A Career in Social Care
Many of us, at different times in our lives, may need extra help to cope with everyday living. This could be for a variety of reasons, perhaps the impact of disability, family pressures, illness, or ageing. Social care workers provide that extra help. Social care is about providing practical and emotional support for people to enable them to realise their potential and live as independently as possible.
Social care work can be demanding, but it is immensely rewarding. It requires a wide range of personal qualities such as patience, understanding, sensitivity, empathy and the ability to listen and support. If you have these qualities, and want to do something worthwhile, then social care is the career for you. Working in social care offers the chance to enter a flexible career with a huge range of jobs to choose from. You should be able to find a job that suits your own circumstances, stage of life and work experience. Whatever you choose, you will be doing a job that makes a difference to the quality of life for the people you work with.
This section provides information about gaining paid or voluntary work experience, the job roles within social care and the career development opportunities available. You can download information booklets, or request a copy from the NISCC Enquiries Team (Tel 028 9041 7600).