Working in social care

Social care is a career which suits many people at different stages of their lives and it offers a challenging, rewarding and flexible career. Care workers provide support and help clients to lead an active and integrated life in society. Workers are employed in a range of services across the sector working with children, adults and older people.

Many provide home care or work in residential care homes for children and adults or with people with alcohol or drug problems.
Others choose to work with children, families and young people or people with disabilities.
As a social care worker you can work in the community, for a voluntary organisation or charity, in the private sector or with a local authority social work department.
Typical job titles include social work assistants, care worker, support worker, key worker, and care assistant but there are many others.

Social care workers work with social workers, health and other professionals. You can choose to work in social care if you have left school with no qualifications or if you are a graduate.

You don’t always have to have a social care qualification to start your career because you will be required to do work-based qualifications once you start working. These qualifications go up to management level. There are also a range of degrees and HNC level qualifications. Many people enter social care with minimum qualifications and go on to do part time degree and other courses.

Whatever your circumstances, a career in social care is what you make it. There are plenty of opportunities to progress and develop. You can become a team leader, manager or director.

Depending on your qualifications and skills, salaries in social care can start from about £9k. If you have social care qualifications and experience then your starting salary may be higher than this. A qualified depute unit manager for residential child care with several years experience can expect to earn around £23 – 25k. A youth worker with HNC/SVQ level 3 can earn £17 – 22k depending on qualifications and experience.