Start your career in Social Care
Working in social care is a meaningful and rewarding career. Every day is different and there are a range of of job roles and opportunities.
‘Get Into Social Care‘ is a short introductory course delivered by North Tyneside Council’s employment and skills service.
You will:
- find out about the various roles available including – care workers, support workers, domestic staff and many more
- find out about flexible working patterns that suit you such as full-time or part-time
- be supported with finding jobs, filling in job applications and preparating for interview
To find out more contact North Tyneside Council’s employment and skills service by email: curriculum.support@northtyneside.gov.uk or telephone: 0191 643 2288
Qualifications
Social care offers a wide range of roles and numerous opportunities for career growth, making it an excellent career choice. You have the flexibility to choose where you work and the people you work with. As you advance, you can explore different settings and roles or specialise in a specific area of social care.
Working towards a qualification is one way you can equip yourself with practical skills and important knowledge about care giving.
Find out more information on social care qualifications from Skills for Care.
Academic Qualifications:
- Levels 1-2: GCSE
- Level 3: A-Level
- Level 4: Certificate of Higher Education
- Level 5: Diplomas of Higher Education, foundation degrees
- Level 6: Bachelors Degree
- Level 7: Masters Degree and Postgraduate certificates
- Level 8: Doctorates
Vocational Qualifications:
- Levels 1-5: Health and Social Care apprenticeships, diplomas, certificates and awards
- Level 1 and 2: Certificate in Preparing to work in Social Care
- Level 2 and 3: Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Level 4: Diploma in Care
- Level 5: Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care
Get into Social Care
Depending on the role, you don’t always need qualifications or previous work experience to get a job in social care. There are some courses you might want to do to get a taster of what it’s like to work in social care, your local Jobcentre Plus or college might be able to help you find a pre-employment programme.
Induction Training
When you start in social care, you should complete the Care Certificate as part of your induction. This provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to start working in the sector.
Level 2
If you do not already have a level 2 diploma in care when you start work in a care worker role, then you’ll be expected to complete it as soon as possible. Once you have achieved this qualification and gained some experience, you’ll progress to qualifications which can give you access to more senior roles.
Level 3
When you’re ready to step up into a senior role a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care might be useful. This will help you get into roles such as senior care worker, activities coordinator and reablement worker. As you progress in your career , you’ll be expected to take on more responsibility in your role, use your initiative more and have a greater influence on the way your organisation works.
Level 4
When you’re ready to get on into a management or a leadership role such as a team leader or care coordinator, you might want to do a Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care or Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership.
Level 5
Going further can often require a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care or a professional qualification or a degree. As you progress in your career, you’ll be expected to lead your organisation, take responsibility for service delivery and develop policy and practice. Some professional roles such as a social worker, occupational therapist or specialist coordinator require a degree. Other roles might require you to complete a professional vocational qualification.
Learning opportunities
Embark on a journey with our range of learning opportunities tailored to meet the demands of adult social care, and in doing so equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a profound impact in the lives of individuals in need.
Winnovation
Winnovation offer training under three sub-sectors: Early Years, Residential Childcare and Adult Social Care, all delivered by their skilled staff comprising of operations, teaching and learning, quality, compliance, finance and business administration.
Employment and Skills
North Tyneside’s Employment and Skills offer Level 2 accredited online learning courses for health and social care. They enrol each month and you’ll study online and have a dedicated tutor. Courses vary between 8 and 12 weeks.
Tyne Metropolitan
You’ll engage in a variety of placements across different career paths, providing practical experience to advance in this rewarding field. Additionally, you can further your education with TyneMet by pursuing a foundation degree in Health and Social Care.
Career pathways
Looking to explore the different pathways in social care? This section shows the progression routes from entry -level to help plan and develop your career in social care.
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