.

I wouldn’t say to anybody that it was the easiest job in the world, but I
would say it was probably one of the most rewarding. It’s something that
I‘m incredibly proud to be able to do. As long as you go into it with that
attitude, nothing is going to stop you from getting into social care.”

Stuart undertook voluntary work while studying counselling; he

currently works with 16–35-year-olds with mental health issues and
helps them become more active in the community.

Follow Stuart for a day at www.socialcarecareers.co.uk

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 Nilom Din (community support worker)
“I really like caring and that’s why I chose this job. People who are ill or
people with disabilities, I really want to help them.

One of my clients had a stroke and she can’t walk. She can’t speak
English very well. I can understand her language so I can communicate
with her and explain to my other colleague what she is saying. I feel like
I’m doing something for someone who really needs care. When we
are working together, helping them, it’s like I’m helping someone who
is my sister or daughter.

Because I feel proud when I am helping them, I feel I have done

something good for someone.”

In her current role, Nilom visits older people in their homes – usually
people from ethnic minority communities, helping to bridge the
communication gap between them and their other carers. Nilom
also plans to go back into higher education and progress her career
in social care.

Follow Nilom for a day at www.socialcarecareers.co.uk

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Mandy Thompson (senior carer at a residential care home)
“I enjoy coming into work every day, helping them, helping the families,
making their lives better for them, and also the appreciation and the
gratitude they give you.

When I came in, obviously I had to start at the bottom as I hadn’t got
any previous training. Since then I’ve moved up from a carer to an acting
senior to a senior within three or four months. Eventually I’d like to go
into management or get my own home.

You become closer to people. You have more contact with them, you see
them on a daily basis and you can’t help caring about them. It’s different
because you get the feedback from them and they really do appreciate
what you do for them.”

Mandy works in a residential care home for older people, some with
mental health issues or dementia. She would never have considered care
work previously, but now loves making people in the care home happy.

Follow Mandy for a day at www.socialcarecareers.co.uk

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Training and support

For many care jobs, your people skills and enthusiasm will be
more important at first than academic qualifications. As you
work you will develop skills through on-the-job training and
social care courses. Many of these are work-based or involve
day release to attend local colleges. Others are full-time training
courses for which you may get an allowance. This section
describes the main training programmes that are available.

Induction training
This provides the basic knowledge and skills to help you settle
into your new role and ensure you are able to do the job
properly. The induction programme takes place in the first
12 weeks of your new job (24 weeks if you are working in
child care), using national standards adapted to where you
work. Your manager will ensure you are supported through
this. Much of the training will be led by your manager, but
external trainers may also come in to cover some specialist
areas. Induction training gives you professional recognition and
leads on to qualifications such as an NVQ in Health and Social
Care (see next page).

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 NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications)
You will gain NVQs as your experience and skills develop.
You don’t have to take exams – NVQs are work-based
vocational qualifications that assess your competence to
perform everyday tasks and check that you know why you
are doing things. A trained assessor will join you to assess
your abilities in the different aspects of your job. NVQs cover
a wide range of areas, and access various levels of competence
and experience: for example, NVQs in Health and Social Care
(Levels 2, 3 and 4). Various NVQs in Management are also
available. Your employer can advise on which will be best for
you to take.

Apprenticeships
Young Apprenticeships
A Young Apprenticeship provides an exciting opportunity
for motivated and able 14 – 16-year-olds to combine
academic study with a blend of vocational qualifications
and work placements. For more information, visit
www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Health and Social Care Apprenticeships

There are two levels of Health and Social Care Apprenticeships:
a Level 2 Apprenticeship and a Level 3 Advanced
Apprenticeship. As an apprentice, you can expect to be doing
work-based learning and get paid a wage or an allowance.
For more information about apprenticeships, visit the
Apprenticeships website: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

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Degree in social work
Your experience in social care work could encourage you to
go on to become a qualified social worker. The recognised
qualification for social workers is a degree in social work
that combines studying at a university or college of higher
education with at least 200 days of practical work. An NVQ
in Health and Social Care at Level 3 or 4, plus extensive social
care work experience, may gain you entry to the degree course.
For more information, visit www.socialworkcareers.co.uk or
call the Social Work Careers helpline on 0300 123 1100.

Support from Jobcentre Plus

You may be able to find work in social care through the New
Deal programme. New Deal will give you the chance to train,
learn and do work experience, so that you can gain confidence,
get new skills, and find and stay in work. When you join New
Deal you will get a personal adviser from Jobcentre Plus who
will help you at every stage of New Deal. They will check how
you are doing and help you plan what to do next. This could
be face to face or on the phone.

During 2010 New Deal will be replaced in some areas by

“Flexible New Deal”. Your personal adviser will tell you if this
applies in your area. You should talk to your personal adviser if
you are not sure about something or you have a question.

If you are aged between 18 and 24 years, and currently

receiving Jobseekers Allowance, your recruiting employer
may be eligible for a subsidy. Employers can find out more
by going to www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/carefirstcareers

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 Next steps

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For current job vacancies in social care work
• Visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
• Care Job Finder matches you up with employers in your
area (www.carejobfinder.org)
• Jobs Go Public provide details of public sector care
vacancies (www.jobsgopublic.com/socialcarecareers)
• talk to your New Deal adviser at your local Jobcentre
Plus office
• if you are still at school or college, talk to your careers
adviser or Connexions adviser
• for friendly advice and a free DVD please call us
on 0300 123 1100

For voluntary work

This can be a good introduction to see if you enjoy working
with people:
• contact Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979 or
visit their website www.volunteering.org.uk to find
your nearest Volunteer Centre

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More than a million people work in social care across a wide
variety of roles in people’s homes, residential and day care,
hospitals and the wider community. All of them play a vital
part in putting people in control of their lives.

Get more out of life.

Help someone get more out of theirs.

For friendly advice on social care careers

or to order a free DVD call 0300 123 1100
or visit socialcarecareers.co.uk

See what it’s like to be a social care worker at

youtube.com/socialcarecareers

© Crown copyright 2010

299493 1p 100k Jan10 (BEL)
Produced by COI for Department of Health

For information or copies of this booklet, contact:

Social Work and Social Care Careers, PO Box 2313, BS2 2ZR
www.socialcarecareers.co.uk | email: swcc@postroom.com
tel: 0300 123 1100 minicom: 0300 123 3090

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