Specialised Roles
Within a career in care or support work, there are opportunities to work in more specialised roles that support the delivery of effective care and support. See some examples of specialised roles below.
Housing support officers can work in sheltered accommodation, supporting living services, hostels for the homeless or in the community.
This role is ideal for you if you're a good communicator who is digitally competent, great with numbers and able to understand complex information such as housing legislation.
All roles that involve supporting or working with vulnerable individuals will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) check. Find out more about information about DBS checks involve here.
Role overview:
- Supporting people to access housing.
- Helping individuals to understand the potential housing benefits available to them.
- Ensuring residents live in a safe and secure environment.
- Carrying out health and safety assessments including carrying out risk assessments with individuals.
- Filling in financial records such as rent, arrears and petty cash records.
- Doing administrative tasks to support your work such as tenancy agreements.
Salary expectation:
The average housing support officer salary in the United Kingdom is £25,280 per year or £12.96 per hour according to Talent. Entry level positions could start at £22,713 per year while most experienced workers could make up to £31,762 per year. This may vary depending on region and provider.
Skills and experience:
Having prior experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults will be valuable when applying for housing support roles. You can gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
For more experienced roles you might need a qualification or a degree in a relevant subject such as housing, community development or social policy. There are courses that are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Opportunities:
While in post, you could do a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care or continuing professional development qualification such as an award or certificate in activity provision.
Your employer may pay for you to complete these qualifications (via Workforce Development Fund), or you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for them yourself.
Rehabilitation workers usually work in the community to carry out assessments and identify the specific care or support needs of individuals.
All roles that involve supporting or working with vulnerable individuals will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) check. Find out more about information about DBS checks involve here.
Role overview:
- Carrying out individual assessments within the community to identify what care and support people need.
- Working with other professionals such as social workers and occupational therapists to make sure people get the right help.
- Providing advice about how to use specialist equipment.
- Teaching people daily life skills such as making a cup of tea, or reading braille.
- Organising activities such as sports, drama and educational activities.
You could work with lots of different people including adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities including sight or hearing loss, mental health conditions and drug or substance abuse issues.
Salary expectation:
The national average salary for a Rehabilitation Worker is £28,720, between £21,000 and £39,000, in the United Kingdom according to Glassdoor, updated Feb 2024. Salary estimates are based on salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Rehabilitation worker employees. This could vary depending on region and provider.
Skills and experience:
Your employer might ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE in English and maths.
It might be useful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. You can gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship. Some employers may also require that you have a valid UK drivers licence and a vehicle.
Opportunities:
While in post you could do a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care or continuing professional development qualification such as an award or certificate in activity provision.
Your employer may pay for you to complete these qualifications (via the Workforce Development Fund), or you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for them yourself.
Activities worker/co-ordinator role would be ideal for you if you're great at motivating people, good at organising events, digitally competent and great with time management.
Activity worker/co-ordinators can be based in care homes, day centres, in someone’s home or the community.
All roles that involve supporting or working with vulnerable individuals will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) check. Find out more about information about DBS checks involve here.
Role overview:
- Organising tailored activities based on the varying needs and abilities of the individuals you work with, as well as group activities that will bring individuals together
- Liaising with and booking external suppliers to provide certain activities or entertainment
- Organising trips out in the local community, considering transport arrangements, accessibility, and risk assessment
- Leading discussions about the types of activities people would like to take part in
Salary expectation:
The average salary for an activities co-ordinator is £10.93 per hour - between £18,000 and £23,000 per year - in United Kingdom according to Indeed, updated on 31 March 2024. Please note that this will likely change due to the increase in the National Living Wage to £11.44 in April 2024. This may also vary depending on region and provider.
Skills and experience:
Your induction will include necessary training such as health and safety, first aid and moving and handling. Additional specific training such as autism awareness, communication skills or working with people with dementia may also be offered.
It might be useful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. You can gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
Opportunities:
While in post you could do a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care or continuing professional development qualification such as an award or certificate in activity provision.
Your employer may pay for you to complete these qualifications (via the Workforce Development Fund), or you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for them yourself.
The role of an advocacy worker involves accessing services and ensure that people are involved in their own care and support planning.
What’s important is that you support individuals to express their views, wishes and choices regarding the services they receive.
All roles that involve supporting or working with vulnerable individuals will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) check. Find out more about information about DBS checks involve here.
Role overview:
Working to support people with decisions around housing, disability living allowance, care planning, medical decisions, financial planning, and hospital admissions. It can be a varied role and might include:
- Exploring options and providing information to help people make decisions about their own lives and the care and support they receive
- Assisting people to secure their rights to the help they need
- Enabling people to self-advocate and represent themselves
- Representing a person and speaking up on their behalf
- Helping people access services
Salary expectation:
The average salary for Advocacy Worker is £23,491 per year - between £19,000 and £25,000 - in the United Kingdom according to Glassdoor, updated on Jan 2024. Salaries estimates are based on 3622 salaries submitted anonymously. This could vary depending on region and provider.
Skills and experience:
- Developing good working relationships and good communication skills with a range of people
- Researching information and people’s rights
- Having challenging conversations and being able to challenge decisions
- Good English skills to understand complex policies and procedure
If you’re new to advocacy, you might consider the Level 2 Award in Independent Advocacy. However, you do not need this prior to starting work as an advocate – most people complete the qualification when they begin their role with the support of their employer.
Experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults can be useful. You can gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.