In this job, you would be responsible for people who need help with daily tasks such as dressing, shopping, and cleaning.
You’d listen to people’s needs and help them with things that would make their life easier and more enjoyable.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- help with washing and dressing
- make food or help with eating
- get to know their interests and needs
- do household jobs, like washing clothes and shopping
- monitor their weight and record any concerns they have
- check they’re taking their prescribed medications
- support their physical and mental wellbeing through activities.
Salary
- Starting salaries for an apprentice is £14,000 per year.
- Experienced car workers can earn up to £28,000 per year.
Working hours
You will typically work 35 to 40 hours per week including evenings and weekends on shifts.
Working environment
You could work at an adult care home, at a client’s home or stay overnight at people’s homes.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice care worker include:
- Level 2 Adult Care Worker – Entry requirements for this level include some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship. This qualification will take 12 months to complete.
Skills
On a care worker apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- sensitivity and understanding
- a desire to help people
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
Career path and progression
You may improve your knowledge as a carer by obtaining training in areas such as autism awareness, communication skills, and dementia aid.
With time and experience, you can rise to the position of a lead care worker. If you get more certificates, you can rise to more senior roles, such as managing people or services.