How to become a Care Worker

6,668

19,236

£14,000/y

avg. starting salary

Are you a people person? Are you at your happiest when looking after others? If you’re a caring person, and you really want to make a difference to someone’s life, then becoming a Care Worker could be the perfect career move for you. The main role of a Care Worker is to provide support to a person in need of care, improving their lives by attending to their specific needs, and assisting them with their daily tasks. Care Workers may find themselves working with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or learning difficulties. However, key duties will usually include:

Working with clients, their families and other professionals to identify their particular needs, and develop a care plan
Providing personal care to clients depending on these needs (assisting them with washing/feeding/dressing etc.)
Aiding a client with other every day or physical tasks, such as shopping, cooking or studying
Providing emotional support to clients and their families
Keeping the client comfortable and at ease at all times

To be successful in this position, having a passion (and patience) for helping people is essential. You will need exceptional communication skills and must be tactful and sensitive with your clients at all times. Other key skills and attributes include:

- A friendly and approachable nature (good sense of humour also helpful)
- Ability to build relationships with clients and their families, and put them at ease
- Patience and sensitivity
- The ability to keep calm under pressure, as clients may sometimes be aggressive or anxious
- Critical thinking and problem solving

Junior Care Worker

Up to £14,000

Care Worker

Up to £18,000

Specialist Support Worker

Up to £24,000

"I first got interested in the care industry whilst visiting my grandmother in her residential home. The Care Worker’s there were incredibly attentive and affectionate towards her, and they really made her life easier and happier. I started out helping in the care home on weekends, and I’m now a full-time care worker. My job is incredibly rewarding, and every day has new challenges. I wouldn’t change it for the world."

Get qualified

Health and Social Care is a highly competitive industry, and having relevant professional qualifications will be essential moving forward. A great way of getting up-to-speed is to take a course related to your chosen area of care. It's also worth noting that Care Workers will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) test. This was formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) test.

Recommended Care Worker courses

Elderly Care Worker with Care Certificate (Standards 1-15)

Training Tale

Black Friday Sale | 5 Courses Care Worker Bundle + 5 PDF Certificates | No Hidden Fees | Tutor Support | Lifetime Access
- Compare
- Online
- 38 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
Great service

See more See less

...convenience. COURSES YOU GET in Care Worker: Elderly Care Worker Course 01: Adult Support Worker Course 02: Care Certificate Standards 1-15 Course 03: Social Worker: Social Work Diploma Course 04: Family Support Worker Course 05: Mental Health Support Worker [ Note: Free PDF certificate …
£10 £12

Save 16%
Care Worker Training Course

Royal Course

CPD Certified | Update on 2023 | 24/7 Support | Free Digital Certificate | Free Exam | Lifetime Access
- Compare
- Online
- 0.5 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
See more See less

...Responsibilities of a Care Worker Module 1: Duty of Care in Care Settings Module 3: Safeguarding and Protection in Care Settings Support Positive Risk Taking for Individuals Responsibilities of a Care Worker Duty of Care in Care Settings Safeguarding and Protection in Care Settings …
£10