6135 — Care workers and home carers

What this occupation covers

Care workers and home carers attend to the personal needs and comforts of children, the elderly, the infirm and others with care and support needs (‘service users’) within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.

Typical duties

assists and enables service users to dress, undress, wash, use the toilet and bathe

serves meals to service users at table or in bed, and assists with feeding if required

assists with service users’ overall comfort and wellbeing

provides interest and activities to stimulate and engage the service user

helps with daily activities such as letter writing, paying bills, collecting benefits

undertakes light cleaning and domestic duties including meal preparation as required

monitors service users’ conditions by taking temperature, pulse, respiration and weight, and contributes to record keeping

liaises with professional staff in carrying out care plans etc.

Entry routes and qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements. In most cases workers will be required to register with the appropriate statutory body which involves satisfying the registration criteria. This would normally include holding or working towards the appropriate qualification for the job. Entrants must typically be 18 years old and have experience of working in a care environment. Both Off and on-the-job training is available. A wide range of qualifications including NVQs/SVQs covering various aspects of care are available. Background checks including a DBS check are likely to be required.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled – Subject to listed conditions. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

Immigration Salary List: 6135 Care workers and home carers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Eligibility for Skilled Worker applicants to be sponsored in this SOC 2020 occupation code is restricted, as set out in SW 6.1B of Appendix Skilled Worker. Private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants.. Nations: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. Removal: 22 July 2028.

DBS assessment

Commonly assessed for DBS eligibility. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

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