Senior Care Worker
Job Description:Senior care workers provide physical and emotional support to individuals and supervise teams of care assistants.
Job Category:What you will do:
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
Skills:
You’ll need:
- customer service skills
- business management skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisation skills)
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations (adaptability skills)
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- the ability to work on your own
- excellent verbal communication skills
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directy
College
You could do a college course in care work, for example:
- Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
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.
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.
Direct Application
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.
School Subjects
To become a Senior Care Worker in the UK, specific GCSE subjects are not typically required. However, certain subjects can be beneficial in developing skills and knowledge relevant to the role. Senior Care Workers are responsible for supervising and supporting a team of care workers and providing high-quality care to individuals who may be elderly, disabled, or have other care needs.
Here are some GCSE subjects that could be helpful:
- Health and Social Care: This subject can provide essential knowledge about the care industry, health-related issues, and the principles of providing person-centered care.
- Psychology: Understanding human behavior and mental well-being can be valuable when working with individuals with diverse needs.
- Biology: A basic understanding of biology can be helpful in understanding health conditions and the aging process.
- English: Strong language and communication skills are crucial for interacting with clients, their families, and managing a team of care workers.
- Mathematics: Basic math skills are important for tasks such as medication administration and financial planning in a care setting.
- Sociology: Sociology can provide insights into social interactions and the impact of social factors on health and well-being.
Working Hours and Environment:
Typical working hours consist of 42-44 hours of work each week.
You could work on a rota system and may be on call on certain days.
You could work at a client’s home, in a hospital or at an adult care home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career Path & Progression:
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.