Care home practitioner
Look after vulnerable adults living in care homes – you'll help them reach their full potential.
Also known as: residential support worker
About the job
Career insights – Care practitioner
What it's like
The best care home practitioners are compassionate and patient people, with strong communication skills. If that sounds like you, this career may be a great fit.
You'll provide care and support to adults living in residential homes, helping them lead happy and fulfilling lives. Your work will see you assist people to complete daily tasks and leisure activities. You might also take an active role in organising and reviewing someone’s care – this would be as a key worker.
Everyone you support will have different personalities and preferences. You’ll make sure each person’s support plan is accurate, up to date and unique to them.
There are different groups of people you could work with. Most care homes support older people but others might specialise in supporting younger adults.
Your tasks might include:
checking each person’s needs and keeping records of their progress
reviewing support plans and finding ways to improve someone’s care
creating a safe and positive living environment
providing personal care such as helping people wash, go to the toilet, dress and eat
helping with daily living skills like shopping and dealing with money
liaising with people’s families to arrange family and home visits
You'll work in a team with other health and social care professionals. You’ll also collaborate with other agencies including the NHS and local authority. It's important you maintain good relationships with residents' family members and carers.
Most care home practitioner positions will pay an hourly wage, but some may be salaried. With experience, you could be promoted to a care service supervisor or care service manager role. In these positions, you'll lead a team or manage a budget.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Scottish Social Services Council – the regulatory body for people working in Scottish social services
Disclosure Scotland – learn more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
Skills for Care and Development – skills advice for people who work in early years, social services and children and young people's services
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Social care Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- respecting
- empathising
- written communication
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- cooperating
- resilience
Things you should know
Meet Karen
a care practitioner at Fife Council
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Care
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services Children and Young People
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You can become a care home practitioner by going to college or doing an apprenticeship.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Social Services
Health Care Practice
Working with Communities
Use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Healthcare Support.
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a care home practitioner. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
All care home practitioners need to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
You must have approved membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
A driving licence is useful and may be required for some roles.
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