Support Worker
A support worker’s role is to provide person-centred care and support.
They use a range of knowledge and skills to help people to:
- - wash, dress, prepare meals and get ready for the day ahead
- - communicate their wishes or concerns
- - stay connected to family and friends
- - lead an interesting, fulfilling and healthy life.
Support workers follow agreed care plans. They share their knowledge about the person to help their senior colleagues keep everyone’s care plan up to date.
Support workers demonstrate respect for individual rights, such as the right everyone has to be in control of their own life.
They register with the SSSC as a support worker in a care at home or housing support service.
The minimum qualification requirement is SVQ or Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF level 6 which is gained while working. There are college and university courses too.
Explore the social care qualification pathways or scroll down to Next steps to get started.
Career Stories

I would recommend a career in social care if you enjoy being hands on and are a people person.
Gillian Davidson Professional live-in carer

My brother told me about Prince’s Trust Scotland. He’d completed a ‘Get Into...’ programme several years ago and said it was perfect for me to gain experience in the workplace and to get that boost to my confidence. He told me that I could apply up to the age of 30. I had no idea was even eligible.
Natalie Mattheson Healthcare support worker
Care Homes
Care homes are communities where people live and people work. Staff work closely with people they care for and get to know them well. They often say they feel like they are family.
Care home workers work within multi-disciplinary teams and with families to support people with all aspects of daily life and do this is a way which promotes compassion, wellbeing, choice and quality of life.
There are around 1,000 care homes in Scotland. Many are dedicated to supporting older people and some support adults of all ages.
Click on a role to show more information about what you would do. You will also see inspiring career stories from real professionals in care homes.
Support Worker
A support worker’s role is to provide person-centred care and support.
They use their values, knowledge and skills to develop relationships and work with people to support them;
Support workers follow agreed care plans. They share their knowledge about the person to help their senior colleagues keep everyone’s care plan up to date. Support workers demonstrate respect for individual rights, such as the right everyone living in the care home has to be in control of their own life.
They register with the SSSC as a support worker in a care home service.
The minimum qualification requirement is SVQ or Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF level 6 which is gained while working. There are college and university courses too.
Explore the social care qualification pathways or scroll down to Next steps to get started.
Career Stories
Practitioner
Practitioners carry out similar tasks to support workers but have extra responsibilities too.
They use their values, knowledge and skills to:
Practitioners need to create and maintain care plans in partnership with the people living in the care home and their families. They may take part in training to learn some healthcare tasks, like administering medication.
They register with the SSSC as a practitioner in a care home service.
The minimum qualification requirement is SVQ or Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF level 7, which is gained while working. There are college and university courses at this level too.
Explore the social care qualification pathways or scroll down to Next steps to get started.
Supervisor
Supervisors are leaders in the care home, they guide and support other staff to provide the best care possible by:
Supervisors may also provide direct care and support. They usually have previous experience as a support worker or practitioner.
They register with the SSSC as a supervisor in a care home service. Some supervisors, like those qualified as nurses, will be registered with a different regulatory body.
The minimum SSSC qualification requirement is the same as a care home practitioner plus a supervisory award, like a PDA Health and Social Care Supervision at SCQF level 7. Some supervisors complete the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 9 which meets full requirements and can support progression to a management role.
Explore the social care qualification pathways or scroll down to Next steps to get started.
Career Stories
Manager
Managers have overall responsibility for how care and support is delivered in the care home. They also take the lead supporting all staff and making sure they get the right training to do their roles well.
They use their knowledge and skills to meet specific managerial responsibilities like:
Managers are often the first point of contact for families, new employees and agencies like the NHS and social work services. They need to be friendly, approachable and professional.
They register with the SSSC as a manager in a care home service.
The minimum SSSC qualification requirement is an SVQ at SCQF level 9 or a social work, nursing or other suitable university degree plus a qualification for leading and managing care (which can be gained while working).
Some managers, like those qualified as nurses, will be registered with other regulatory bodies.
Explore the social care qualification pathways or scroll down to Next steps to get started.
Nurse
Many care homes in Scotland provide care from qualified nurses. Over their career, care home nurses develop enhanced knowledge about the daily management of complex health conditions. They work together with social care colleagues to provide high quality, relationship based care which promotes wellbeing and protects people from pain and discomfort.
Nurses use their knowledge and skills to lead clinical care, by:
Care from qualified nurses can make a big difference to quality of life in different circumstances. People can be supported to maintain independence, improve fitness or manage pain or illness. Care home nurses care for people at the end of their life and support them to die with dignity and comfort.
You can learn more about this career on the NHS careers website https://www.careers.nhs.scot/careers/explore-our-careers/nursing/adult-nurse/
Nursing is also recognised in our qualification pathways in the university courses at SCQF level 10.
Career Stories