Working in adult social care

Adult social care is a satisfying and worthwhile job. As an adult social care worker, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of adults from different backgrounds who need support.

If you’re understanding and patient, a good listener and someone who lives their life treating people with dignity and respect, then adult social care could be the career for you. The sector also offers genuine pathways for significant career progression and development opportunities if you want it.

You’ll work closely with the people you support to help them achieve their goals. Central to the adult social care sector in Scotland is the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). They’re the professional regulator for the social service workforce in Scotland, ensuring standards of practice and behaviour are met and providing workers with tools and resources to support their learning and development.

Finding the right role for you

The types of adult social care roles include:

  • Care at home
    Supporting people in their own homes to live a more independent life. This could include people with learning difficulties, mental health conditions, sensory or physical disabilities. You’ll be helping individuals with taking medication, eating meals, support for personal care and more.
  • Housing support
    You’ll be supporting people to live at home. This could include supporting access to work, health services, community facilities and education, so they can socialise, maintain their tenancy and do the things that are important to them.
  • Residential care
    Supporting people living in care homes. People in care homes may have complex needs or conditions like dementia or be experiencing crisis, and require the extra support that living in a care home provides.

There’s so much to working in adult social care, from the roles above to other areas such as working with people experiencing homelessness or addiction.

Discover more about the types of roles available

Getting started

You don’t need any specific qualifications to start your career in adult social care. What you need is the right attitude and attributes, like patience, respect and teamwork. Many employers hire people based on this and their positive attitude, and will invest in their training and development in the workplace.

Find out more about how to get started