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Senior care worker

Senior care workers provide physical and emotional support to individuals and supervise teams of care assistants.

Average annual salary

£17,000 to £27,000

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Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directy

Entry requirements:

College

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

Entry requirements:

  • 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.

This apprenticeship typically takes 18 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and study.

Entry requirements:

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

Work

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

Volunteering

You could gain some of the skills and knowledge you need for this role by volunteering with an organisation that supports vulnerable people.

See Do IT and NCVO for information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

DirectApplication

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.

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Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:
  • 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
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • the ability to motivate and manage staff
  • knowledge of English language
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • knowledge of human resources and employment law
  • concentration skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • maths skills
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What you'll do:

Senior care workers provide physical and emotional support to individuals and supervise teams of care assistants.

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

Location : You could work at a client's home, in an NHS or private hospital or at an adult care home.
Environment : Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

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Salary:

Starter : £17,000
Experienced : £27,000

These figures are a guide

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Working hours:

42 - 44 hours a week

Working Pattern is on call on a rota

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Career Path:

With experience and training you could specialise in particular areas like dementia care, stroke management or in supporting people with learning disabilities.

You could also progress to become an assistant practitioner, deputy service manager or care home manager.

You may want to go into teaching in a further education college.

Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education .

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