Job Opportunities in Social Care

There are almost 40,000 social care professionals working in Northern Ireland (NI), providing social care services for older people; people with acute, or terminal illness; people with physical, or learning disabilities; people with visual or hearing impairments; families and children or young people; people with mental ill health; people who are homeless and people with alcohol and/or drugs dependency. This variety of services creates a wide range of job opportunities including working in people’s own homes, in day centres, in community centres, and in residential or nursing homes. Current job roles include: 

• Domiciliary Care Worker
• Care Assistant
• Day Care Worker
• Social Work Assistant
• Senior Day Care Worker
• Senior Care Assistant
• Family Support Worker

Currently the qualifications required for these job roles vary according to employer and job role. The Agenda for Change review of job roles and grades, which is due for completion later in 2008 will provide clarification about requirements for social care job roles. NISCC will develop more information about these job profiles during the next year. The sections below provide an overview of social care work in adult services and with families. A Career in Child Care and Early Years provides Information on working in Child Care settings with Children aged 0-14. 

Jobs in social care are provided by Health and Social Care Trusts and by independent, private and voluntary social care organisations. Vacancies are normally advertised in local newspapers, the internet, job centres and with recruitment agencies. The NISCC Social Care Contacts booklet has contact information for social care recruitment.

Click here to find out more about working in the following situations;

Working With Adults in Their Own Homes
Working With Adults in Day Centres
Working With Adults in Residential and Supported Living Accommodation
Working With Families

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