Senior Care Worker

Typical Salary

£15,500 To £22,000

Typical Hours

42 to 44 a week

on call on a rota

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 / University

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

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

Apprenticeship

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

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

Routes into this Career

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

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.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

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

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 & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Further information

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

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks
have a full driving licence