The Care Workforce Pathway is a comprehensive framework designed to clearly define careers in adult social care. It outlines the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours that people working in the sector need to deliver high-quality, personalised care and support.
The Care Workforce Pathway (the Pathway) is co-developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in partnership with Skills for Care, care providers, workforce representatives, and people with lived experience of care.
Skills for Care is continuing to work with DHSC to develop the Pathway and to support organisations to learn about and use the Pathway by sharing information, practical resources, and tools, as well as through direct support programmes for care providers and systems.
Care providers - get practical support to use the Pathway
Join our direct support programme starting in January 2027 and we’ll help you build your knowledge and understanding, put what you learn into practice, and start to make positive changes to existing workforce planning and development activity.
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The Pathway is the first universal career structure for the adult social care workforce, clearly setting out the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours needed to work in the sector.
The Pathway is helping the sector to develop a confident and competent social care workforce by addressing common ongoing challenges, including attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
It also empowers people working in adult social care to develop or progress in their career by highlighting how they can gain relevant skills, access learning and development, and grow their careers in line with their individual aspirations.
The Pathway covers 18 role categories, including direct care and management role categories as well as non-direct care roles, such as Care Technologist, Nominated Individual and Activity Co-ordinator. It also recognises the contribution of the wider workforce, including people working in corporate and middle management or in supporting roles in the sector, such as cleaning, catering, and maintenance.
Together, these role categories reflect the breadth of the unregulated workforce who contribute, directly or indirectly, to the quality of adult social care provision.
The Pathway includes suggested learning opportunities to help members of the workforce develop knowledge and skills within a role or within a specific area of practice.
Find more information on the Care Workforce Pathway and role categories on GOV.UK and explore the career progression opportunities.
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This guide introduces the Care Workforce Pathway and explains what it is, why it is important, and how it can help organisations, individuals, and the wider care sector.
Our 'Care Workforce Pathway: Shaping tomorrow, together' event (February 2026) looked at how the Pathway is shaping the future of adult social care. Watch the recording to gain practical insights, hear success stories from care providers already using the Pathway, and be inspired to start using the Pathway in your own organisation.