Residential support worker

You could take a course at college to learn some of the skills and knowledge you need to do this job.

Courses include:

• health and social care
• diploma for the children and young people's workforce
• youth work practice
• residential childcare

Many courses include work placements, so this could be a good way for you to get experience.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

• Health and Social Care Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
• Adult Care Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• are in care or have been in care
• are in prison or have been in prison

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an assistant support worker in a children's or adult care setting. You could then move into a residential support role through training and promotion.

You can get voluntary experience in a number of ways, which can help when applying for paid jobs. This might be from:

• volunteering at a youth club
• having personal experience of caring for a family member
• doing voluntary work in a care home, nursery or relevant charity

To apply directly for jobs in residential support, you'll need a qualification and paid or voluntary experience in the social work and care sector.

Experience in fostering could also be helpful.

Career Tips

Personal qualities are very important in this job. Employers will be looking for:

• your ability to build positive relationships with people
• flexibility, initiative and ability to handle change
• kindness and compassion
• an undertsanding of safeguarding issues when working with vulnerable people

Further Information

You can find out more about becoming a residential support worker from Think Care Careers.

As a residential support worker, you might:

• help people to develop personal skills and grow in confidence
• respond to residents' needs
• provide one-to-one advice or group support sessions
• teach daily living skills like budgeting, shopping and claiming benefits
• provide physical care in some cases, such as bathing and dressing
• speak to residents' families and arrange family and home visits
• organise travel for work, health and education purposes
• keep care plans and records up to date
• work closely with professionals in the health and social care team

You could work in the community, at an adult care home or young people's care home.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.