Social care is a rewarding career full of personal growth and job satisfaction, which is why many take an interest in social worker recruitment and what it involves.

To help you understand the requirements to get into a social care role, here’s our step-by-step guide:

Choose a role that’s right for you

Within social care, you can work in a hands-on role visiting the homes of people who need your assistance, or you can take on an admin role, or even look at management opportunities. To ensure you go down the right path, think about your skills and how you see yourself helping others.

Speak to a job centre adviser

As a social carer, you don’t require any formal qualifications, as specified by the Skills For Care Organization of the UK. Instead, it’s more about having the right personality, attitude and dedication. At a job centre or local college, you can find advice and booklets with a breakdown of available roles in the area and next steps to apply.

Pre-employment training

A change of career or role can be daunting and as you’ll be dealing with vulnerable people, it’s a great idea to take part in pre-employment training where your skills and confidence can be nurtured. If you feel you need more support through this process, there are set routes that make it easier to complete, such as Care in Hand, where training is very personable and lasts right through until the completion of a 12-week probation period.

Apprenticeships

Before deciding on a career change or new role, it is worth gaining some practical experience to better inform your decision. This experience is invaluable when it comes to the recruitment process as it shows off your keen interest and proves your abilities in the caring environment. At this stage, see if your advisor is willing to provide you with a reference. Gov UK offers guidance on which apprenticeships are best for your desired role and states that there are two pathways which “could mean working in the NHS, the private sector, local authorities or in the voluntary sectors”.

Job search and vacancy lists

Work with your college or job centre advisor to gain employment through finding relevant vacancies based on your newly acquired experience. In addition to this, look on job sites like Reed and Indeed who have a constantly updated lists of jobs in the social care.

Probation and qualifications

Once you’ve successfully interviewed and shown off your capabilities, you’ll likely be recruited for a probation or induction period. Use this to learn as much as you can, while being positive and helpful. Show your new employer that you’re enthusiastic and that you have an interest in getting a QCF Diploma, certifying your skills and social carer status. This will help you with future employment.

So, if you think social care is for you, do some thorough research and aim to gain some practical experience to boost your success in the recruitment process.