what is a senior support worker?
As a senior support worker, you assist people with various physical challenges to improve their quality of life and independence. For instance, you help the disabled with personal care and emotional support that enables them to live a fulfilled life. You organise trips and physical therapy sessions to help them stay active and promote overall health and safety. Apart from the sick and people with disabilities, your job extends to seniors. As a senior support worker, you ensure the elderly receive the best care and enjoy their golden years.
Since you are the senior support worker, your job includes mentoring support workers and training them on the best care methods for patients. You should be passionate about impacting people's lives positively and possess leadership skills to motivate other care workers to provide the best support to the vulnerable.
what does a senior support worker do?
As a senior support worker, you work in hospitals and facilities that support physically challenged and sick patients. You can work in care homes for the elderly or hospices where you care for people with terminal illnesses. Some senior support workers work in orphanages or homes for physically disabled children to help them lead better lives.
Would working as a senior support worker suit your interest in helping people? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a senior support worker role.
senior support worker salary
According to National Careers, a senior support worker's salary begins at £17,000 annually, but with experience, your income can increase to £27,000 per year. Aside from the basic salary, you receive various allowances to boost your compensation package, including medical and life insurance. Some senior support workers receive transport or house allowance and a pension scheme from the employers.
Your earnings vary depending on the sector you work for and the pay structures. For instance, your compensation package relies on the NHS Pay Bands if you work in an NHS care home or facility. Senior support workers under NHS earn Band 3 or Band 4 salaries, which begin from £20,330 and £22,549 per year. Private sector care homes usually have higher salary structures and better benefits, including bonuses.
ways to increase your senior support worker salary
If you want to improve your senior support worker income, you need additional qualifications and skills. Most employers hire senior support workers with a Level 3 Diploma, but you can improve your skills and boost your chances with additional training. With extra qualifications, a senior support worker can negotiate higher pay. The type of support you provide could also determine your salary. For instance, senior support workers in mental institutions or hospices are likely to earn more due to the demanding nature of the work.
types of senior support workers
As a senior support worker, you can provide support to people in different settings. Some of the common support workers include:
- domestic senior support worker: as a senior support worker, your job involves assisting people in domestic settings, including homes and private residences. A domestic senior support worker often works with elderly or disabled individuals and helps them improve their quality of life. Your job is to assist them in making progress like completing physical tasks and personal care to make them independent.
- senior clinical support worker: a senior support worker also assists patients in clinical settings. For instance, you can assign support workers to help patients in physiotherapy or help patients take medication or go to the bathroom. You also coordinate the support workers in the facility and ensure each patient receives the best care.
- senior community support worker: as a senior support worker, you assist patients with impairments or challenging living situations. Your job involves social care, which means you must assist patients through a physical disability or mental health crisis. Your aim is to help them improve their well-being and lead a quality life.
working as a senior support worker
Working as a senior support worker is a hands-on role that requires close contact with your patients. It is also a leadership role that requires you to inspire support workers and ensure they provide the best care to patients.
-
senior support worker job description
The typical daily activities of a senior support worker include:
- patient assessments: as a senior support worker, you need to evaluate the needs of new patients. You should study their medical records or conduct a physical assessment to determine what they can and can't do. It is also crucial to learn about their allergies and physical activities. If a patient doesn't provide all the relevant information, you have to speak with their family members or carers.
- designing intricate care plans: senior support workers create detailed care plans to help patients improve their well-being. For instance, you can start by teaching them how to brush their teeth and other personal care tasks. Each patient needs a specialised care plan to improve their quality of life.
- monitoring patients' vital signs and updating medical records: as a senior support worker, you need to monitor your patients' healthcare needs. Aside from administering the medication on time, you need to regularly record the patient's vital signs and blood pressure. You also respond to emergencies in the facility.
- updating families on patient's progress: it is crucial to reassure the patient's family by providing a progress report. Even small milestones give families hope and encourage the patient to continue with the care plan. Updating the family also improves a patient's transition from a clinical setting to their home.
