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Care Assistant

As a Care Assistant, you will support people to live as independently and comfortably as possible. You’ll help with everyday activities, provide practical and emotional support, and get to know the people you care for as individuals. No two days are the same, and your kindness, communication skills and compassion can make a real difference to someone’s quality of life

Care Assistant is also known as Care Worker, Home Carers, Healthcare Assistant .

Role Characteristics

  • Support and care for people
  • Help people with social and physical activities
  • Assist with personal care such as washing, dressing and eating
  • Monitor people's conditions, take their temperature, pulse, weight and help with medication
  • Book and accompany people at appointments
  • Work with other health and care professionals

Skills

  • Team work
  • Empathy
  • Resilience
  • Attention to detail
  • Observation
  • Communication

Day in the life

Watch this video to find out more about the crucial role of a Care Assistant

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

  • Pre-employment Programmes
  • Volunteering or work experience
  • Apply directly
  • GCSEs
  • BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels

How to become

There are several ways to start a career as a Care Assistant, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.

Here are some ideas, and you can explore current opportunities in the section below.

  • Study a course or qualification – useful qualifications include GCSEs (usually English and Maths), Health and Social Care-related courses, T Levels and BTECs. These can all help you to develop knowledge, skills and prepare for work. 
  • Build workplace experience – this could be paid work, volunteering, or work experience online or in-person in care homes, community organisations, charities, healthcare settings or support services, helping you to develop skills in communication, empathy, teamwork, resilience and supporting others. 
  • Complete a pre-employment programme – a short course which supports you to gain confidence, skills and experience helping you prepare for work. 
  • Apprenticeships – you can gain experience in the workplace whilst also studying a qualification in Adult Care, Health and Social Care or Healthcare Support.
  • Applying directly – employers may expect GCSEs in English and Maths or a qualification in Health and Care, although these can sometimes be completed once you are employed. Experience gained through volunteering, work experience or caring responsibilities can also be valuable.
  • Moving from another role – think about how you'll be able to transfer your skills in customer service, hospitality, retail, childcare, volunteering or supporting people into a Care Assistant role. Communication, empathy, resilience and teamwork are particularly important skills to develop.

Where can this role lead

From your role as a Care Assistant, you could specialise in supporting specific groups of people by becoming an Adult Nurse, Children's Nurse or Occupational Therapist. These roles build on your experience of providing person-centred care, supporting independence and working closely with people and their families. 

Your experience supporting people with their daily needs, communicating with families and working as part of a care team would also transfer well into sideways moves such as Clinical Support Worker, Advocacy Worker or Care Navigator, where you would continue helping people in different health and care settings.

If you would like to progress within care services, you could become a Senior Care Assistant, leading and supporting other Care Assistants and helping to maintain high-quality care. 

If you would like to move into more clinically focused roles, Adult Nurse, Children's Nurse or Midwife could be excellent next steps. These roles allow you to take on greater responsibility for assessing, planning and delivering care while continuing to make a direct difference to people's lives.

Location

  • Peoples Homes
  • Community Settings
  • Care Homes

Working hours

  • Weekdays
  • Weekends
  • Nights
  • Part Time
  • Full Time
  • Casual Hours
  • Overtime
  • Flexible Hours

Opportunities

Two people smiling whilst working Woman in facemask working
BTECs, T-levels or A-levels
Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses
Find BTEC, T-Level or A-Level courses in Health and Care at Leeds City College
Organisation
Leeds City College
View opportunity
Support
Pre-employment programme - Careers in Care
Join a one week training course to get a taste of a role in health and care, gain a qualification and have the opportunity to interview for a job.
Organisation
Leeds Health and Care Talent Hub
View opportunity
BTECs, T-levels or A-levels
Leeds City College - Health T Level
Find out more about the Health T Level at Leeds City College
Organisation
Leeds City College
View opportunity
BTECs, T-levels or A-levels
Notre Dame College - Health T Level
Find out more about the Health T Level at Notre Dame College
Organisation
Notre Dame College
View opportunity
Volunteering
Volunteering in Health and Care
Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Health and Care
Organisation
Volunteering Opportunities
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Support
We Care Academy
The We Care Academy is a successful recruitment and retention programme delivered by Leeds City Council’s Adults and Health directorate. The We Care Academy has been running the Step into Care programme since 2013 and aims to support individuals with the right values, attitudes and behaviours to make the first step into their social care career. This is a free initiative available to all Adult Social Care Providers in Leeds.
Organisation
Leeds City Council
View opportunity
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