Social care is a large employment sector in the UK. Nearly two million people are currently working in the area, and more than two million more receive care or services from these professionals each year. Careers in social care can include personal care-giving, institutional staffing, support, mentorship, and even housing services. Workers in the sector provide care for those with a wide variety of special needs, including those with physical, mental, environmental, and lifestyle difficulties to overcome. About half the positions involve working with children, and the other half with adults.
Salaries in social care professions typically start at roughly £15K annually, and just over 30% of those employed in the sector earn between £15-20K. The top ten percent of earners, however, make upwards of £40K. In the UK, the overall average income for social care workers hovers around £25K, and this number is fairly constant in various regions nationwide.
At the moment, recruitment agencies are listing numerous opportunities for experienced professionals at the top end of the salary scale, and those with advanced skills in the field are in particular demand. Careers in social care do not traditionally have strict qualification requirements for entry-level positions, although academic degrees and NVQs are seen as a distinct advantage for job seekers.