Support Worker Jobs

Discover Support Worker roles nationwide with staffing agencies and private care providers. Scroll down for insights into what Support Workers do, how to become one, typical employers, pay bands, and FAQs.

What Does a Support Worker Do?

A Support Worker plays a vital role in health and social care, working directly with patients across a range of settings such as hospital wards, outpatient clinics, community hubs, theatres, and residential care homes. They are often key members of a multi-disciplinary team, collaborating with nurses, therapists, doctors and social care staff to deliver compassionate, person-centred care for patients with diverse needs and conditions, including physical disability, mental health challenges, chronic illness, and recovery support.

Key duties may include:

• Assisting with personal care and daily living activities
• Supporting patient mobility and safety
• Monitoring and reporting changes in condition
• Helping with rehabilitation exercises
• Communicating with families and clinical teams

You can read more about the different roles of a support worker here

I have been working as a Support Worker for coming up to ten years now and find it a very rewarding, positive and enjoyable position.

Dava Maffia, Support Worker

Read Dave’s blog in full here.

How to Become a Support Worker

Becoming a Support Worker typically involves a combination of relevant qualifications, practical training and professional development. In the UK and Ireland, a recognised health and social care qualification such as Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care is often preferred. Some roles may also support progression toward regulated credentials such as NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration for those moving into nursing support pathways.

Entry requirements commonly include GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths, alongside a genuine commitment to care. Many employers offer on-the-job training, apprenticeships and mentoring to build core skills if you’re new to the field. For those with experience in related sectors (e.g., childcare or residential support), conversion options can fast-track your transition into support work. Continued professional development through specialist modules such as mental health, dementia care or safeguarding further enhances your employability and career prospects.

Our Support Worker Career Guide
This information comes from our own Support Worker Career Guide which you can jump into for a full, deep dive into everything you need to know about becoming a Support Worker - career pathways, education, qualifications and registration details. It also includes insights from people who do this job so you can hear directly from those who have gone before you.

A lot of people go into care work without prior experience, and, given the shortage of care staff, don’t be surprised if you are thrown in at the deep end.

Miryam Clough – Dementa Unit Support Worker

You can read Miryam's full blog about how to succeed when looking at a career as a Support Worker here.

Typical Employers of Support Workers

Support Workers are employed by a mix of organisations, from NHS Trusts and private hospitals to community care providers and specialist clinics, and must adapt to dynamic environments while following professional standards and policies.

Typical employers include:

• NHS Trusts
• Private hospitals and healthcare groups
• Specialist care agencies
• Community care providers and clinics
• Charities and non-profit social care organisations
• Residential homes and supported living providers

Some of our current employers hiring for Support Workers include:

• Sanctuary Personnel
• Cygnet

Pay and Benefits for Support Worker Jobs

The average annual salary for a Support Worker in the UK or Ireland is £24,000 to £28,000, depending on experience and location.

Here’s an example of approximate ranges:

• Expect location-based variations: London roles often pay £28,000 to £32,000, while salaries in provincial regions may range from £22,000 to £26,000
• Private sector pay rates for Support Worker roles based on our jobs data range from £23,000 to £30,000+

Benefits typically include pension contributions, paid leave, training support, and opportunities for flexible working. Some employers also offer health and wellbeing packages, bonus schemes and travel allowances.

Our Support Worker Pay Guide
This information comes from our own Support Worker Pay Guide which you can jump into for a full, deep dive into salary and pay rates for this job role. We keep all of our pages up to date, using trusted sources and humans, so this is accurate information.

Career Progression for Support Workers

Support Workers can advance into senior care specialist roles, team leadership, or supervisory positions within wards, community teams, or agencies. With additional qualifications, they might move into clinical support roles, care coordination, practice educator positions, or pathway routes toward nursing, therapy or management careers. Structured career ladders help individuals grow professionally while developing specialised expertise.

You can read how Laura Williams, a Clinical Manager for Cygnet Healthcare, worked her way up from a support worker into her current role here.