Why you should consider a career in social care 

Why should you consider a career in social care?

One of the consequences of recent government cuts is that social care in the UK is currently being subjected to a great deal of negative press. But in spite of these challenging times, it’s important to acknowledge that there are great advantages to be had with a career in this sector. It can be an incredibly rewarding path, and one that makes a great impact on society, especially in the current market. The industry is desperate for more applicants – in 2022, there were 165,000 social care vacancies in England – the highest ever on record and a massive 52% increase compared to 2021.

So, in a sector that desperately needs more staff to continue doing work that’s so valuable to society, why should you consider a career in social care?
 

You’ll be making a very real impact

As part of our Social Care Stories video series, we heard from Niall Kelly, CEO at MHC and Young Foundations, who has had an exceptionally fulfilling and successful career in social care. He believes “the key benefits and rewards to a social care career are the opportunities you have to help others, and I think that that's the most valuable aspect of it.” Social care workers can have a significant positive impact on the quality of life of the vulnerable and those in need of assistance. Niall, along with many others in the social care profession, finds it exceptionally rewarding to help people in this way and improve their quality of life. Having social care can be truly life-changing for in-need individuals, providing them as it does with emotional, physical, and social support, so if you are an empathetic and caring person who enjoys helping others, then this could be a highly fulfilling career choice for you.
 

Every day will be different

There is often the misconception that a career in social care is all about providing personal care, but in reality there is so much more to this line of work. In our Social Care Stories video series, Niall gives insight into how varied the role of a social worker is, as “you’ll be helping somebody with their daily life, so you don't necessarily know what’s going to be on each and every day.” This could include assisting with an individual’s education or journey into work, or helping them maintain relationships with family members and re-engage with friends they have lost touch with.

Ample opportunities and career progression

There is also a massive variety of roles within social care, so there are many different paths you can explore, whether that be direct care jobs such as personal assistance, management positions, regulated professional roles or indirect care opportunities, among many more. There are plenty of opportunities for movement to other specialisms once you are in the social care space, along with ample prospects for progression.
 

Demand for staff

Suzie Bailey, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund, a UK charity that shapes health and social care policy and practice, recently stated “it’s absolutely certain that we need more staff in health and care. The demand is there.” Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, delved into the reasons for the increase in demand for social care workers, and unfortunately it’s because more individuals are waiting an increasingly long time for life-changing care. Sally largely puts this down to a huge backlog from the Covid pandemic, as well as the cost-of-living crisis driving poverty, and therefore ill-health. 

This high demand for social care workers will only add to the fact that employers are often likely to put more emphasis on a candidate’s values compared to their experience and qualifications, so this line of work can be an option for you, no matter your education or background.

With social care currently battling through these challenging times, getting into this sector could allow you to make a genuine impact on someone’s life and help to provide valuable care that in-need individuals are sadly currently waiting so long for.

For more insight into what a career in social care would look like, take a look at our Social Care Stories video series.