Social care focuses on a person’s non-clinical, and often non-medical, needs, delivering much-needed care in other areas of their lives – though it is important to note that this field is firmly linked to the health sector. Social care workers provide physical, social and emotional support to people of all ages and backgrounds in their communities, undertaking a variety of personal care tasks, which may be helping someone with shopping for groceries, helping them prepare meals, or collecting or delivering their medication.
As society develops and people begin to live longer, perhaps developing more complex health conditions, there becomes an increased need for social workers to provide the additional and changing care that their community needs. Social care workers as you might expect therefore often have a wide-ranging skillset, different life experiences to share and are great at working with members of the public.
Direct Care Roles
Direct Care covers specific roles such as Activities Worker, Advocacy Worker, Care Worker, Personal Assistant, Rehabilitation Worker, and Shared Lives Carer; as the name suggests, these kinds of staff members work directly with people of all ages who need a range of different levels of support and care.
Management Roles
People in these roles are responsible at a managerial level, perhaps heading up small teams or even whole organisations; specific jobs might include Manager, Deputy Manager or Team Manager, Specialist Coordinator (e.g. Dementia or End of Life care) and Team Leader/Supervisor.
Other Social Care Support Roles
Additional job roles within the sector may include Administration Roles (e.g. HR, finance or marketing), Employment Advisor, Housing Support Officer, Social Care Prescriber, Trainer/Assessor, Volunteer Coordinator and Welfare Rights Officer.
Regulated Professional Roles
People in these kinds of jobs are usually qualified to at least undergraduate degree-level, or equivalent, and will be registered with recognised regulated bodies, allowing them to practice. Roles include Complementary Therapist, Counsellor, Occupational Therapist, Nurse (or Nursing Associate) and Social Worker.
Read more about Regulated Professional roles in social care.
Ancillary Roles
There is a wealth of roles within the sector that, while they do not involve direct care with patients, are vital to the running of social care organisations. This includes Cook/Kitchen Assistant, Driver/Transport Manage, Housekeeper/Domestic Worker and Maintenance.