Carer Jobs in the United Kingdom

Carer Jobs Overview

There are 1.67 million adult social carer jobs in England alone, including jobs in care homes and as at-home carers. It is estimated that the sector’s workforce grows in proportion with the aging population, and therefore we’ll see a 29% increase in such jobs by 2035. This profession is a crucial element of our society. Without care workers, many people would not enjoy the same quality of life.

Your daily responsibilities when working in carer jobs will vary depending on whether you work at a live-in facility or medical establishment, or you look after clients in their private homes. Caring is typically not a 9-5 gig; you’ll often work shifts including weekends and evenings as you become a companion who understands your clients’ needs and interests.

The people you support may need help because they are elderly, have a physical or mental disability, or are living with a chronic or terminal illness. Some of the things you can expect to undertake in a care role include:

• helping clients with personal hygiene and dressing
• making and serving food, as well as helping clients to eat
• performing household chores and running errands
• monitoring basic health stats and managing medication

Expand your search for healthcare jobs by also exploring vacancies in:

• health psychology jobs
• care home jobs
• care assistant jobs

Carer Training and Skills

While many healthcare professions require intensive and lengthy periods of education, you can start out as a carer with little experience. However, you might choose to increase your knowledge and boost your value as a candidate by applying for an apprenticeship or taking college courses, such as:

• Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care
• Level 2 Diploma in Care
• T Level in Health

For both these options, you’ll usually need to have between two and five GCSEs. If your secondary schooling doesn’t meet the criteria, you still have plenty of opportunities to pursue a career in adult social care through volunteering or by applying directly to open roles then developing your skills while on the job. To learn more about what employers expect, see our care assistant job description sample and caregiver job description example.

It’s most important for carers to possess soft skills like:

• sensitivity and empathy
• a selfless attitude
• the ability to work with others
• a calm and patient demeanor
• the ability to deal with difficult scenarios
• excellent communication

Update Your Care Work CV

Start your search for a new job by making sure your CV is up to scratch. It’s important to regularly update any new training courses you attended or skills you’ve developed to show that you’re familiar with current practices. Refer to our care assistant CV template to help you brush up yours. Monster also has a range of general CV tips and advice to support you.

Remember to tailor your CV to each job you apply for and to include a detailed cover letter about your suitability and ambitions.

Interviewing for Carer Jobs

Before you secure your job, you’ll have at least one interview with either the establishment that may hire you or with the private individual seeking care. Interviews of any type can be nerve-wracking, so make sure you invest time in thorough preparation. The more prepared you are, the calmer you’ll be on the day of the interview. Monster has lots of interview tips and advice to help you get ready. This is also your opportunity to ask questions about what the specific role entails and any benefits or challenges it includes.

How Much are Carers Paid?

The work of carers is vitally important to our society, and you should be rewarded accordingly. Spend some time researching your expected earnings before embarking on your job hunt. On average, care workers and home carers in the UK make £16,120 per year. You could be paid weekly or monthly, depending on where you work.

Search for Your Next Job in Care on Monster

We have lots of carer jobs to explore right here on this page. Sign up for your free Monster profile and start applying today to make a difference in someone’s life. Upload your CV, hear about new ones as soon as they’re listed and save the ones you like, and get found faster by online recruiters.