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Social work assistant
Community support worker, home care officer, social services assistant
Social work assistants give advice and help people with their physical, emotional and social needs.
Average salary (a year)
£20000
Starter
£28000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
37.0 to 40.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends / bank holidays
on shifts
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a college course; an apprenticeship; applying directly
College
You can do a college course in health and social care which may help when you look for work.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
    Apprenticeship
    You could do an apprenticeship in care or youth work to get experience of working with vulnerable adults, children or young people, like
    Adult Care Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, Youth Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
    You could then do a social worker degree apprenticeship once you have experience.
    Entry requirements
    You'll usually need:
    • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
    • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
    • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
    More Information
    equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
    guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
    Volunteering
    You could get experience by volunteering which might help when you apply for a course or job.
    Direct Application
    You could apply directly if you have experience in a care role such as a care worker or healthcare assistant. It would help if you have experience working in a
    hospital, hospice, care home, children's home
    You'll usually need a GCSE in English for this route.
    More Information
    Career Tips
    Experience of caring for someone in your own family or community can help you get into a social work assistant role.
    Professional And Industry Bodies
    You can find out more about a career in adult social care from Think Care Careers.
    What it takes
    Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
    Skills and knowledge
    You'll need:
      Counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
      Sensitivity and understanding
      Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
      To be flexible and open to change
      The ability to work well with others
      Knowledge of psychology
      The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
      Excellent verbal communication skills
    Digital Skills Level
    to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
    Related Restrictions
    What you will do
    Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
    Day to day tasks
    As a social work assistant you could
    advise clients and families about what help is available, visit clients at home to check how they are, follow or create a social worker care plan, keep up to date with changes in the law, write reports and keep records, go to meetings with other healthcare professionals
    Working environment
    You could work in the community, at a children's care home, at a client's home, in an office, in an NHS or private hospital or at an adult care home.
    Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
    Career Path & Progression
    Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
    With experience you could work towards qualifying as a social worker. You could do this yourself or you might be able to get support and funding from your employer.
    You could also move into a related career such as a family support worker or counsellor.
    Explore roles in child and family social work to find more information on management and specialist roles.
    Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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