Everyone working in social care needs English, number, digital and employability skills including team work and problem solving skills. 

There are also some specific skills needed to work in this role. These include

• strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate others
• the ability to think strategically to develop your organisation
• good project management and organisational skills.
  
  

You’ll usually need experience working in a social care or health role for these jobs. 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. If you’re currently working in social care and interested in becoming a social care manager, speak to your employer about opportunities to progress.

You could also work through the Manager Induction Standards that outline what social care managers need to know in their role.

If you’re interested in working as a social care manager, there’s lots of advice about finding a role on the Starting your career page. You could look online or in your local newspaper to find vacancies. 

You could also apply for a higher apprenticeship which means you’ll gain supervisory experience, gain a qualification and earn a wage. This is a great route into a senior care worker role; you could speak to your employer about opportunities or find vacancies on the Thinking about doing an apprenticeship page.

If you’re currently working in social care, speak to your employer about opportunities to progress into management roles.

If you’re a graduate you could apply for the social care Graduate Management Programme.

When you start in your role you should do an induction which includes training necessary for your role such as health and safety, administrating medication, first aid and leadership skills.

When in your role you could do a vocational qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or continuing professional development qualification or training such as a Certificate in Team Leading.

You might want to progress into a further management role for which a level 3, 4 or 5 qualification would be useful.

You might also choose to specialise in one particular area of care such as end of life or autism care, and you could become a trainer or assessor in that area. Read more on the Job roles in social care page.