Social care worker
Also known as: senior care worker, care worker, social care assistant, community social care worker, senior social care worker
About this occupation
Social care workers provide support and help people with care services. They help people to live full and valued lives in the community. They assist babies, young children, adolescents, adults and older adults.They attend to the psychological, social, emotional and physical needs of service users. They work in a large variety of settings with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities.
Essential skills and knowledge
- support social service users' positiveness
- contribute to protecting individuals from harm
- encourage social service users to preserve their independence in their daily activities
- customer service
- build helping relationship with social service users
- meet standards of practice in social services
- review social service plan
- maintain the trust of service users
- work within communities
- legal requirements in the social sector
- support social service users with specific communication needs
- report on social development
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other (O*NET 21-1099.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$56,730 a year (2025), 107,730 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Specialisations
- adult community care worker
- care at home worker
- child welfare worker
- disability support worker
- family support worker
- foster care support worker
- housing support worker
- mental health support worker
- residential care home worker
- residential childcare worker
- residential home adult care worker
- residential home older adult care worker
- residential home young people care worker