Care or Support Worker
This role category supports people who draw on care and support to live their lives as independently as possible. Responsibilities may include aspects of personal care, supporting everyday life, and helping individuals live independently.
Care and support can be provided across a variety of settings, including people’s own homes, residential settings, or supported independent living.
You can see below which of our qualifications map to the Care or Support Worker role in the Care Workforce Pathway.
This will help you easily see what skills are expected in this role and what training can support learners' development. It can also help learners see how they can progress to the next stage of their career in adult social care.
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NCFE qualifications for the Care or Support Worker pathway
The following qualifications are the knowledge and competencies required to succeed in Care or Support Worker roles.
Level 3 Award in Awareness of Dementia
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding the Principles of Dementia Care
Unit: Understand the process and experience of dementia
Unit: NCFE CACHE Provide support to individuals with dementia J/616/6355/UNITCACHE*
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Autism
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) A/616/6353*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand how to support individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) F/616/6354/UNITCACHE*
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of End of Life Care
Unit: End of life care
Unit: NCFE CACHE Managing symptoms in end-of-life care (T/650/5299)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understanding the effect of dementia on end-of-life care (R/650/5298)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals who are bereaved (F/615/7167)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand end-of-life care for individuals with specific health needs (J/650/5301)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals during the last days of life (K/650/5302)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals at the end of life (M/615/7326)*
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Award in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities
Unit: Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals with learning disabilities to access healthcare D/616/6362/UNITCACHE*
Unit: Principles of supporting individuals with a learning disability regarding sexuality and sexual health (Y/616/6361)*
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health
Unit: Promote mental wellbeing and mental health
Unit: DHS 13 Understand Mental Health Problems
Unit: NCFE CACHE Awareness of mental health legislation (J/650/5294)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand the legal, policy and service framework in mental health (F/650/5148)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to manage their own recovery from mental health conditions (H/650/5149)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understanding suicide interventions (L/650/5150)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support positive risk taking for individuals (M/650/5151)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals with mental health conditions to change patterns of behaviour using coping strategies (R/650/5152)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand mental health interventions (T/650/5153)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Effective communication and building relationships in mental health work (Y/650/5154)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Enable mental health service users and carers to manage change (A/650/5155)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Enable individuals with behaviours that challenge to develop strategies to manage their behaviour (D/650/5156)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand care and support planning and risk management in mental health (H/650/5158)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand the importance of personal wellbeing when working in mental health services (M/650/5160)*
*Unit available upon request
Unit: NCFE CACHE Infection prevention and control in a care setting (H/650/1378)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Maintain infection prevention and control in a care setting (K/650/5187)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Cleaning, decontamination and waste management (L/650/5188)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Co-ordinate activity provision in adult social care (Y/616/6327)*
Skills for Care resources
Every journey will be unique. Use the Skills for Care assessment tools to evaluate skills, plan development and advance careers in adult social care:
Role profile
Provides direct care and support to individuals.
Career path
With experience and further training, can move into Enhanced Care Worker or Supervisor roles.
Next steps:
Explore other roles across the Adult Care pathway.
Enhanced Care Worker Supervisor
