Career pathways

The care workforce pathway is a new career structure for the adult social care workforce.  

The Department of Health and Social Care has developed the pathway in partnership with Skills for Care, representatives from the adult social care workforce and people who receive care and support. 

It sets out clearly what a career in adult social care means and the level of knowledge, experience and skills required to deliver high-quality, personalised, care and support. 

By having a standardised pathway, this empowers social care workers to develop themselves and their career. It sets out how they can gain skills, access learning and development, and progress their careers in a way that meets their aspirations. 

The pathway uses eight role categories. Roles within each category may have different job titles but the roles will have a high degree of similarity across the sector.  

The role categories are: 

• New to care
• Care or support worker
• Enhanced care worker
• Personal assistant
• Supervisor or leader
• Practice leader
• Deputy manager
• Registered manager

Using the links above, you can find out what people do in their work within these categories. You'll also discover the behaviours they must show, the knowledge and skills they need to have, the opportunities for specific areas of practice and current suggested learning.