Career Pathways

Choose a career in care that suites you.

Explore the different roles and progression routes in care, their responsibilities and the qualifications needed.

1. Care Support Worker
2. Care Supervisor / Practitioner / Team Leader
3. Care Deputy Manager / Manager

Care Support Worker

In this role, you would care for people who need support with daily activities like dressing, shopping and housework. This could include children, people with physical or learning disabilities, older people or families.

• get to know the individuals you care for, their interests and their needs
• help with daily personal care like washing, dressing, using the toilet and eating
• complete general household tasks such as housework, laundry and shopping
• help people with their money, pay bills and write letters
• plan fun activities to do
• help people travel to and from a residential home — such as taking a young person to a local college

SSSC Requirements

Awards

• SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 6
• HNC Social Services
• Any practice qualification in the supervisor/practitioner category

Other Requirements

• Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)

Care Supervisor / Practitioner / Team Leader

Your work would involve supporting someone to complete daily tasks and leisure activities. You might also take an active role in organising and reviewing someone’s care – this would be as a key worker.

• check each person’s needs and keep records of their progress
• review support plans and find ways to improve someone’s care
• create a safe and positive living environment
• provide personal care, such as helping people wash, go to the toilet, dress and eat
• arrange leisure and creative activities
• promote opportunities for people to learn new skills
• help with daily living skills such as shopping and dealing with money
• liaise with people’s families and arrange family and home visits

SSSC Requirements

There are two parts to supervisor qualification requirements. You must have a practice and a supervisory qualification, or one qualification which meets the full criteria. The main qualifications are below.

Practice

• Any practice qualification in the manager category
• HNC Social Services
• SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 7

Supervisory

• PDA Health and Social Care Supervision
• A qualification that contains at least 15 credits at SCQF level 7 of supervision or management theory and practice specifically for a supervisor of a care service

Meets full criteria

• SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 9

Other Requirements

• Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)

Care Service Deputy Manager / Manager

You would be responsible for the overall management of a care service. This could be a care home, a day care for adults or a service that provides care to people in their own homes.

Depending on the service you work with, you might provide support to:

• older people
• people experiencing mental health problems
• people with learning disabilities
• children, young people and families in their own homes
• people who are at the end of their life
• people with physical disabilities

SSSC Requirements

There are two parts to manager qualification requirements. You must have a practice and a management qualification. The main qualifications are below.

Practice

• SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 9

Management

• Any award in management that is certificated at or above SCQF Level 9* (min 60 credits) and mapped against the National Occupational Standards: Leadership and Management for Care Services SCQF 10
• SVQ Care Services Leadership and Management SCQF Level 10

Other Requirements

• Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)