Social work assistant apprenticeships - where to start
You can get into this job through
a college coursean apprenticeshipapplying directly
College
You can do a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, which may help when you look for work. You'll usually need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course.
Apprenticeship
You could do
an apprenticeship in care or youth work to get experience of working with vulnerable adults, children or young people.
Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:
- Level 2 Adult care worker
- Level 3 Youth support worker
- Level 4 Children, young people and families practitioner
With experience you may be able to progress to a social worker degree apprenticeship.
You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for a Level 3 apprenticeship. You'll need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for a Level 2 apprenticeship. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-Levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship.
Volunteering
You could get experience by volunteering, which will give you an advantage with course and job applications.
Direct Application
You could apply directly after getting experience in a care role, like a care worker or a healthcare assistant in a:
hospital, hospice, care home or children's home. You'll usually need a GCSE in English for this route. Experience of caring within your own family or community can help you get into this job.
Social work assistant apprenticeships - what it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of psychology
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to
pass enhanced background checks
Social work assistant apprenticeships - what you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day tasks you may:
- contact clients and follow up enquiries
- advise clients and their families about help that's available
- visit people at home to check how they are
- follow a social worker’s care plan, and sometimes create your own
- keep records and write reports
- keep up to date with the law
- go to meetings with your department and other agencies
- liaise with other health and care professionals
Working environment
You could work in the community, at a children's care home, at a client's home, in an office, in an NHS or private hospital or at an adult care home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career path and progression - Social work assistant apprenticeships
With experience you could work towards qualifying as a social worker. You could do this yourself, or with support and funding from your employer.
You could also move into related careers like family support work or counselling.