Career Profiles – Social Work Assistant

The work

As a social work assistant, you could work with a variety of people (known as clients), including:

• families under stress
• older people
• people with physical or learning disabilities
• people with mental health problems
• children at risk.

Your work could include:

• contacting clients and following up enquiries
• advising clients and their families about the help that’s available
• making appointments
• visiting people at home to check how they are
• following a social worker’s care plan
• working out clients’ needs and putting together care plans – for example, when a client leaves hospital
• keeping records and writing reports
• keeping up to date with changes in the law
• going to meetings with your department and other agencies
• liaising with other health and care professionals.

You may be known by other job titles, such as community support worker, home care officer or social services assistant.

Hours

In a full-time job you would work around 37 hours a week. You could work fixed hours or in shifts, which could include unsocial hours like evenings, weekends and public holidays. Part-time and sessional work is common.

You could work in residential homes, hospitals, or in the community, where you would be visiting clients in their homes.

Income

Starting salaries can be between £12,500 and £16,000 a year. With experience and relevant qualifications, salaries can rise to between £17,000 and £22,000. Those taking on additional management responsibilities may earn up to £25,000 a year.

You may work for a specialist recruitment agency. Hourly rates for agency work can be between £7 and £10.

_{Figures are intended as a guideline only.}

Entry requirements

You will increase your chances of finding work if you have some experience (paid or voluntary) of working with people in a caring role. You can get more information and search for volunteering opportunities on the Do-it website.

• Do-it.org

Although not essential, there is a number of qualifications that you can work towards, whether you are looking to learn more to get into this career or if you have just started in a paid or voluntary position.

• Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
• Level 2 Diploma Health and Social Care
• Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights in Health, Social Care and Children and Young People’s Settings.

For any job where you would be working (paid or unpaid) with children or vulnerable adults, you will need to pass background checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Previous convictions or cautions may not automatically prevent you from working in social care. See the following website for full details.

• Disclosure and Barring Service (Home Office website)

A driving licence would be useful for jobs based in the community.

Training and development

Once you start work, you will receive on-the-job training from your employer. This will include nationally approved common induction standards. You will also learn on the job from experienced staff.

You will be encouraged to continue your development by attending in-house short courses appropriate to the groups you work with, which might allow you to specialise. For example, working with young people in care, working with people with learning disabilities or supporting people with substance misuse issues.

You may also have the opportunity to take qualifications, such as:

• Health and Social Care Diploma at levels 2 and 3
• Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce at level 3 (Social Care or Learning and Development Support Services pathways).

With more experience, you could consider taking a foundation degree or degree, if you decide you want to train as a social worker.

Skills for Care has a career development tool called the Career Matrix, which helps you to identify appropriate training and qualifications based on the level or type of job you do.

• Skills for Care – Career Matrix

Skills, interests and qualities

As a social work assistant you would need to have:

• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• a practical and flexible approach to work
• tact, patience and understanding
• a non-judgemental attitude
• an understanding of the needs of different client groups
• the ability to relate to people of all backgrounds
• the ability to work in a team and also use your own initiative
• the ability to assess situations and take the right action
• resilience, to cope with difficult situations and uncooperative clients
• good time management and organisational skills
• computer literacy and administrative skills
• the ability to communicate sensitively and well with children and adults
• the ability to build good working relationships with families who may be unfriendly to start with
• practical knowledge and understanding of child development and the needs of children
• a flexible approach to working hours and the range of duties.

More information

Skills for Care (England)
West Gate
6 Grace Street
Leeds
LS1 2RP
Tel: 0113 241 1275
www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
www.niscc.info

Care Council for Wales (CCW)
www.ccwales.org.uk

Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
www.sssc.uk.com

Department for Education – Children and Young People
Castle View House
East Lane
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 2GJ
Tel: 0370 000 2288
www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/social

Opportunities

You could find opportunities with various employers, such as:

• local authority social services departments
• charities
• voluntary agencies
• care homes
• social care recruitment agencies.

Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, on employers’ websites and by specialist recruitment agencies.

With experience, you could work towards qualifying as a social worker by studying independently or with support and funding from your employer. You could also choose to use your experience as a way of moving into related careers like family support work or counselling.