If you enjoy helping people and want to make a difference to their lives, this job could be just what you are looking for. As a care assistant you would help people who have difficulties with their daily activities. You could work with children, people with physical or learning disabilities, older people or families. A good care assistant has a friendly and caring approach and the ability to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds. You could work with people known as clients in their own homes, in sheltered housing, at day centres or in places like nursing homes. This involves working closely with one disabled person to support them in their everyday life.

If you work at a residential location, you may sometimes be expected to stay there overnight. With experience, qualifications and extra responsibilities or specialist support worker skills this may rise to between £18,0 and £21,0. figures are intended as a guideline only.

entry requirements

it would be useful if you had experience in a caring role, perhaps through volunteering or with your own family.

Previous experience is likely to be essential if you plan to work with people who have mental health problems or learning disabilities. When you apply for a job, you would have a medical check and you would also need criminal records bureau crb clearance to make sure that you are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. To work in the community, some employers will expect you to have a driving licence because you are likely to have clients in a number of different locations. All care workers working in a children’s residential care setting must meet the national minimum standards.

Those that are currently employed in this setting must have a level 3 qualification previously the nvq in health amp social care as a minimum. Those that are newly employed must either be qualified to a minimum level 3 or be working towards the level 3 diploma in working with children and young people social care pathway within six months of employment.

training and development

once you start work as a care assistant you will receive on the job training from your employer. You may also attend external courses, such as on hygiene, health and safety, and how to lift people. If you work in adult social care in england you will be expected to take part in a 12 week induction programme provided by your employer. This will be based on national minimum standards of care, which cover areas such as: role of the health and social care worker personal development communicating effectively equality and inclusion principles for implementing duty of care principles of safeguarding in health and social care person centred support health and safety in an adult social care setting.

A Level English Paper

You may also be encouraged to work towards a level 2 or 3 diploma in health and social care. If you work with children or support people with learning disabilities you will also have to meet additional standards.

opportunities

you could work with local authority social services departments, private agencies providing care services, or voluntary organisations. With experience and qualifications in care, you may be able to move into social work or nursing.

industry summary

adult social care is part of the sector represented by skills for care, which is one of the partners that comprise skills for care and development sector skills council.

This includes those working in early years, children and young people’s services, and those working in social work and social care for children and adults in the uk. The social care sector comprises two sub sectors: adult social care – with a workforce of nearly 1.5 million, accounting for 5% of england’s workforce, and 38,0 employers children and young people – with an estimated workforce of 2.7 million during 2007/08, approximately 2.3 million adults used publicly funded social work and social care services in the uk. Adult social care includes residential care, domiciliary care and social work with all its specialisms. There are an estimated 1.5 million workers providing adult social care services and more than 38,0 employers. Skills for care are responsible for the training standards and development needs of social work and social care staff working with adults in england.