Support worker jobs and recruitment
Support workers help people live their own lives, in their own homes, as independently as they can. The work might be cooking together, going to college or the gym, managing money, or helping someone through a hard day.
We place support workers in supported living, learning disability and autism services, mental health services and housing support, for temporary shifts and permanent jobs.
The support worker role at a glance
- Duties
- Support with daily living, personal care where needed, medicines, activities, appointments, budgeting and keeping a tenancy going.
- Shifts
- Earlies, lates, long days, waking nights and sleep-ins, often one-to-one.
- Checks
- The adults’ criminal record check for the nation, references, and training in the approach the service uses.
- Pay basis
- Hourly, with sleep-ins paid as agreed in advance and within minimum wage rules.
- Qualifications
- Care Certificate standards in England; registration with the SSSC, Social Care Wales or NISCC where the service is registered.
What a support worker does
A support worker helps with whatever the person needs to live the way they choose. On one shift that might be personal care and cooking; on another it might be a trip to the shops, a medical appointment or a quiet afternoon in.
The best support workers do things alongside the person and hand over as much as they can: cooking together, writing the shopping list together, letting the person lead. They follow the support plan, notice changes, and use the approaches the service has agreed, such as positive behaviour support.
Qualifications for support workers in each nation
Support work spans several kinds of service, so the rules depend on where you work:
- England
- New starters work through the Care Certificate standards. CQC-registered services must make sure staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role, and the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the recommended course.
- Scotland
- SSSC registration for support workers in registered services such as housing support and care at home, usually within six months of starting.
- Wales
- Social Care Wales registration for workers in domiciliary support services, which include supported living, within six months of starting.
- Northern Ireland
- NISCC registration, which covers supported living, within six months of starting.
Checks we run for support workers
Before we introduce or supply a support worker, we check:
- identity and right to work in the UK
- an enhanced DBS check with the adults’ barred list in England and Wales, PVG membership in Scotland, or an enhanced AccessNI check in Northern Ireland
- two references, including your most recent care or support employer
- training in safeguarding, medicines support and any behaviour support approach the service uses
- your driving licence and insurance, if the person you support needs a driver
Shifts support workers usually cover
Support work follows the person’s life, so shifts can be long days, short visits, waking nights or sleep-ins. Tell us which you can do.
- Early to or
- Late to
- Long day to
- Waking night or to or
- Sleep-in to A worker sleeps at the service and gets up if someone needs help. The service sets the hours and says what happens if the night is disturbed.
How support worker pay is set
Support workers are paid by the hour. We tell you the rate for each shift before you accept it, including how any sleep-in is paid.
The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026, according to GOV.UK. On a sleep-in, the minimum wage applies to time you are awake and working, and to the whole shift if there is nowhere suitable to sleep.
Where support workers work
Support workers are the core of most community-based services.
- Supported living People with their own tenancies and a support team who help them live the way they choose.
- Learning disability and autism Support for autistic people and people with a learning disability, in any setting.
- Mental health services Care homes, supported accommodation and community support for people with mental health needs.
- Housing support Help to keep a tenancy and live independently, in supported housing or in people’s own homes.
- Respite and day services Short breaks for people and their carers, and daytime support and activities.
Questions about support work
What’s the difference between a support worker and a care assistant?
Care assistants mostly work in care homes, giving personal care. Support workers mostly work in people’s own homes and in the community, helping them live independently. There is a lot of overlap.
Do I need experience of learning disability or autism?
It helps, but it is not always essential. Some services train new support workers. Tell us about any experience you have, including caring for family.
Register for support work
Send us your details or phone the office. Tell us which services and shifts suit you.