Senior care worker

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directy

College

You could do a college course, which may help you when applying for more senior care jobs.

Courses include:

• health and social care
• adult care
• health and social care management
• T Level in Health

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, such as:

• Lead Adult Care Worker
• Senior Healthcare Support Worker

You might also train by doing a Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships can take up to 2 years to complete and are a mix of workplace training and classroom study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree 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

Work

You could start as a care support worker or healthcare assistant and move into a senior role through further training and promotion.

Volunteering

You can get some of the skills and knowledge you need for this career by volunteering with an organisation that supports vulnerable people.

You can find volunteering opportunities through:

• Do IT
• NHS England - Volunteering
• The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

Direct Application

You can apply directly for senior care jobs if you have skills, experience and a qualification in social care or healthcare.

A caring personality is very important, as is a respectful attitude towards people who need care and support.

More Information

Career Tips

Time spent caring for someone you know also counts as having experience in a caring role.

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in care from:

• Think Care Careers
• Department of Health & Social Care

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to motivate and manage staff
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks
• have a full driving licence

Day-to-day tasks

As a senior care worker, you could:

• develop and review client care plans
• monitor patients' vital signs, like blood pressure and heart rate
• complete patient medication records
• create and lead activities for care service users
• speak with families about their relative's progress
• supervise care workers and train and mentor new starters
• provide emergency cover
• attend team meetings with healthcare professionals and service managers

Working environment

You could work at an adult care home, at a client's home or in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

With experience and training you could specialise in particular areas like:

• dementia care
• stroke rehabilitation
• support for people with learning disabilities

You might progress to become:

• an assistant healthcare practitioner
• a deputy service manager
• a care home manager

You may also wish to go on to train as a nurse or move into social care training in a further education college.