Support Worker Jobs

Support Worker jobs: frequently asked questions

(Updated Dec 2024)

Welcome to our support worker jobs page. Here’s where you can find our latest roles, as well as answers to common questions below.

What does a support worker do?

You’ll often see the roles support worker, care assistant or carer used interchangeably. However, there are a few important differences.

The simplest way of explaining these differences is that support workers support vulnerable people, whereas care workers care for them. And that means that support workers tend to work more with vulnerable children, people with addictions or disabilities, young offenders or other at-risk groups. Care assistants tend to work with older people.

Support workers mainly operate within the community, in specialist facilities or in people’s own homes.

As for daily tasks, they are dictated by the type of people you support. But very broadly, they could include writing assessments, making referrals, offering emotional support, building relationships, co-ordinating leisure activities, managing budgets and co-ordinating support with other agencies and professionals.

It’s normally a standard 9-5, Monday to Friday role, but some evening and weekend work is possible too.

What qualifications and skills do you need to become a support worker?

Strictly speaking, no formal qualifications are required to become a support worker.

Employers will however often ask for some GCSE A-C grades in core subjects.

An NVQ in a relevant area like social care will help you to impress employers, but equally this can be undertaken whilst working.

In terms of skills and traits, you’ll need to be patient, resilient and caring as well as methodical and calm under pressure.

What’s does a support worker earn?

Support workers can expect to earn, on average, around £22,000 to £25,000 a year.

Initial starting salaries are closer to £22,000 a year. And by building enough experience and qualifications, your earnings could rise towards and even beyond £30,000 a year.

Pay within the care sector is currently under the spotlight, with many calling for an across-the-board increase that will help to retain and recruit care sector employees in the future.

What’s the career progression for a support worker?

Support workers who gain enough experience and qualifications can start to think about moving into management.

Managers often earn around £40,000 a year.

Other options for progression include becoming a social worker, which would require undertaking a degree. Support workers sometimes become care managers too, which could see you manage an entire care team or care facility.

Find a support worker job today

All our latest support worker jobs are above. However, you can also create an account and register your CV, allowing us to send you job alerts as soon as new roles come up.