Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Health & Social Care

Adult Care Worker

Support adults to live well — in their own homes, in supported living or in residential care.

High demand Level 2 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£23,500 – £30,000
Training length
1 year
Apprenticeship standard
Adult care worker
Where to train
287 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG 5CBA · 4 stops · 1 year to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. 1 year Fully qualified around £23.5k
  3. +3–5 years Experienced up to £30k
  4. Then Lead adult care worker (level 3) and then team… next step

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Care work is undervalued and indispensable. You support people with personal care, medication, mobility, meals and — just as importantly — company, dignity and independence.

Employers recruit constantly and will train you from nothing. It is emotionally demanding work, but the qualification ladder is clear and quick, and experienced care workers move into senior, specialist and management roles or into nursing.

A typical day

  • Support people with personal care, meals and mobility
  • Administer or prompt medication safely and record it
  • Follow and contribute to person-centred care plans
  • Spot and report changes in health or wellbeing
  • Support independence, activities and social contact

How you get in

  • No formal qualifications needed — values-based recruitment is standard
  • Enhanced DBS check is required
  • A driving licence is usually needed for home care roles
  • Shift work including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins

Where it leads

  • Lead adult care worker (level 3) and then team leader
  • Specialise in dementia, learning disability or end-of-life care
  • Care manager or registered manager (level 5)
  • Nursing associate or registered nurse apprenticeship

Where to train for this

287 colleges and training providers on our list cover Adult Care Worker training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 15
East of England 20
London 22
North East 17
North West 34
South East 28
South West 19
UK-wide 34
West Midlands 26
Yorkshire and the Humber 22
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 3
South Wales 13
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 7
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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