Care Home Advocate

Typical Salary

£18,000 To £30,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Care Home Advocate

You can get into this job through:

a college course
volunteering
applying directly
a course run by a private training provider

College / University

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant courses include:

Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care

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

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You could apply directly to become a care home advocate. Employers are likely to place more importance on your skills than on your qualifications.

Experience in care work, social work or counselling could give you an advantage.

You'll need to have an understanding of the needs of older people and show a positive attitude to ageing.

You may also find it useful if you've had experience as a user of advocacy or care services.

Other Routes

Some private training providers offer nationally recognised qualifications that include units on advocacy.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of psychology
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
sensitivity and understanding
customer service skills
the ability to work well with others
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
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:

make sure residents are treated fairly and with dignity
find and explain information
help residents explore their options and make informed choices
make sure residents have access to their care plan
help residents to speak for themselves or speak on their behalf
help to negotiate with others involved in decisions
go with residents to meetings to provide moral support, or attend meetings on their behalf
work with with care home staff and other agencies

Working Environment

You could work at an adult care home or in an office.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Starting as a volunteer advocate would be a good way to get experience. As a volunteer you would receive training and support to develop your skills.

Tips & Information

Career tips

It might help if you can speak a community language for some jobs.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a care home advocate and training from:

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks