Caring career pathways
For various reasons and stages in their lives, some children and adults need support. This could include support with their health, safety and wellbeing as well as support to develop and maintain their independence, dignity and control. Social care is about making a difference by providing a whole range of services to support children, families, adults and older people. We provide a whole range of services to support these people to live the life they choose.
Adult Social Care
About the job
This role involves being part of an energetic team working in the community with adults who need support; this could be people with a physical or learning disability, mental health issues, someone who is socially isolated or a carer. The focus of the role is to help customers to find the support they need for example home support, help with shopping and laundry, finding a social activity. This will involve signposting, providing advice, finding and arranging support. To do this you will need to know about services provided in the community e.g. luncheon clubs, volunteer organisations, libraries, charities, home care providers etc.
Requirements
- A passion to make a difference to people's lives
- A caring but practical attitude
- Enjoy working as part of a team but also on your own in the community
- Some experience of working in a caring environment (paid or unpaid)
- IT skills to use the internet and complete e-forms
- Knowledge of resources available in the community to support people
- The ability to travel across Kirklees
- Good communication skills
- DBS check
Approximate wage
Entry level £17,000
Skills learned or developed
- Organisational skills
- The ability to work on your own initiative
- Decision-making skills
- Knowledge of the local community
Career progression
- Deputy/Team Manager
- Social work training
Similar roles
- Community Assessment and Support Officer
- Community Care Officer - Hospital Avoidance Team
About the job
Some people need help during the day so we provide day care for older people and people with a disability based on their needs and interests - this can include going to social activities or sports centres, doing arts and crafts and much more.
The Co-ordinator's role will be to lead and develop a team and manage a base(s) on a day-to-day basis. It's important we get to know our customers to make sure the plan for their activities is specifically designed for their needs - so we will also need to talk to their relatives and other professionals involved in their lives. We'll be looking to the Co-ordinator to suggest how we can improve the way we work to provide the highest quality support and care.
Requirements
- Passion for providing the best quality care and support to vulnerable people and want to make a real difference to their lives
- A caring but practical attitude
- Enjoy leading and working as part as a team
- Experience of working in a similar environment
- Hold a relevant qualification e.g. NVQ 2 or QCF Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Experience of supervising staff
- Ability to communicate well with all different people
- Driving licence
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£25,000
Skills learned or developed
- Management skills
- Leadership skills
- Organisational skills
- A more in-depth knowledge of adult health and social care
- Managing relationships with customers and other professionals
Career progression
Manager in Adult Social care (public and independent sector)
Similar roles
Other co-ordinator posts in residential or home care (public and independent sector)
About the job
Support Workers are frontline workers who support vulnerable adults in a variety of settings e.g. in their own homes, in residential care, in day care or in the community. We offer around the clock services � 365 days per year to older people, people with a physical or sensory disability and people with learning disabilities. We also provide support to people who have dementia or are nearing the end of their life. This will include providing basic health care, personal care, supporting people to attend social activities etc.
Requirements
You do not need any academic qualifications and you will receive a full induction, but you will need:
- A passion to make a difference to people's lives
- A caring but practical attitude
- Enjoy working as part of a team but also on your own in the community
- Ability to work on a rota and out of hours (in some instances)
- An understanding of the services provided through adult social care
- To be physically able to undertake the role e.g. moving and handling
- To be able to communicate well with vulnerable adults
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£16,000
Skills learned or developed
- Knowledge of health and safety, food hygiene etc
- Moving and handling techniques
- Undertaking basic health care tasks e.g. stoma care
Career progression
First line supervisor role in Home Support - Residential or Day Care (public and impendent sector)
Carephone Home Safety Service
About the job
The Carephone Service works around the clock - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support people to live independently in their own homes. We supply people with different devices such as carephones, fall detectors, smoke detectors etc. that alert our office if there is an emergency or urgent assistance is required, so the right people are called to help e.g. mobile response service, ambulance, fire brigade, home support worker.
The DTM has day-to-day operational management responsibility for the service. This involves managing the Carephone Operators and ensuring we have enough equipment available to meet our customers' needs. This is a growing area of work and the DTM will suggest ways to improve services making the best use of new technology.
Requirements
- Passion to support people to live independently in their own home through the use of technology
- Ability to lead and work well in a team
- Ability to thrive in a busy environment
- Enjoy planning and organising
- Ability to work out of hours
- Excellent communication skills
- Knowledge of the services we provide as well as other organisations
- Understanding of how technology can support people to live independently
- Supervisory skills
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£25,000
Skills learned or developed
- Management skills
- Leadership skills
- Budget management
- Organisational skills
- Partnership working skills
Career progression
Team Manager in Adult Social Care
Similar roles
- Home Support, Residential or Day Care Co-ordinator
- Call Centre Supervisor
Client Financial Affairs (CFA)
About the job
Our customers need to have a financial assessment to decide if they need to pay for services such as home, residential or day care. The role involves visiting people to go through a financial assessment which will determine how much they will need to contribute against the cost of their care/support package.
Some of our customers may not have enough money to pay for their care and may get a subsidy from the council. The Visiting Assessment Officers gather financial information from service users and help to determine if and how much they should be contributing towards their care.
