Social care is about helping people to live independent, fulfilling lives. It encompasses many different roles in a dynamic and exciting sector.
Whether it’s helping with daily tasks or offering emotional support, social care is a vital service that ensures people’s well-being and dignity.
Care is more than just a service – it’s about forming meaningful connections with those who need it. It’s a skilled profession where each person’s unique needs are understood and respected.
Those who receive care highly value the dedication and compassion of their carers, and care is an incredibly rewarding sector to work in.
The goal of social care is to help individuals maintain their independence and achieve their full potential. It’s about empowering people to live their lives to the fullest, offering support that enables them to stay active and engaged in their communities.
A role in social care is not just a job – it’s the beginning of a rewarding career. You’ll build relationships that make a real difference.
You can start as a care worker and progress to roles in management, training, or specialist services. Read on to discover where a career in care can take you.
There are job hubs in the 5 areas in London – as illustrated on this map. Click on an area of the map to take you to the job hubs’ websites. You can search these websites to find the right role, in the right place for you. Depending on the job, you may not need qualifications or previous work experience. What’s important are your core life skills, values and your attitude towards working with people.
Emma, 24, began her career in social care after completing her Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care. Initially working as a home care assistant, she quickly found her passion for helping others.
Emma’s natural empathy and dedication didn’t go unnoticed – she soon progressed to a senior care worker role. She now mentors new care workers, sharing her experiences and knowledge.
Emma loves her job and finds immense satisfaction in making a positive impact on people’s lives every day.
Social care is about supporting and empowering people to live as actively and independently as possible.
People choose to work in the care sector for many reasons – some you may not have thought of…
There are clear paths from entry-level to senior roles and beyond. See how you can progress in your career journey.
Take charge of your career journey in social care by pursuing qualifications and training to help you meet your ambitions.
Find out about the many different organisations providing social care.
Could you earn while you learn – and supercharge your career?
In Adult Social Care the nursing associate role provides care for people in health and social care settings. The role has been developed to bridge the skills gap between care assistants and registered nurses.
A nursing associate contributes to the core work of nursing which enables the registered nurse to work at the upper limits of their registration, focusing on more complex care needs and leadership.
Typically, nursing associates are educated to foundation degree level, and once qualified are registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council with a PIN number and is therefore, accountable for their practice.
Once registered, they may need to undertake continuous professional development (CPD) to extend the role and experience to meet the needs of their workplace environment and requirements.
You can train to be a nursing associate at a university, either full time or part time. But you can also earn as you learn to become a nursing associate by starting as an apprentice. The Apprenticeship scheme is a work-based programme where the student is an employee (existing or new). The student is working during the training period as an apprentice nursing associate. There will be mandatory learning days, placements in different areas to meet the programme requirements.
Each programme will be designed to meet local needs. This programme is funded by the apprenticeship levy.
