Care Home jobs

Care home jobs: frequently asked questions

Welcome to our care home jobs page, featuring all the latest roles throughout the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What is a care home job?

Care home jobs are all about helping vulnerable people to live comfortable lives as independently as possible.

A care home job typically means you’ll be working within a residential care home, and most are privately operated.

The people you support could be adults with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, mental health conditions or older people.

There are various care home jobs and career routes within this sector. At entry level, typical roles include carers or care workers, and at the higher end you have deputy home managers and care home managers. But there are other, specialist roles in between which can include support workers or of course, care home nurses.

What daily duties do you have in a care home?

In a care home job, what you do depends largely on your seniority. However, responsibilities could include:

• Supporting people with washing, dressing and eating

• Getting to know the needs of every resident and tailoring care accordingly

• Monitoring health regularly

• Monitoring and administering medication according to treatment plans

• Helping to run internal and external home activities

As a care home nurse, your duties will be similar those carried out within other care settings. You’ll take residents’ vital signs, make or adjust treatment plans, and be responsible for the ongoing health of residents. Unlike in a hospital setting, care home nurses often work as the only qualified medical professional on-site at any given time.

Managing a care home is a 24/7 operation, so most of the roles tend to be shift-based, with some weekends and unsociable hours likely. However, it does offer the potential for flexibility and part-time work.

What skills and qualifications do you need to work in a care home?

To begin your career in a care home, you don’t need any formal qualifications.

Some providers ask for GCSEs in English and/or Maths, but many others don’t. Care home workers often have a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care – but it’s often far easier to obtain these qualifications on the job.

In terms of personal skills, there are certain traits that are essential. You’ll of course need to be caring and compassionate. You’ll also ned to be very resilient – this is the kind of work that can really test your mettle and emotions. But also, you’ll need to be an excellent and patient communicator.

Management positions are achievable through a combination of experience and qualifications. Care home managers often have nursing qualifications combined with management qualifications or experience – but this isn’t the only route. With enough experience you might be able to get the provider you work for to support you in gaining a Level 4 NVQ in Health and Social Care.

You may also choose to train to become a social worker, support worker, or care home nurse. Care home nurses normally train and qualify within the NHS, and after gaining some experience, choose to move into the care home sector.

How much do care home jobs pay?

Care home salaries vary widely, mainly because the majority of residential care homes are privately operated.

According to industry statistics, the national average hourly rate for entry level care workers is around £8.30 per hour, and average annual salaries are somewhere between £15,000 and £17,000.

Meanwhile, the average salary for a home manager is somewhere around £30,000 to £32,000 a year.

Care home nursing salaries are broadly on a par with nursing salaries within other care settings, so typically between £25,000 and. £30,000 – or beyond £35,000 for those with lots of experience.

For many years, care home pay has been criticised for being too low – especially for entry level jobs. And with Covid-19 bringing huge challenges for staff, salaries have been brought into even brighter focus. It’s hoped that this attention could push care home pay in a more positive direction in the coming years.

Find your next care home job today

Whether you’re an experienced care home worker or just starting your career, view our latest care jobs above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, register your CV and we’ll send you the latest roles.