Adult social care offers a wide range of rewarding roles where you can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your career, there are many paths to choose from, each with its own skills, responsibilities, and opportunities to progress.
Use the tabs below to learn more about each role, what it involves, where you might work, and how you can take the next step in your journey.
If you see a job that you would like to work towards, consider doing the recommended training in that section to improve your CV and get the skills needed.
Navigate this page:
Starting out
Some jobs in care help make places clean, safe, and nice to live in. These jobs are very important and can help you learn useful skills for other roles in care.
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Support worker (or care worker): provide direct care and support to people, assisting with activities of daily living and promoting their independence.
- Personal Assistants: Usually chosen and hired by the person who needs help, or by their family. They give everyday support to help people live independently at home and enjoy life. Staffordshire County Council have a lot of information on personal assistants.
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Shared Lives Carer: Shared Lives is a special kind of care where you support an adult with a long-term condition by sharing your home and life with them.
Training For Your Role
We recommend the following training if you are starting your career in care:
Coordinating and supervisory roles
Some jobs in care help organise support and guide teams. These roles are important for making sure people get the right care and staff feel supported.
- Care Coordinator: You help people with long-term conditions or who are elderly. You arrange care across different services, explain options, and support people to stay independent and healthy. You work with families, GPs, and other professionals.
- Team Leader: You support care workers and help run the workplace smoothly. You lead team meetings, help with care plans, and make sure care is safe and follows the rules. You work closely with managers and other professionals.
Training for your role
The Academy can support you with the following training:
You might want to do some specialist training, such as our palliative care eLearning bundle.
Specialist roles
Some jobs in care help people feel safe, supported, and part of a community. These roles are important for improving wellbeing and helping people enjoy life.
- PBS Practitioner: You help people who show behaviours that are hard to manage. You watch how they behave, make plans to reduce challenging behaviours, and teach new skills to help them feel confident. You work with families, carers, and staff to give better support.
- Activities Coordinator: You help people have fun and stay active. You plan games, trips, and events that match what people enjoy. You talk to them about their interests and make sure activities are safe and easy to join.
Training for your role
The Academy can support you with the following training:
The Care Market Development Team also have a care guide for positive behaviour support.
Management and leadership roles
Some jobs in care help lead teams and make sure services run smoothly. These roles are important for keeping care safe, organised, and high quality.
- Deputy Manager: You help run the care service and support the Manager. You manage staff and daily tasks, check that care meets rules and standards, and work with health professionals. You also help train staff and hire new team members.
- Manager: You lead the care service and guide the team. You manage money, contracts, and resources, plan for the future, and work with other organisations. You make sure people get safe, high-quality care every day.
Training for your role
The Academy can support you with the following training:
Regulated roles
Some jobs in care need special training and qualifications. These roles help people stay safe, healthy, and supported in many different ways.
- Nurse: You help people stay healthy and recover from illness. You give medicine, care for wounds, and check vital signs. You talk to people about their health and work with doctors, therapists, and social workers.
- Nursing Associate: You support nurses and help care for people. You check things like blood pressure and temperature, help with care plans, and share updates with nurses. You work with families and professionals to keep people safe and well.
- Social Worker: You help people and families find solutions to problems. You talk to them, do assessments, make care plans, and give advice. You help keep people safe and work with schools, hospitals, and the police.
If you're interested in becoming a Social Worker, Nurse, or Nursing Associate, check out Staffordshire University and Keele University. They offer degrees and training in health and social care that can help you take the next step in your career.
Ancillary roles
Some jobs in care help make places clean, safe, and nice to live in. These jobs are very important and can help you learn useful skills for other roles in care.
- Housekeeping: You help clean bedrooms and shared spaces, make beds, do laundry, and stop germs from spreading. You help people feel comfortable and safe.
- Maintenance Worker: You fix things like lights and taps, paint rooms, do gardening, and check safety equipment. You make sure everything works well.
- Administrator: You answer phones and emails, welcome visitors, keep records, and help organise meetings. You help the care team stay organised.
- Chef or Cook: You make tasty and healthy meals for people. You plan menus, cook food, and make sure the kitchen is clean and safe.
Training for your role
The Academy can support you with the following training:
Plan your next step
Our short, practical courses can help you build confidence and prepare for your next move.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to progress, these courses will support you in planning your future in social care.