Senior Care Worker

Senior care workers take on responsibilities for particular areas of work within the service such as end of life care, moving and handling, dementia care or health and safety.

You could work at a client’s home, in an NHS or private hospital or at an adult care home.

Day-to-day activities

It completely depends on where you work and what level you’re working at, but your day-to-day might include:

  • Supervise a team of care assistants.
  • Write care plans.
  • Monitor patients vital signs, like blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Helping people with personal care such as showering and dressing.
  • Carrying out healthcare tasks such as administrating medication and taking temperature checks.
  • Deliver training sessions on specialist topics such as end of life care or moving and handling.
  • Developing an individuals care plan that outlines the support they need.
care worker smiling and helping elderly lady in wheelchair

Requirements for the role

Skills

What you’ll need:

  • The ability to treat people with dignity.
  • Supervisory or team leading skills.
  • Good presentation skills.
  • The ability to deal with conflict.
  • The ability to follow company procedures and policies.
  • The ability to work well with others.
  • The ability to work well on your own.
  • To be thorough and pay attention to detail.
  • Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
  • An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check would be required.

Qualifications

You will also need:

  • You’ll be required to have a background in health and social care, and it may be desirable to have a level 2 or 3 diploma or apprenticeship in health and social care.
  • It is a requirement that you are qualified to the appropriate level.
  • You could do a college course in care work, Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care or Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management.
  • You could start as a care support worker and move into a senior role through further training and promotion.
  • You can apply directly for jobs if you’ve got relevant skills and experience in social care or health.

Training & Progression

You can also benefit from:

  • 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.

View our career pathways tool to help guide you with your future in social care.

Browse our learning opportunities page to help get the support you are looking for.

Day in the life…

Have a look at our case studies section where you can get a real insight into what some of these roles are like, watch and listen to some of their stories on getting into care, the amazing benefits and some of the progression opportunities available in social care.