Training and qualifications
How can I become a Support Worker?
You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a Support Worker at Hft. But you will need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The DBS check makes sure you don’t have any criminal convictions that would prevent you from working with vulnerable people. This will be done as part of the application process once you apply for a job.
There are several training options available that will help you progress in your career in social care.
For new recruits, we use the Government-approved Adult Care Apprenticeships or equivalent qualification to ensure you get trained up and qualified. You’ll learn new skills while you work as a Support Worker at the same rate of pay as your colleagues. It’s a great way of getting on-the-job training while being paid too.
What qualifications are available?
You can become a support worker with no experience. But qualifications are a great way of building your professional development and gaining the skills needed to deliver excellent support. You can gain work-related qualifications such as the Diploma in Health and Social Care at Level 2 or 3.
Find out more about all of the options available.
Support Worker Apprenticeships
Support Worker apprenticeships with Hft are nationally recognised training and development programmes. You’ll gain a Care Certificate, skills, experience and a Health and Social Care Diploma, while working full time. And, of course, earning a full adult wage!
At Hft, we supported the Government’s drive to achieve three million apprenticeship starts in the public and private sectors by 2020. Our first apprentice under the new scheme started in August 2017. Today, around 28% of our workforce are apprentices, which is an incredible achievement for our sector. In 2022, we ranked 12th place in the ‘Top Apprenticeship Employers’ awards in England – an achievement we’re extremely proud of!
Paid apprenticeships are a great option for people who are new to the social care sector and those who want to further their career. What’s important to us is that applicants share our values and our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for the people we support.
Get involved
If you’re interested in apprenticeship opportunities at Hft, browse our current vacancies. New starters taking on a Support Worker role who meet the eligibility criteria will take on an apprenticeship. Care to join us?
Health and Social Care Diploma
A Health and Social Care Diploma at level 2 or 3 will teach you the skills necessary to work in lots of different areas of social care, beyond what you might be able to pick up from your job. This will make you a more flexible worker with a deeper understanding of how to work efficiently in different environments. It also looks great on your CV and will open you up to more job opportunities.
Currently, we use the Government-approved Adult Care Apprenticeships or equivalent qualifications to deliver these to new recruits, while they work as a Support Worker at the same rate of pay as their colleagues.
These qualifications are for people already working in the social care sector who want to demonstrate occupational competence. This means the behaviour, knowledge and values needed to carry out your role effectively. They cover topics such as promoting person-centred approaches, and the principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care.
You can take a diploma that follows a generic pathway, or you can choose to specialise in a specific area, such as dementia or learning disabilities.
There are also a range of smaller qualifications into areas such as diabetes, end-of-life care and autism. These would be useful for people who want to continue their professional development or tailor their learning to their role.
QCF > RQF
On 1 January 2018, the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) was withdrawn, to make way for the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The RQF is a nationally recognised system. All qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual fall under the RQF. Qualifications are categorised, given a level and a ‘qualification size,’ which means the amount of time it would take to gain that qualification.
Next steps
- Read more about the various qualification options on Skills for Care’s website.
- Browse our current vacancies to find support work opportunities near you.
Health and Social Care Degrees
Undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses in Health and Social Care are available at providers across the country. These will provide valuable skills, understanding and knowledge when applying for a Support Worker role. But they aren’t a requirement for the job.
Courses differ according to the provider, but generally you’ll cover the following:
- Ways of working with people with a variety of needs
- Policy developments
- Social and psychological approaches
- Critical issues in care.
It’s likely that you’ll also undertake work placements in different settings.
Next steps
If you’d like to explore degree opportunities further, you can use the UCAS search tool to find courses near you.
Or, take a look at our current vacancies to take your first steps towards a career with Hft today.