A care worker speaking compassionately with an older person seated in a chair while they drink from a mug.

Reasons to work in care

If you are just about to leave school or you are looking for a change in career, there are many reasons to become a care worker.

Get you started on your social care journey

There are many reasons why you should become a care worker, including:

Pursue your passion

A career in the care sector is ideal for someone who has a naturally caring personality and is concerned about the welfare of other people.

Support your community

Supporting those in your community gives you the opportunity to give back, and maybe even support someone who once supported you.

Job satisfaction

Seeing the positive impact of your support each day brings a sense of satisfaction and pride in knowing you've done your best for your clients.

Gain qualifications

A career in care allows you to move up the social care ladder, gain further qualifications and build your career on the path that you choose.

Meet new people

Being a care worker allows you to get out and about more in your local community and meet new people.

What does a Care Worker do?

Care Workers provide support to adults of all ages in the community or a care home setting. The primary role of a care worker is to ensure the well-being, safety, and comfort of the people they care for.

Care workers who work in the community are sometimes called Domiciliary Carers, which often involves travelling to different people’s homes.

The people you would be caring for could include adults with learning disabilities, physical impairments, dementia or those who need mental health support. Your compassion would enable support people to:

Remain living independently in their own homes
Live in residential or nursing care homes
Be part of their community

A Care Worker’s role may include some personal care (assisting with daily personal activities such as washing, bathing and dressing) and assisting people with their mobility and domestic jobs. It could also involve engaging people with social and physical activities, helping them to access services in their community or communicating with their family.

Is a role in the care sector right for me?

Working in the care sector requires certain values and qualities that are essential for providing effective and compassionate care to individuals, including:

Empathy and compassion
Dignity and respect
Patience and tolerance
Integrity and trustworthiness
Learning and reflection
Commitment to quality care and support

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What roles can you have in care?

Working in care is about making a difference to people’s lives by providing physical, emotional and social support to help people live their lives. Whatever your skills, there is a career in care to suit you.

Below are just a few of the varied and interesting roles in care. All will help you develop transferable skills and are incredibly rewarding.

Care Assistant

Care assistants can work in either residential settings or offer support in people’s homes. Duties include:

Helping people get up or go to bed
Serving meals
Assisting people to take part in activities and hobbies
Personal Care and supporting emotional well-being
Can be referred to as: Care Assistant, Carer, Care Worker

Support worker

Support Workers are similar to Care Assistants but there is more focus on independent living. They can either work in residential homes or may work for individuals in their own homes. In addition to the role of the Care Assistant duties may include:

Providing help in organising and attending appointments
Processing bills or helping with housing and advice
Helping people go shopping and getting out to do things they enjoy

Team leader/Senior carer

The role of Team Leader or Senior Care Assistant would include the duties of a care assistant but also hold some additional responsibilities such as:

Supporting and encouraging a team of care assistants
Completing reviews of staff and ensuring they are delivering quality care
Any additional duties assigned by the home manager
Regularly assessing service users and looking for changes in their care needs

Deputy/Assistant manager

The role of Deputy/Assistant Care Manager can be based either in a residential home or as a manager of a team of carers for a domiciliary care provider. Duties include:

Manage and coordinate day to day running of the service
Ensure high levels of care and service being offered by staff
Work with other care/health professionals
Monitor and uphold quality standards of the service
Support the registered manager

Other roles

Rota coordinators are responsible for ensuring a service is fully staffed at all times. This involves putting together shift patterns for each member of staff and identifying any issues. Duties include: