Jobs and Careers Spring 2020 - 150

Under
your care
Adult social care is a varied and hugely rewarding career

f you choose to put the
"care" into your career,
you'll find that helping
adults with physical or
mental disabilities retain their
independence is extremely
fulfilling. There are one and a
half million jobs in the sector,
which is expected to grow to
two million by 2030, and threequarters of the workforce enjoys
the job security of being employed
on a permanent contract, too.
Care workers have been among
the biggest beneficiaries of the
national living wage, and there
are plenty of opportunities - at
any given time there are around
120,000 vacancies in social care
roles in England. Here, we look
at the most popular roles.

Youth worker
As a youth worker, you'll be
involved in helping young people
reach their potential. You'll support
them with issues such as bullying,
gangs, drugs, violence and difficult
family relationships, help run
youth activities, 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, reliable and resilient.

How much can I earn? There's a broad range of salaries.
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.

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.

Care workers have been among
the biggest beneficiaries of the
national living wage
How much can I earn? Starting roles pay from £17,000 to
£21,000 a year, rising to £22,000 to £24,000 with experience.
Senior 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're 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 - 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 twoyear postgraduate diploma or master's degree in social work.
How much can I earn? Newly qualified social workers earn
around £22,000 a year, while experienced and higher-level
practitioners can receive salaries of more than £45,000. NHS
social workers start on £26,565 to £35,577.

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Jobs and Careers Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Spring 2020