Care work guides
Plain-English guides for people working in UK care and for the providers who employ them.
For care workers
How to become a care worker in the UK
What a care worker does, the checks you need, whether you need qualifications, and how to find your first care job in the UK.
Care worker pay in the UK: what affects your hourly rate
What decides how much a care worker earns in the UK, including the National Living Wage, shift type, travel time and progression.
What is a DBS check for care work?
A plain-English guide to DBS checks for care jobs: which level you need, who applies for it, how long it takes and how the Update Service works.
The Care Certificate explained
What the Care Certificate is, the 15 standards it covers, how long it takes, and how it fits with Level 2 and Level 3 diplomas in adult care.
Care worker interview questions and how to answer them
Common care worker interview questions in the UK, with tips on how to answer, what to bring and questions to ask the provider.
Support worker vs care assistant: what is the difference?
How support worker and care assistant roles differ in the UK, including the settings, the type of support and which might suit you.
For care providers
How to write a care job advert that gets applications
A practical guide for UK care providers on writing care job adverts that attract good applicants: title, pay, hours, support and a simple checklist.
How to recruit care staff without relying on agencies
Practical ways for UK care providers to cut agency spend: direct hiring, a bank of staff, referrals, faster onboarding and better retention.