Requirements
- Passion to make a difference to people's lives by helping with managing their financial affairs
- Ability to work in a team and also on your own in the community
- Enjoy working in a financial environment and are good with numbers
- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Awareness of legislation such as Charging for Residential Guidance, Fairer Charging Policy etc
- Good IT skills and knowledge of computer packages
- The ability to communicate with all different people
- Car driver
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£22,000
Skills learned or developed
- Financial skills and knowledge
- Understanding of legislation
- The ability to work on your own initiative
- The ability to work with vulnerable people
- An insight of what Social Workers do
Career progression
- Other roles in general finance and accountancy
- Deputy/Team Manager - CFA
Family Support & Child Protection
About the job
When a child is taken into care we are under a legal duty to promote contact between the child, parents, siblings and extended family through face to face meetings. These meetings are usually supervised and monitored by a Contact Officer. As well as attending the meeting the role involves taking the child to and from the meeting and writing up observations to share with other child-care colleagues involved in the case. The role also involves giving advice and support to parents to assist them to maintain a positive relationship with their child who is unable to live with them.
Requirements
- A passion for keeping children safe
- Enjoy working in a team
- Experience of working with children (paid or unpaid)
- Literacy skills to complete case records
- Skills to listen and observe situations and describe them accurately
- Ability to form trusting relationships with children and their families
- Car driver
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£17,000
Skills learned or developed
- Understanding of children and families legislation
- Sensory observation skills
Career progression
- Working in residential care - Residential Care Officer - public and voluntary sector
- Community Care Officer
- Studying to become a qualified Social Worker at university
About the job
For a number of reasons, some young people cannot safely stay in their own home or extended family environment and so they may need to live in one of our homes on a temporary or sometimes permanent basis. Our homes accommodate young people aged between 10 and 18.
In this job no two days will be the same; working with young people can be challenging but exceptionally rewarding. The RCO is part of a small team who are on hand 24/7 to provide both emotional and practical support and guidance to young people and will be a positive role model. Some of the things they would be involved in range from shopping, cooking and other leisure activities to setting boundaries and discipline. RCOs need to attend meetings, keep records and work closely with others for example Social Workers, teachers and family members where appropriate.
Requirements
- Passion to make a difference to young people's lives
- A caring but practical attitude
- Enjoy working as part as a team
- Prepared to complete appropriate qualifications
- Ability to communicate well with all different people but especially young people
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£17,000
Skills learned or developed
This is a career graded post and you will be supported to achieve qualifications
Career progression
- Co-ordinator/ Manager in childcare
- Social Work Courses
Similar roles
Youth Worker
Other Caring Careers
About the job
Working at an early stage with families who are facing challenges can prevent more complex problems in the future. The Family Worker is key to this by providing activities, such as play, developing parenting skills and offering advice or information. These jobs are part of a wider team based in Family Centres but will also work in the community and in family homes.
Requirements
- Passion to make a positive difference to a family's life
- Good at building relationships and engaging with children and parents
- Ability to work on your own initiative but also work well in a team
- An understanding of child development
- Some knowledge of the Common Assessment Framework
- Ability to use IT packages
- DBS check
Approximate wage
£16,000
Skills learned or developed
This is a career graded post so you will receive development to progress. This will include a Level 3 qualification.
Career progression
Childrens Centre Manager or Deputy
Similar roles
- Family Support Worker
- Community Care Officer
About the job
The Young People's Activity Team provide short break / respite services to children and young people with a disability aged 5-18. We plan and deliver sessions to support young people to develop life skills and maximise their potential and this role involves leading a small team of staff and volunteers to do this.
Working with the young people can be very rewarding and can sometimes be challenging but never boring. No two days will be the same as no two young people are the same.
Requirements
- Passion for helping young people to maximise their potential
- A caring but practical attitude
- Enjoy leading and working as part of a team
- Experience of working with young people with a disability
- Ability to deal positively with challenging behaviour
- Some experience of leading/supervising staff
- DBS check
- Ability to work out of hours e.g. evenings and weekends
Approximate wage
£20,000
Skills learned or developed
- Management skills
- Leadership skills
- A greater knowledge of disability issues
Career progression
Residential and day care opportunities working with young people with a disability e.g. Co-ordinator
Similar roles
Residential care staff - in the public and independent sector
About the job
The Youth Offending Team is a multi-agency service working together to prevent offending by children and young people and to work with young people in trouble with the law. Young people who offend are assessed, appropriately punished, helped and directed to change their behaviour.
The role involves being actively involved in specific cases where young people have been identified as offenders or are at risk of offending. The young people are assessed and intervention plans are drawn up to address their behaviour and strategies developed to prevent reoffending.
Requirements
- A passion for helping young people to change their lives
- Enjoy working with different people from different organisations
- Enjoy a challenge
- Some experience of working with young offenders
- Some knowledge of legislation governing young people
- Ability to relate to young people and build their trust
- Literacy skills to draft reports
Approximate wage
£20,000
Skills learned or developed
- Confidence in dealing with young people
- Understanding of the justice system
- Ability to build relationships
Career progression
Similar roles
- Community Care Officer
- Residential Care Officer