Care assistant: children

Care assistants provide basic personal care and social care to children and young people in a number of settings, including special schools, day centres and residential homes. They support children and young people with practical everyday tasks, as well as encouraging their personal and social development.

Also known as:

• Childcare support worker
• Children’s care assistant
• Residential care assistant – children
• Social work care assistant – children

Work activities

Some care assistants work in residential homes for children who are unable to live with a family for a variety of reasons. Most children in residential care are aged between 10 and 18 years (children younger than 10 are usually cared for by foster parents). Some care assistants provide care for children and young people with special needs, either in residential homes or in day centres and special schools. These special needs may result from a physical impairment or learning difficulty. In these settings, basic personal care could mean helping someone to wash, dress, eat meals, take medication or go to the toilet.

In all settings, social care is also very important. Care assistants observe and monitor children and young people’s needs, encouraging development in a safe, stimulating environment. Usually working in a team, assistants also plan and supervise activities. These could be social, educational or recreational and are designed to encourage children to form relationships with each other and to learn new skills. Another aspect of social care might be helping children and young people to keep in contact with their families.

Care assistants must be aware of changes in young people’s health. This includes watching out for changes in their emotional and mental well-being, such as the appearance of depression, anxiety or behavioural problems. They must report any concerns to a nurse or doctor, or the care officer on duty at the time.

Care assistants are responsible for health and safety. They may also be responsible for the security of a care home, if working a night shift, for example. Care assistants in residential homes are likely to have a number of domestic tasks, such as making beds, washing up and ironing. They may help with practical things like shopping, cutting hair or taking children to medical and dental appointments. Care assistants may keep progress records and take part in care reviews and meetings. They are likely to work alongside professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers and educational psychologists.

Personal qualities and skills

As a children’s care assistant, you need:

• Patience and tact.
• Compassion and a sense of humour.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to talk and listen to people from all backgrounds.
• The ability to work closely with colleagues, such as nurses and doctors, teachers, care officers or social workers.
• To give help and support when people in your care have concerns or emotional problems.
• The ability to connect with young people, to encourage their learning and deal with any problems they have.
• To respect each individual’s right to keep as much independence and privacy as they can.
• To treat each person as an individual, with different physical and emotional needs.
• To be discreet, and able to ease embarrassment when helping young people with personal tasks, such as washing or using the toilet.
• To be willing to learn and develop new skills on-the-job.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for care assistants vary, depending on employer and duties. The pay rates given are approximate. Care assistants working with older people earn in the range £14,000, rising to £25,000 with experience. Senior positions can provide higher salaries.

Care assistants work 35-40 hours per week. Shift work, early starts and late finishes are common. Some employers offer flexitime working, and part-time and temporary work is also possible.

Opportunities for care assistants occur in community and residential settings throughout the UK. Employers include local authority social services and education departments, and voluntary and private organisations that provide residential care for children and young people.

Opportunities occur for care assistants to become self-employed, working through health/care recruitment agencies.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on employers’ websites, on the Government’s Find a Job service. Specialist recruitment websites also display relevant job vacancies.

Entry routes and training

Qualifications are not always needed for entry, though a relevant level 2 qualification is helpful. One route to qualification is to take a level 2 or 3 health and social care course at further education college.

You could also apply for a job without qualifications. Some employers do not require qualifications, and many will support you to do a undertake a level 2 or 3 qualification at college. Typically, you will be released to study on day or block release.

After gaining further experience and qualifications, it’s possible to progress to senior roles. Care work is often seen as a stepping stone to other careers in social care, and can give you valuable experience towards related careers, such as social work.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To begin this career through direct application, you won’t necessarily need any qualifications. However, GCSEs in English and maths will help, as will a level 2 or 3 qualification in health and social care.

To get onto an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Employers usually see relevant skills and abilities and a responsible approach as an advantage.

The Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) offers a suite of relevant childcare courses, which can be studied on a full-time, part-time, weekend, work-based or open learning basis. A list of training providers is available from the CACHE website. Colleges usually consider adult candidates who don’t have the regular entry requirements. Check the admissions policy of the college that runs the course you’re interested in.

Related careers

• Care assistant
• Care home manager
• Childminder
• Early years teacher
• Nanny
• Nurse - children
• Nursery nurse
• Parents’ help
• Playworker
• Primary teacher
• Teaching assistant