1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Senior care worker

Senior care worker

Alternative titles for this job include Senior care assistant, senior adult social care support worker

Senior care workers provide physical and emotional support to individuals and supervise teams of care assistants.

Average salary (a year)

£17,000 Starter

to

£27,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

42 to 44 a week

You could work

on call on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a 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 in care work, for example:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
  • Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a lead adult care worker advanced apprenticeship to get into this career and then take further training on the job.

This apprenticeship typically takes 18 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and 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

More Information

Work

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

Volunteering

You could gain some of the skills and knowledge you need for this role by volunteering with an organisation that supports vulnerable people.

See Do IT and NCVO for information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience in social care or health.

Employers may also ask for a qualification in care or health.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about careers in care from:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to work on your own
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • business management skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • supervise a team of care assistants
  • write care plans
  • monitor patients' vital signs, like blood pressure and heart rate
  • complete patient medication records
  • develop and lead activities for service users
  • keep families up to date about their relative's progress
  • train and mentor new staff
  • attend team meetings with service managers
  • provide emergency cover

Working environment

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

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and training you could specialise in particular areas like dementia care, stroke management or in supporting people with learning disabilities.

You could also progress to become an assistant practitioner, deputy service manager or care home manager.

You may want to go into teaching in a further education college.

Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Lead Adult Care Worker Apprentice

  • Wage: £311.88 Weekly
  • Location: Manchester

Lead Adult Care Worker Apprentice (Bournemouth)

  • Wage: £1,440.00 - £1,760.00 Monthly
  • Location: BOURNEMOUTH
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

  • Provider: ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
  • Start date: 05 September 2022
  • Location: Blaydon-On-Tyne

Health & Social Care

  • Provider: HAVANT AND SOUTH DOWNS COLLEGE
  • Start date: 05 September 2022
  • Location: Waterlooville
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.