Careers in Social Work and Social Care

Careers in Social Work and Social Care

Many people don’t know which area of social care work they want to look for employment in because they don’t know enough about the different career options and the many different areas of social care that exist. 

A good starting point is to be clear about the direction you want to take. Are you looking to become a Social Worker (to become a social worker you will need to work towards an Honours degree in Social Work) or enter into Social Care work? 

There’s a huge range of exciting, rewarding jobs in social care and support work and some great information available to help you choose which direction you want to take. 

The following links will provide you with all the information you need  to make your career choice. 

Skills for Care

The Career Pathways site is designed to help new recruits and current care workers thinking about how to develop their careers. The link can be found by clicking below in the developing skills section under the career pathways heading.

Click here for more information

Home Care Careers

If you are interested in a career in home care please click on the link below.

Click her for more information

Social Care Careers

Listen to care workers talking about their roles, how they started an what they do now. Find out whey they chose social care and why social care is such a rewarding role for them.  Once in You Tube view the suggestions list which includes videos of  'A Day In The Life' fo various types of social care roles.  Also view the could you care? part 1 and part 2 videos. The You Tube clips will help you decide if social care is the the job for you.

Directory of Social Care Organisations

Find out what organisations offer services in your area.  Us the County Councils directory of services to identify organisations so that you can research them and find out what they do and who they support and care for.

Go to www.cumbria.gov.uk.  Once at the council home page click into Adult Social Care and Health, then click into Getting Inforation, then into Direcetory of Services.  In the directory area listing click on your relevant area. Skip through the pages using the forward and back arrows at the top of the page.

Find out more before you apply

If you want a career in social care and you are ready to apply for positions find out more about what the organisation does and who they support and care for before you apply.

If you are looking to work in a care home or nursing home and some residents have dementia, learn about dementia. (you could visit www.alzheimers.org.uk)

If you are looking to work with and support disabled people find out more about the organisations in your area and the clients they support.  Google sites such as www.disabled-world.com, www.aboutlearningdisabilities.co.uk to find out more before you apply.

Wherever you want to work, whoever you want to support take the time to learn about the challenges they face and the organisaitons you hope to join.