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The role of a Support Worker: duties and responsibilities
At Alina Homecare our Care Assistants are Care Support Workers. They visit people in their own homes and help with the everyday things, from a wash and breakfast to a chat over a cup of tea. This is what the job is really like, and how to get started if you’ve never worked in care.
Pay is up to £17.50 an hour* and full training is paid.
*Pay varies by location. “Up to” is the highest hourly rate on our current adverts.
Quick answer
A Support Worker helps people who need extra support to live as independently as possible. Day to day that means personal care, medication reminders, help with mobility and meals, keeping the home safe and offering companionship, always in a way that respects the person’s choices and dignity.
What is a Support Worker?
A Support Worker, sometimes called a Care Support Worker, Care Worker or Care Assistant, supports older people and adults with disabilities or long term conditions to live the life they want. The aim isn’t to do everything for someone. It’s to help them do as much as they can for themselves, safely and with confidence.
Support Workers work in lots of settings, from supported living services to residential homes. At Alina Homecare our Care Assistants are Care Support Workers who support people in their own homes, either through visits during the day (Home Care) or by living with a client (Live-in Care). Many of the people we support are living with dementia, so you’ll also learn how dementia care at home works.
Did you know? In England, the government’s Care Workforce Pathway groups care and support roles into one category, “care or support worker”, because the knowledge, skills and values they need are the same.
Support Worker duties and responsibilities
No two days are the same, because every person you support has different needs and interests. These are the core responsibilities you’ll find in most Support Worker roles:
Personal care
Supporting washing, bathing, dressing, oral care and using the toilet, with privacy and dignity.
Medication support
Prompting and reminders, collecting prescriptions and recording what has been taken, as set out in the care plan.
Mobility
Helping people move around safely, including transfers and using equipment you’ve been trained on.
Meals & nutrition
Preparing meals and drinks that suit someone’s tastes and dietary needs, and helping with eating if needed.
Help around the home
Light cleaning, laundry and tidying so the home stays safe, comfortable and just how they like it.
Companionship
A friendly face and a listening ear, sharing hobbies and conversation to help prevent loneliness.
Getting out
Supporting trips to appointments, the shops or community activities so people stay connected.
Recording & reporting
Writing clear care notes and raising any changes or safeguarding concerns with your Team.
“The main responsibility is to ensure the needs of the client are met. Not only do we assist with daily tasks within the home, we also provide valuable emotional support and companionship, offering a friendly chat and being there to listen.”
Sounds like you?
Become a Care Support Worker with Alina Homecare. No experience needed, full training given.
A day in the life of a Support Worker
In Home Care, your day is made up of visits to different people in your local area. Here’s what a typical day could look like:
- Morning
Starting the day well
Helping people get up, washed and dressed, preparing a nutritious breakfast and prompting morning medication.
- Lunchtime
Meals and wellbeing checks
Preparing lunch, encouraging drinks to keep people hydrated and checking how they’re feeling.
- Afternoon
Life beyond the basics
Companionship visits, a walk or trip to the shops, support to attend appointments and help with laundry or tidying.
- Evening
Settling in for the night
Preparing dinner, evening medication, help getting ready for bed and making sure the person feels safe and has everything they need.
Carer vs Support Worker: what’s the difference?
You’ll see these job titles used interchangeably, and the day to day work overlaps a lot. The difference is mostly in emphasis and setting:
| Care Assistant / Carer | Support Worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Personal care and daily tasks | Independence, goals and community life |
| Who you support | Often older people | Older people and adults with disabilities, mental health needs or long term conditions |
| Typical settings | Home Care, Live-in Care, care homes | Supported living, Home Care, residential services |
| Experience needed | None, full training given | None, full training given |
| Government category | Both sit in the “care or support worker” role category | |
At Alina Homecare, our Care Assistants do both. You’ll provide personal care where it’s needed, but always with the goal of helping people keep their independence at home.
Support Worker job description (sample)
Most Support Worker job descriptions follow a similar structure. Here’s an example based on our Care Support Worker roles:
Job descriptionCare Support Worker (Home Care)
- Reports to
- Care Coordinator / Registered Care Manager
- Hours
- Full or part time, including weekends
- Experience
- Not required, full training given
- Pay
- Up to £17.50 an hour, depending on location, plus enhanced weekend and bank holiday rates
Purpose of the role
To deliver person centred care and support that helps clients live safely and independently in their own homes, with dignity and choice.
