Job roles

What job roles are available?

There are lots of different job roles available in adult social care, depending on your interests and skills. 

Here are some examples. For a full list of available roles, job descriptions and details of the skills and experience needed for each, please see Skills For Care.  

Direct care roles

These roles involve working directly with people who need care and support. 

• Care worker: Supports people with all aspects of their day-to-day living. This includes social and physical activities, personal care, mobility, and meal times. 
• Personal assistant: Supports an individual to live as independently as possible. This is usually in their own home or in the community. 
• Rehabilitation worker: Supports people to live independently, often following an illness or accident. They help them access support with housing, finance, social activities, and life skills. 
• Shared lives carer: Opens up their home and family life to include someone who needs care and support. 

Supervisor/team leader roles

These roles lead or supervise a team of care workers to ensure they provide high-quality care and support.

• Field care supervisor: Responsible for the efficient running of an area and management of care/support workers.
• Senior care assistant: Provides physical and emotional support to individuals receiving care and supervises teams of care assistants.

Management roles

These roles involve managing a team or an organisation.

• Manager: Responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. They ensure it meets standards and manage budgets and contracts.
• Deputy manager or team manager: Leads and manages the care team, helping them deliver high standards across the organisation.
• Specialist coordinator: Specialises in one area of care such as dementia or end-of-life care. They take responsibility for training staff and putting policies in place.

Regulated professional roles

These roles require registration with a regulated body to practice. They may also need relevant qualifications.

• Social worker: Offers counselling and advocacy to individuals and families. They intervene where vulnerable people need safeguarding.
• Occupational therapist: Works with people with physical, mental or social disabilities to help them do everyday activities. This may be helping with physical rehabilitation or equipment for daily living.
• Registered nurse: Performs clinical tasks in a nursing home or in the community.
• Nursing associate: Works with people and their families, carers, and partners to prevent ill health.

Ancillary roles

These roles don't involve direct care but are vital to the running of a social care organisation.

• Chef: Prepares, cooks and serves meals to people usually in a nursing or residential home, or in a day care centre.
• Housekeeper or domestic worker: Ensures that the environment in a residential home or sheltered housing is safe, tidy and clean.
• Driver or transport manager: Provides transport for people who need care and support. For example, this may be to and from a day centre or to hospital appointments.
• Maintenance worker: Carries out practical maintenance jobs. This is usually in a residential home or sheltered housing.

Other social care support roles

• Housing support officer: Provides housing-related support and advice to ensure people keep their tenancy and live independently.
• Social care prescriber: Connects people with non-medical support in the community to improve their wellbeing and tackle social isolation.
• Employment advisor: Helps people who need care and support to find and maintain employment.
• Administrator: Carries out administration tasks to support the social care organisation.