Areas of employment

Care at home services are provided in people’s own homes. They provide help with personal care such as washing and dressing, eating and taking medication. They also provide support where individuals or families are finding it difficult to cope. These services are vital in enabling people to carry on living in their own homes. Home care services are provided to many groups of people including:

• older people
• children and young people and their families and carers
• adults with learning difficulties
• adults with mental health problems
• people with physical disabilities
• people with alcohol and drug problems
• people with HIV/AIDS

There are not yet any SSSC registration requirements for home care workers so there are no set qualifications. Although you can become a home care worker with no previous qualifications, workers should be prepared to undertake training suited to the needs of the groups they work with. SVQ, HNC and a number of other qualifications are appropriate to workers in home care. All workers should be provided with induction when they first start their job as well as opportunities for on-going development.

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Hospices provide palliative care for people with chronic progressive conditions such as cancer and motor neurone disease. Hospices have charitable status and don’t charge people for their services. Palliative care is concerned with:

• controlling pain and other distressing symptoms
• helping patients and families with emotional upset and practical problems of the situation
• helping to deal with spiritual matters
• helping people to live as actively as possible despite their illness
• supporting families and friends throughout illness and bereavement

Most hospices provide a mix of in-patient, day care and home care. Care and support workers are often employed to provide day care, and support to families. They work as part of a multi-professional team. Most hospices also employ social workers to work with individuals and families, providing practical, social and emotional support. There are also many challenging and rewarding opportunities for volunteering in the hospice movement.

Once in employment, managers of day care services must register with the SSSC and work towards gaining specified qualifications. Social workers must have a qualification in social work. Care and Support workers do not yet need qualifications for registration but should undertake learning and qualifications that meet the needs of their post. SVQ and HNC qualifications are appropriate together with additional learning in relation to working in a hospice.

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Local authorities provide or commission services in most of the areas covered in the services section of this web-site. They also employ social workers, social work assistants, occupational therapists, other professionals, and care and support workers in some specialist areas such as the secure care of young people, addiction, homelessness, welfare rights and community development.

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Click here for more information about careers with local authorities.

Click here for more information about vacancies with local authorities

Click here for a list of local authorities in Scotland