Job Roles

Care Assistants can work in either residential settings or offer support in people’s homes.

Duties include:

• Helping people get up or go to bed
• Serving meals
• Assisting people to take part in activities and hobbies
• Personal Care and support emotional well-being

Can be referred to as: Care Assistant, Carer, Care Worker

Support Workers are similar to Care Assistants but there is more focus on independent living. They can either work in residential homes or may work for individuals in their own home.

In addition to the role of the Care Assistant duties may include:

• Providing help in organising and attending appointments
• Processing bills or helping with housing and advice
• Helping people go shopping and getting out to do things they enjoy

Activities coordinators are responsible for planning and facilitating activities for residents in a care home. This could be quizzes or bingo to day trips out or guest speakers.

Duties include:

• Developing regular varied activities based on residents abilities and interests
• Ensuring staff can help residents to engage in activities
• Managing budgets for activities

The role of Team Leader or Senior Care Assistant would include the duties of a care assistant but also hold some additional responsibilities such as:

• Supporting and encouraging a team of care assistants
• Completing reviews of staff and ensuring they are delivering quality care
• Any additional duties assigned by the Home manager
• Regularly assessing service users and looking for changes in their care needs

The role of Deputy Care Manager can be based either in a residential home or as a manager of a team of carers for a domiciliary care provider.

Duties include:

• Manage and co-ordinate day to day running of the service
• Ensure high levels of care and service being offered by staff
• Work with other care/health professionals
• Monitor and uphold quality standards of the service
• Support the home manager

The role of Care Manager will include some of the same duties as a deputy manager.

The role also will include:

• Responsible for meeting standards set by Care Quality Commission
• Manage budgets
• Recruit, train and supervise staff
• Oversee the day to day running of the home/service

As a personal assistant you will work directly for an individual or individuals helping them live as independently as possible by supporting them in daily life. This gives you freedom and flexibility to work on a one on one basis with an individual and will help to build a strong rapport enabling you to better understand their support needs.

Personal Assistants are employed directly by an individual who’s managing and paying for their own care, this is usually through their own personal budget or a social care direct payment. Personal assistants usually support individuals in their own home or out in the community supporting them with daily tasks such as appointments, or social activities.

Part of supporting an individual to live independently could include:

• Helping individuals lead a healthy lifestyle
• Attending vocational training, volunteering or work experience
• Supporting them with social and physical activities and hobbies
• Working with them to manage correspondence and bills
• Completing or encouraging them to complete daily tasks like cooking, cleaning and shopping
• Helping individuals attend work, college or university

Your duties will vary based on the needs of the individual. Some may have more social needs while others need help with mobility & personal care.

Support will be for adults in the community with physical, mental and/or learning disabilities. The support may be for a few hours each day or you may be part of a team that delivers 24 hours care.

As a Personal assistant you need good listening and communication skills. A desire to help and support others, be able to work on your own initiative and flexibility and good time management skills.

To practice as a nurse you’ll need a degree in nursing and be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to become a nurse.

Your role might include:

• Performing a range of clinical tasks such as taking blood samples or wound dressings
• Recording medical information
• Working in partnership with individuals, families and other professionals to plan care and support.

If you’re a Registered Nurse looking to move into the care sector, we can help you find the perfect job in West Sussex.

Rota coordinators are responsible for ensuring a service is fully staffed at all times. This involves putting together shifts patterns for each member of staff and identifying any issues.

Duties include:

• Raising any staffing issues and absences
• Arranging cover for shifts needed
• Working with local agencies to find staff if cover not available

Other roles could include admin, finance, HR, and marketing.

These are just a few of the varied and interesting roles in adult social care. All will help you develop transferable skills and are incredibly rewarding.