Jobs and Careers Spring 2019 - 200

A helping hand
Working in adult social care - looking after those with disabilities - can give you job satisfaction
Helping adults with physical or mental disabilities
retain their independence can make for a fulfilling
and rewarding career. There are one and a half
million jobs in the sector, and it's growing fast.
The majority (75%) of the workforce enjoys the
job security of being employed on a permanent
contract, too. Adult social care has an experienced
core of workers who on average have 8.2 years of
experience. Here, we look at the most popular roles.

Adult learning disability support worker
This broad role involves supporting adults with
learning disabilities to live fulfilling lives in a way
that allows them to be as independent as possible.
What skills and qualifications do I need? There
are no specific qualifications needed, but patience,
tact, compassion and resilience are vital. Voluntary
experience in the social work or care sector can help.
How much can I earn? Starting roles pay from
around £17,000 to £21,000 a year, which can rise
to £22,000 to £24,000 with experience. Senior
support workers can expect to earn up to £27,000.

Social worker
People in this role help vulnerable individuals
and families to live safely and experience a
good quality of life. You are likely to spend
time with families and children who need
support to live more balanced, stable lives.
What skills and qualifications do I need? You'll need
to be compassionate, with good communication and
problem-solving skills, and to be organised
and resilient - this is a role in which
you're likely to encounter emotional
distress. You'll also need a degree in
social work approved by the Health &
Care Professions Council or, if you have
an unrelated undergraduate degree, to
do a two-year postgraduate diploma
or master's degree in social work.
How much can I earn? Newly qualified
social workers earn £22,000 a year,
while experienced and higherlevel practitioners can receive
over £45,000. NHS social workers
start on £26,565 to £35,577.

Youth worker
As a youth worker, you'll be
involved in helping young people

200 /// JOBS & CAREERS

reach their potential, in their education and personal
lives. You'll support them with issues such as
bullying, gangs, drugs, violence and difficult family
relationships, help run youth activities and projects,
create business plans and apply for funding.
What skills and qualifications do I need? You'll need
a bachelor's degree validated by the National Youth
Agency. Additional professional training is available
to graduates who don't hold a relevant degree. You'll
also need to be compassionate, patient, sensitive
and reliable, with a great deal of resilience.
How much can I earn? There's a broad range of salaries
for youth workers, especially among those starting out.
Those who are still qualifying can earn between £14,597
and £23,000, while more experienced professionals
earn £23,250 (starting salary) to £37,500.

The majority of people in
the adult care workforce
are on permanent contracts

Jobs and Careers Spring 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Spring 2019