Care assistant jobs

Care assistant jobs: frequently asked questions

Welcome to our care assistant jobs page, featuring all the latest roles throughout the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What does a care assistant do?

Care assistants, often also referred to as care workers or simply carers, help vulnerable people to manage their daily lives, and to live as independently as possible.

As a care assistant you will be required to work within the community as opposed to a hospital setting – so in a person’s home or a residential care home.

The people you support could either be adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions or older people.

Your daily duties could involve supporting people with everything from eating and drinking to socialising and carrying out activities.

What are the daily responsibilities of a care assistant?

As a care assistant your day-to-day tasks will likely include:

• Assistance with washing and dressing

• Making food and assisting with eating

• Getting to know the people you’re working with to personalise your care

• Monitoring health and conditions

• Checking that medications are being taken appropriately

• Helping to conduct various activities

• Co-ordinating events and outings

Your shift pattern can vary, as care for the vulnerable is a 24/7 operation.

However, this does tend to mean lots of flexibility in the schedule you choose.

What skills and qualifications do you need to become a care assistant?

You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to become a care assistant.

Some providers may ask for GCSE A-Cs in English and/or Maths, but it isn’t always essential.

Many care assistants enter the workforce with a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, and some organisations will require this qualification in order to apply.

However, many will also be happy for you to acquire it on the job.

In terms of skills, the key personality trait you’ll need is compassion.

You’ll need lots of patience and resilience, and a real love for helping people.

It’s a rewarding but challenging job.

Experience of supporting vulnerable people isn’t essential, but it can be very useful – even if it’s just caring for a family member.

How much do care assistants earn?

Care assistant pay is hard to accurately define.

It’s mostly unregulated because the majority of care assistants are employed outside of the NHS.

And unfortunately, care assistant pay has remained stagnant for many years.

According to industry statistics, the national average hourly rate is around £8.30 per hour, and average annual salaries are somewhere between £15,000 and £17,000.

It varies regionally, and assistants in London tend to earn more, for example.

Care assistants are currently in extremely high demand, with the UK’s rapidly ageing population.

The government is actively working on a huge recruitment campaign, and the issue of salaries will be under discussion.

It’s hoped that in the coming years average salaries will start to climb.

As a care assistant, it’s also worth noting that you have a good foundation to build a career that will allow you to increase your salary.

Through further study, care assistants often go on to become support workers, social workers and even care managers – positions that offer much improved pay.

Find your next care assistant job today

View our latest roles above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create an account, register your CV, and we’ll send you the latest roles as soon as they come up.