Jobs in the care industry

Jobs in the care industry by Amber Rolfe When it comes to rewarding careers, care has got you covered…  If you’re a friendly, patient, and compassionate person with a natural desire to help others â€" you’re probably looking for a job where you can make the most of your skills and make a real difference to people’s lives. But what kind of roles are available, and how can you get involved?To make sure you know what’s out there, here are five of the best jobs in the care industry that you could be doing right now:  Admin Assistant What they do: An Admin Assistant in the care industry could be based in a care home, or in an office supporting other employees working in care. Their role could consist of anything from data entry and reception work, to setting up meetings or typing documents. It’s especially vital that everything they do is accurate in this field, as without proper administrative support and organisation, people could end up receiving incorrect care.What you need: Excellent organ isational and time management skills, alongside an ability to communicate well with others.Computer skills are also a must, along with a basic understanding of spelling, grammar, and numeracy. A degree isn’t essential, although some employers may look for candidates with GCSEs and other relevant qualifications.What you can earn: Salaries will vary, but could range from £14,000 to £18,000 as a starting point. Experienced Admin Assistants can expect to earn around £24,000.Perfect for: People who like getting things done.Our advice: Working as a temp is a great way to gain work experience in admin â€" and could open the door to a variety of permanent positions. Any additional qualifications in administration will also make you more attractive to employers. They’re often relatively inexpensive, and can be fit around your working hours.How to become an AdministratorView all Admin Assistant jobs  Care Assistant What they do: Whether it’s by helping the elderly with tasks such as shopping and cooking, assisting a person who has learning difficulties, or enabling a disabled person carry out daily activities like washing, dressing, and eating â€" a Care Assistant’s role is focused on ensuring their clients feel comfortable at all times. They could be based in a nursing home, sheltered housing, or in their client’s own home as a Home Carer.What you need: A friendly, caring, and patient approach. Because of the often challenging tasks and difficulties involved with care work (e.g. frustrated or emotional clients), you’ll also need to demonstrate tact and good humour with everything you do. You won’t need a degree, but gaining some experience in caring for others is a great starting point.What you can earn: Starting salaries are normally around £15,000, but will increase to the £24,000 mark with a good level of experience.Perfect for: People who want to improve people’s everyday lives.Our advice: If you’re lacking in practical experience, consider v olunteering for a charity or local care home â€" or even providing care for someone you know. Not only is it a great way to get started in this role and add some experience to your CV, but it will also show you whether a career in Care in right for you.How to become a Care WorkerView all Care Assistant jobs  CounsellorWhat they do: Provide an empathetic ear to clients, allowing them to share their feelings and reflect on their problems and experiences. Their role is not to give advice, but to offer a different perspective that will encourage clients to see things in a new light â€" and help move how themselves forward. Counsellors will often work in particular fields, ranging from relationship advice (e.g. marriage counselling) and health problems, to physical and mental abuse and addiction.What you need: Patience, empathy and discretion. Aside from this, you’ll also need to be comfortable dealing with all kinds of problems and types of people â€" without passing judgment.Although you won’t necessarily need a degree, a counselling-related qualificationalongside relevant experience (and a DBS check) are usually essential.What you can earn: On entry, you could earn around £20,000, rising to around £30,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who like listening more than talking.Our advice: If you’re struggling to get started as a Counsellor â€" don’t panic. There are a wide range of counselling courses available (offered on full-time, part-time, or distance learning basis), and could be your first step to breaking into the industry and becoming an accredited Counsellor.How to become a CounsellorView all Counsellor jobs  Social Worker What they do: Provide help and support for various groups of people or individuals, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or mental health problems. The specific duties involved with social work vary depending on whether they work in adult or child services â€" and could consist of giving advice and counselling, as well as evaluating current circumstances, writing reports and making informed decisions on the care needed for each situation.What you need: Patience, empathy, and an ability to remain calm in difficult situations. Aside from a genuine desire to help others, you’ll also need to be able to make tough decisions under pressure â€" even if your suggestions aren’t always popular. You’ll usually need a relevant degree to start a career in social work (and/or additional postgraduate qualifications or work experience).What you can earn: Salary expectations will depend on the employer â€" but you could expect to earn around £20,000 on entry, which can rise up to £40,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who always know what’s best.Our advice: If you already have a degree in an unrelated subject, you can still get involved by taking on postgraduate study in social work. This is often offered in the form of a work-based training scheme, and many local authorities wi ll provide sponsorship for aspiring Social Workers. By doing this, you’ll be able to study towards a master’s qualification whilst gaining valuable work experience at the same time.  How to become a Social WorkerView all Social Worker jobs  Youth Worker What they do: Offer guidance and support to young people aged 11-25 â€" at colleges, schools, and youth centres. Whether they’re organising educational events and activities, running counselling sessions, or writing business plans to encourage funding â€" the work that Youth Workers do is vital to ensure struggling young people can overcome personal, social, and emotional issues.What you need: The ability to communicate with and relate to young people â€" not to mention a tactful and understanding approach in tough situations. You’ll also need a large amount of enthusiasm and motivation in order to organise and undertake successful events and projects. A degree recognised by the National Youth Agency, as well as a DBS check, are also prerequisites.What you can earn: Newly qualified Youth Workers could stand to earn around £18,000. With experience, this can rise to £30,000.Perfect for: People who are down with the kids (but never, ever use that phrase).Our advice: If you’re struggling to find youth work, rewrite your CV to place focus on any time you’ve worked closely with young people â€" whether it was paid or voluntary. Even something as simple as helping out at a local club or youth organisation could be made into a reason to hire you. Especially if you’re able to back up what you did with some real, quantifiable achievements.How to become a Youth WorkerView all Youth Worker jobs  Honourable mentions: Occupational Therapist, Life Coach, Learning Mentor, Foster Carer, Family Support Worker, Childminder, Health Visitor  Top tipsHere are some of our top tips for finding a job in the care industry:Be practical â€" Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. With the right attitude and experience you will quickly work your way up.Tailor your CV â€" Every care role is different, so tailoring your CV is vital to standing out. Place emphasis on the most important skills and attributes, and use the job description as a guide.Show resilience â€" Although demonstrating compassion and empathy is essential, an equally valuable strength is to be able to deal with difficult situations and control your emotions.Start learning â€" If you need an extra qualification to back up your soft skills or work with a particular group of people (e.g. children), take a course to help take you to the next level.Get work experience â€" Gaining any kind of care experience is a great way to get started in this industry â€" whether it’s volunteering, doing a work placement, or even taking care of a family member in need.  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available care jobs now  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. What job suits me?