Key responsibilities
- Support personal care, including washing, dressing and continence care
- Prompt medication and keep accurate records
- Assist with mobility, using equipment safely
- Prepare meals and drinks to meet dietary needs
- Carry out light household tasks
- Provide companionship and support to access the community
- Record care notes and report concerns, following safeguarding procedures
Requirements
- Caring, patient and reliable, with good communication skills
- Right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS check
- A driving licence and access to a vehicle for most Home Care roles
Skills and qualities you need
Bring the right attitude and we’ll teach you the rest. The best Support Workers are:
- Empathetic and kind
- Patient
- Reliable
- A good communicator
- Respectful of choices
- Calm under pressure
- Observant
- A great Team player
Want to know more? Read our guide to the 20 skills and qualities of a great Care Assistant.
Do you need qualifications to be a Support Worker?
No. You don’t need any qualifications or previous experience to become a Care Support Worker at Alina Homecare. You’ll need:
1The right to work in the UK
2An enhanced DBS check
3A driving licence and access to a vehicle (for most Home Care roles)
4A caring, can do attitude
When you start, our Alina Homecare Academy gives you full training, including the Care Certificate, the national induction standard for new care workers. Later, you can work towards qualifications such as a Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care.
How much does a Support Worker earn?
Up to £17.50*an hour as an Alina Homecare Care Support Worker. *Pay varies by location; this is the highest hourly rate on our current adverts. See pay near you
£12.60median hourly pay for care workers in England’s independent sector (Skills for Care, December 2025)1
£12.71National Living Wage for workers aged 21+ from April 20262
Pay varies by employer, location and shift pattern. At Alina Homecare we offer competitive hourly rates with enhanced pay for weekends and bank holidays, plus paid mileage, paid holiday, a pension and staff discounts. Check our live vacancies for pay in your area.
Career progression for Support Workers
Support work can be the start of a long career in care. With experience and training, you could move into:
- 1Care Support WorkerBuild your skills and confidence
- 2Senior Care AssistantTake on more responsibility
- 3Field Care SupervisorSupport Carers out in the community
- 4Care CoordinatorPlan visits and keep rotas running
- 5Registered Care ManagerLead a branch and its Team
Hear from our Team
“No two days are the same as a Care Assistant at Alina Homecare! I feel supported by my Manager and the Team and I’m proud to be making a positive difference in people’s lives.”
“I like that I can give all my focus and attention to one client at a time. I also love the feeling of independence. I get to experience different surroundings every day.”
Support Worker FAQs
What are the 5 main responsibilities of a support worker?
Personal care such as washing and dressing, medication support, help with mobility, preparing meals and keeping the home safe and tidy, and companionship that helps prevent loneliness. Support Workers also keep accurate care notes and report any concerns.
What is the difference between a carer and a support worker?
The roles overlap heavily. A carer or Care Assistant usually focuses on personal care and daily tasks, while support work also emphasises independence, goals and community life. In England the government’s Care Workforce Pathway puts both in the same “care or support worker” role category.
Can you be a support worker with no experience?
Yes. Many employers, including Alina Homecare, train new starters from scratch. You’ll usually complete the Care Certificate during your induction and need an enhanced DBS check and the right to work in the UK.
What qualities make a good support worker?
Empathy, patience, reliability, good communication and respect for people’s dignity and choices. Being calm under pressure and observant enough to notice changes in someone’s health or mood also matter.
How much does a support worker earn in the UK?
Skills for Care reported a median hourly rate of £12.60 for care workers in England’s independent sector in December 2025. The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour in April 2026. At Alina Homecare, Care Support Workers can earn up to £17.50 an hour depending on location. Pay varies by employer, location and shift pattern.
What is a support worker not allowed to do?
Support Workers should only carry out tasks they’ve been trained and assessed for and that are in the person’s care plan. Clinical tasks such as injections aren’t part of the role unless properly delegated and trained. They must also follow policies on confidentiality, safeguarding and handling money.
Related guides
References
- Skills for Care, Pay in the adult social care sector in England (December 2025 data), via Homecare Association, February 2026
- National Living Wage rates from April 2026, reported by The Care Workers’ Charity
- Department of Health and Social Care, Care workforce pathway: care or support worker role category