Direct Care roles
Workshop Co-ordinator
You’ll organise social activities for people who need care and support, including trips out, entertainment and supporting people to take part.
You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to become an activities worker. What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours to work in social care.
We would ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths. It might also be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, but you can do these once you start the job.
It might be useful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. This experience could have been gained through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
Care/Support Worker
You’ll support people with all aspects of their day to day living, including social and physical activities, personal care, mobility and meal times.
You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to become a care worker. What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours to work in social care.
We would ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths. It might also be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, but you can do these once you’re in the job.
It might be useful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. This experience could have been gained through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
Management Roles
Care-Coordinator
You’ll lead or supervise a team of care workers to ensure they provide high quality care and support.
You usually need to have some experience of working in social care and health to get a job as a team leader or supervisor.
It’s also really important that you have the right values and behaviours to work in social care, as you’ll be responsible for managing a team and leading by example.
We would ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths. It would also be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
Specialist Coordinator, such as dementia or end of life care coordinator
You’ll specialise in one area of care such as dementia or end of life care and take responsibility for training staff and putting policies in place.
You usually need to have experience of working in social care and health to get a job as a specialist coordinator, particularly in the area you specialise in.
Depending on the level of your role, you might need a degree or a professional or vocational qualification relevant to your specialism. For example this might be a Level 3 Certificate in Dementia Care or a Level 5 Certificate in End of Life Care.
Manager/Director
Depending on your level, you’ll be responsible for the day to day running of the organisation, ensuring it meets standards and managing budgets and contracts.
You’ll usually need experience working in a social care or health role for these roles. You could progress from a senior care worker or other social care roles such as a rehabilitation worker.
The core qualification for social care managers is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care. You can only do this qualification when you’re working in a management role.
You could also work through the Manager Induction Standards that outline what social care managers need to know in their role.
Ancillary Roles
Maintenance
You’ll carry out practical maintenance jobs, usually in a residential home or sheltered housing.
You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to become an entry level maintenance worker but it would be useful to have previous experience in a similar role or a qualification in one aspect of maintenance such as plumbing or gardening. It would also be useful to have experience in a social care and health setting.
We would ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths.
It’s also really important that you have the right values and behaviours to work in social care.