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Social work assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Community support worker, home care officer, social services assistant

Social work assistants give advice, guidance and support to help people with their physical, emotional and social needs.

Average salary (a year)

£12,500 Starter

to

£25,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

How to become a social work assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly 

College

You can do a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, which may help when you look for work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do an apprenticeship in care or youth work to get experience of working with vulnerable adults, children or young people.

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

  • Level 2 Adult care worker
  • Level 3 Youth support worker
  • Level 4 Children, young people and families practitioner

With experience you may be able to progress to a social worker degree apprenticeship.

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

Volunteering

You could get experience by volunteering, which will give you an advantage with course and job applications.

Direct Application

You could apply directly after getting experience in a care role, like a care worker or a healthcare assistant in a:

  • hospital
  • hospice
  • care home
  • children's home

You'll usually need a GCSE in English for this route.

More Information

Career tips

Experience of caring within your own family or community can help you get into this job.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in adult social care from Think Care Careers.

What it takes

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • knowledge of psychology
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication 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

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day tasks you may:

  • contact clients and follow up enquiries
  • advise clients and their families about help that's available
  • visit people at home to check how they are
  • follow a social worker’s care plan, and sometimes create your own
  • keep records and write reports
  • keep up to date with the law
  • go to meetings with your department and other agencies
  • liaise with other health and care professionals

Working environment

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

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Career path and progression

With experience you could work towards qualifying as a social worker. You could do this yourself, or with support and funding from your employer.

You could also move into related careers like family support work or counselling.

Current opportunities

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

PFS Care Worker Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £8,580.00 Annually
  • Location:

Healthcare Assistant Apprentice

  • Wage: £143.55 - £270.93 Weekly
  • Location:
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Health and Social Care

  • Provider: HULL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 06 September 2021
  • Location: Hull

Health & Social Care

  • Provider: HAVANT AND SOUTH DOWNS COLLEGE
  • Start date: 06 September 2021
  • Location: Waterlooville
Find courses near you

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