Curious about what a career in adult social care actually involves? You’re not alone…
This sector is all about supporting people to live more independently, comfortably, and safely – often making a huge difference in day-to-day life.
Whether you’re considering a job change, starting your career, or just want work that actually matters, here’s our practical guide to adult social care jobs:
What is adult social care?
Adult social care is focused on providing practical and emotional support to adults who need extra help. This can include older people, people with disabilities, and anyone facing challenges in managing daily living on their own.
Services could be delivered in a variety of locations, from people’s homes and in the community, to in specialist accommodation settings such as care homes.
Wherever it’s taking place, the goal is to help people maintain as much independence and quality of life as possible.
Examples of adult care services
Adult social care involves a wide range of support, depending on what someone needs.
Typical adult care services include:
- Assistance with everyday activities: Support with household chores, shopping, and managing money.
- Occupational therapy: Professional guidance aimed at enhancing or maintaining independence in routine tasks.
- Home modifications and assistive technology: Changes to the living environment and use of devices to facilitate safer and easier daily functioning.
- Supported living options: Housing arrangements offering different levels of help and oversight, like extra care residences.
- Respite services: Short-term care designed to give temporary relief to family or unpaid caregivers.
What qualifications do I need to work in adult social care?
The good news is, you don’t need a long list of qualifications to get started.
Most entry-level roles focus on your attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to work with people. Employers often provide full training once you’ve started, including the Care Certificate and other on-the-job learning.
And, as you progress, there are opportunities to study for additional qualifications, like diplomas in health and social care.
Can you work in adult social care without a degree?
Absolutely. A degree isn’t necessary for most adult social care roles.
Instead, employers look for strong communication skills, reliability, and a genuine desire to support others.
With training and hands-on experience, you can quickly build the skills you need to get ahead.
How flexible is an adult social care role?
Flexibility is one of the biggest draws of working in this sector.
Hours can vary, with part-time, full-time, and shift work available. Whether you need to work around childcare, studies, or other commitments, there’s usually a role to suit your schedule.
This means you can find a structure that fits your life, not the other way around.
How fast can you progress in an adult social care role?
Progression can be as quick as your commitment and interests allow.
After gaining initial experience, you can move into more senior positions, specialise in a particular area, or even train for professional roles like social work or occupational therapy.
Many employers offer clear pathways for career development and actively support further learning.
Five reasons to start a career in adult social care
Still on the fence about starting a career in adult social care? Here are five great reasons why it could be the right move for you:
1. You’ll make a real difference, every single day
How many jobs let you go home knowing you’ve completely changed someone’s day (or even their life)? In social care, that’s not the exception – that’s the norm.
In fact, 63% of people enter this sector because they genuinely want to make a difference – and 66% said that it delivered on that promise*.
Some days, you could be boosting someone’s independence; other days, you’re the one making their favourite cup of tea or just providing a listening ear. Perfect for anyone who likes collecting ‘thank you’ stories (and maybe the odd biscuit).
“You build such a lovely relationship with your clients and the smallest thing can make their day. It’s really changed the way I look at things.”
– Jodie, Care Worker
2. People skills matter most
Let’s bust a myth: to start a career in social care, you don’t need a CV full of formal qualifications.
In fact, your soft skills – like patience, honesty, and being able to have a laugh – are actually actually likely to take precedence; alongside any practical work experience you may have.
As for everything else? You’ll learn it on the job. With structured support and training while you work, over 56% of care staff reported having opportunities to improve their skills and undertake challenging work, while 61% had annual development reviews helping them feel engaged and supported.**
And, if you’ve ever helped a friend through a tough time or survived a chaotic family dinner, you’re probably already more qualified than you think.
10 essential qualities for a Care Worker
3. You’ll have flexible working options
Hate being boxed in by the 9-to-5 grind?
In social care, work fits in with your life – not the other way around. That means flexible working hours, including the ability to take on part-time shifts or work weekends and evenings.
So whether you’re juggling family, studies, or just enjoy not knowing what your week will look like, social care lets you adapt.
“When the pub where I worked closed, I decided I needed a job that gave me a better work-life balance, so I thought I’d give care work a try. I’m enjoying this job a lot more than my previous one.”
– Leigh, Social Care Professional
So yes, you can have your cake, eat it, and still get to your nephew’s school play.
How to: Achieve a work-life balance
4. No two days are the same
If your idea of routine is ‘let’s see what happens next,’ you’ll fit into this industry – because social care is the opposite of predictable.
A career in adult social care means meeting a wide range of people with all kinds of stories, needs, and quirks. This means your tasks could range from helping someone learn a new skill to being their quiz teammate.
And at the end of your varied day? You’ll have new stories, fresh skills, and maybe even a strange new cake recipe from a client; you may or may not use it, but it’s the thought that counts.
5. There are a range of opportunities to learn and progress
Social care helps you get up to speed with onboarding and practical training from day one, with most care roles helping you to train for industry standard certifications like the Care Certificate.
Here are just a few things you’ll learn on the job:
- Health and safety basics
- First aid skills
- Safe ways to move and handle
- Key safeguarding practices
- Support for specialist care needs
Support doesn’t end at induction, either. With roles available pretty much everywhere, it’s easy to move up, specialise, or simply get even better at what you do.
Helping others and building your confidence? It’s a win-win.
Want to start learning now? View all adult social care courses on Reed.co.uk.
Is adult social care your next (best) move?
If you’re looking for a career that really matters, is flexible, helps you grow your skills, and offers daily moments of fulfillment, adult social care could be the right fit for you.
What’s more, you don’t need formal qualifications to get started – just a willingness to learn and a desire to help people.
It’s meaningful work that makes a real difference, every single day.
“If you’re considering making a big leap in your career, there are plenty of tools to help you assess whether the job you’re considering will be a good match for you personally. A host of both free and paid assessors such as MAPP, Myers Briggs and Career Key are available to help pair job seekers with appropriate careers. Such an assessment is unlikely to provide a silver bullet, landing you the perfect job simply by filling out a multiple choice quiz, but if you’re truly struggling to settle on a career direction, they may provide some food for thought.”
– James Reed – Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again
Does adult social care sound like your kind of career? Browse adult social care jobs today.
*Source: Social care workforce survey 2023
**Source: Executive summary: adult social care workforce and work-related quality of life (February 2025)
