Starting a career in social care

Working in social care is challenging and rewarding. The social care sector needs people who are passionate about working with people.

Considering a career in social care?
Whether you are looking for a career change, thinking of returning to the social care sector, or starting your working life from school or college, there is a huge range of work opportunities in social care.

Making a difference
You can gain an enormous sense of personal achievement from simply knowing that your job is helping people. It's about making a positive difference to people's lives by contributing to their health, happiness and well-being.

For various reasons and stages in their lives, some people need support to develop and maintain their independence, dignity and control. Social care provides a whole range of services to support adults and older people.

Skills for Care has developed a guidance leaflet for those considering a career in social care: Have you thought about a career in social care? (pdf)

The interactive career pathway e-tool allows you to identify your particular social care interests against job 'levels' to find what roles there are and see what range of qualifications are needed for those roles it also includes care studies and contacts for more information.

Qualifications and training
You may not need formal qualifications before beginning a career in social care. There will be plenty of opportunities to acquire more skills, training and qualifications depending on how far you want to take you career.

Some options include:

• Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a combination of on and off the job training and learning. Apprenticeships are not just for young people but for all ages. As employees, apprentices work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills, getting paid whilst working towards a number of qualifications and gaining experience. For more information visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/apprenticeships.

• Pre-employment training

If you are interested in working in adult social care and are currently unemployed you could undertake the Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care. This qualification is offered as part of pre-employment training arranged by Jobcentre Plus or Work Programme advisers. The course is designed to help you decide if a career in social care is right for you and if you achieve the award, employers will know that you have a good understanding of what working in the social care sector would be like. To find out more, speak to an adviser at your local Jobcentre or Work Programme provider.

• Society, Health and Development Diploma

This qualifications can include a work placement and Skills for Care developed placement guides to support this. There are three in the series one for teachers one for students and one for employers...more info