- developing activities and programmes for service users: aside from supporting your patients to accomplish various physical tasks, you need to help them pursue their hobbies or interests. You can plan trips and exercise sessions to keep the patients happy.
- training and mentoring new support workers: as a senior support worker, you are in charge of training and mentoring new support workers. That involves guiding them on how to execute the care plans or handle patients with various disabilities. You also supervise a team of support workers and ensure they provide high-quality patient care.
-
work environment
As a senior support worker, you work in care homes, clinical facilities, private residences, hospitals and schools. Most of your duties involve moving around hospitals to help your clients get support. For instance, you need to ensure your patient makes it to a doctor's appointment and participates in other activities. When you are not assisting patients or other support workers, you work on your desk updating medical records and preparing progress reports.
-
who are your colleagues?
Whether you work in a clinical or community setting, your colleagues in senior support roles include personal support workers, care home managers and care workers and . Support workers and carers will assist you with patient care. You may also work in close proximity to paramedics and care home advocates, as well as other specialists like social workers, nurses and physiotherapists.
-
work schedule
As a senior support worker, you work 44 hours on a full-time work schedule. Most days, you will work the regular business hours, but sometimes your role demands working weekends and evenings. You may also work on holidays in case of emergencies. Most employers have senior support workers on call schedules. That means you can be requested to come to work with no advance notice. Some work settings also provide shift schedules, which means you are likely to work early mornings or late night shifts.
-
job outlook
Senior support workers have multiple options to scale their careers and potentially join managerial positions. For instance, you can specialise in particular support areas like family support, elderly care, terminal illness and disabilities or drug addiction. Alternatively, you can move to higher positions in the care industry, like becoming a deputy care home manager and care home manager. Some senior support workers move to social work.
-
advantages of finding a senior support worker job through randstad
Finding your senior support worker job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a senior support worker is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
The following educational qualifications will help you secure a senior support worker role:
- college: you need post-secondary education to become a senior support worker in any facility. A Level 3 or 4 Diploma is a great start and gives you a competitive advantage. You can complete a Level 3 or 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management if you have 5 GCSE grades 9 to 4 or 2 A Levels.
- apprenticeship: adult care worker apprenticeship programmes are available in the UK. You can complete an advanced apprenticeship within 18 months and continue with on-the-job training to become a senior support worker.
- work experience: a senior support worker needs a few years of experience in social care. You can volunteer to gain some skills and improve your job prospects.
skills and competencies
The skills necessary for senior support workers include:
- technical and computer skills: computer competency is important for a senior support worker. Sometimes, you have to use patient management software to record information and computing skills come in handy. The skills also help you with budgeting and writing reports.
- communication skills: as a senior support worker, you instruct carers and support workers on their duties. Communication skills help you communicate clearly to clients, families and other workers.
- empathy and interpersonal skills: a senior support worker needs teamwork skills to collaborate with others and provide the best care. Empathy also helps you connect with patients and provide emotional support.
- time management: as a senior support worker, you schedule support workers and other carers to ensure patients receive 24/7 care. You need time management skills to monitor the duties you need to fulfil daily.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a senior support worker.
-
what is a senior support worker?
A senior support worker leads other workers in providing the best care to vulnerable people. They work in clinical or community-based facilities to provide help to patients.
-
how much does a senior support worker earn in the UK?
A senior support worker earns between 17,000 and 27,000 per year. The compensation package depends on your skills and experience levels.
-
what makes a good senior support worker?
A senior support worker needs to be a leader to inspire other workers. It is also crucial to be patient and emotionally supportive of patients.
-
what is the responsibility of a senior worker?
Senior support workers take care of the vulnerable and improve their well-being. They help them perform various tasks like personal care routines.
-
how do I apply for a senior support worker vacancy?
Applying for a senior support worker job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
