If you are applying for your first care role, changing careers or looking for a new care job, your CV is your chance to show an employer what you can bring to the role.
You do not need years of experience to write a strong care worker CV. Caring for a family member, volunteering or working in another role where you supported people can all give you useful skills to talk about.
Whether you already work in care or are looking for your first role, a clear CV can help you show employers that you have the skills, values and attitude needed to provide good care.
How to Structure a Care Worker CV
A care worker CV should be clear and easy to read. You do not need a complicated design or lots of information.
A simple structure is:
- Contact details
- Personal statement
- Key skills
- Work experience, starting with your most recent role
- Education and training
- Any additional relevant information
Your contact details should include your name, phone number and email address. You can also include your location, but you do not need to include your full home address.
Your personal statement should be short and relevant to care. Use the skills section to highlight the qualities an employer is looking for, then use your experience section to give examples of how you have used those skills.
Keep the layout simple, with clear headings and plenty of space between sections.
Writing Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement should be a few lines explaining who you are, what experience or skills you have and why you want to work in care.
Try to make it specific to the role rather than using general statements that could apply to any job.
For example:
Caring and reliable individual with experience supporting a family member with day-to-day tasks and a strong interest in building a career in care. Patient, compassionate and confident communicating with others. Currently completing care training and keen to develop my skills while providing respectful, person-centred support.
You can adapt this example to reflect your own experience.
If you already work in care, focus on your experience and the type of support you provide. If you are changing careers, explain why you want to move into care and highlight the skills you have developed elsewhere.
Keep your personal statement short. Your CV should provide the detail further down the page.
Key Skills to Include
The skills you include on your care worker CV will depend on your experience and the care role you are applying for. Try to include a mix of practical care skills and personal qualities.
Practical skills could include:
- Personal care
- Moving and handling
- Safeguarding
- Medication support, once trained and authorised
Only include practical skills that you have been trained to carry out. For example, if you have completed moving and handling or medication training, include it on your CV. If you are currently working towards a qualification or training course, make this clear.
Care work also requires strong people skills. Employers may look for qualities such as:
- Empathy
- Patience
- Good communication
- Reliability
Think about how you have demonstrated these qualities in your previous work, volunteering or personal experience. You can then give examples in your experience section.
Choosing skills that match the job description can also help show an employer that you have understood what the role involves.
Your Experience
When writing about your experience, focus on what you actually did rather than just listing your job title.
For example, instead of writing: Care Assistant
Explain what your responsibilities involved. For example:
- Supported individuals with personal care and daily routines
- Helped people maintain their independence and dignity
- Communicated with families and other members of the care team
- Followed care plans and reported concerns to senior staff
- Supported with meals, household tasks and appointments
Try to use examples wherever possible as this gives an employer a better idea of what you can do. You should also include relevant experience outside paid care work.
For example, caring for an elderly relative may have helped you develop patience, organisation and communication skills. Volunteering in a community setting could have given you experience supporting vulnerable people or working as part of a team.
This experience is worth mentioning, particularly if you are applying for your first care role.
PA & Carers Insurance
Cover available for:
- Self-Employed Carers & PAs
- Individual Employers
- Carer & PA Businesses
- Direct Payments
- Domiciliary Carers
- Home Employment Cover (for those who employ carers in their home)
Qualifications and Training
List your relevant qualifications and training, starting with the most recent. These could include:
- Care Certificate
- NVQ or other qualifications in health and social care
- Diplomas in health and social care
- First aid
- Manual handling
- Safeguarding
- Medication training
If you are currently studying for a qualification or completing training, include it and make it clear that it is in progress.
The Care Certificate is especially relevant if you are new to care. Skills for Care updated the Care Certificate standards in 2025. There are now 16 standards covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of people working in relevant health and social care roles.
If you have completed the Care Certificate, include it on your CV. If you are working towards it, say that it is in progress.
DBS, Driving Licence and Right to Work
There are a few other details that can be useful on a care worker CV.
DBS
If you already have a DBS check, include your DBS status on your CV. You can also mention if you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service.
If you do not have a DBS check yet, you can leave this off your CV. Your employer can arrange the appropriate check as part of the recruitment process if it is required for the role.
Driving Licence
A driving licence can be useful for community and home care roles, where you may need to travel between people’s homes.
If you have a full UK driving licence, include this on your CV. If you also have access to a car, you can mention this if it is relevant to the role.
Right to Work
If relevant, you can also state that you have the right to work in the UK.
You do not need to include detailed information about your right to work on your CV. Employers will carry out the appropriate checks as part of the recruitment process.
Writing a Care CV With No Experience
Do not be put off applying for a care role just because you have not worked in care before.
Many care roles can provide training for people who are new to the sector, and the Care Certificate can provide a useful foundation for people starting their careers in health and social care.
Think about the experience you already have. Have you cared for a family member? Have you volunteered? Have you worked in retail, hospitality, childcare or another job where you regularly helped people?
These experiences can show employers that you are:
- Patient
- Reliable
- Responsible
- Good at communicating
- Comfortable working with other people
- Able to stay calm in difficult situations
- Respectful of other people’s needs
You can also include any care-related training you are currently completing. The important thing is to explain how your existing skills could transfer into a care role rather than apologising for not having previous care experience.
Tailoring It to the Job
Avoid sending the same CV for every care job. Read the job advert carefully and look for the skills and experience the employer is asking for. If the advert mentions personal care, safeguarding, communication or working independently and you have those skills, make sure they are easy to find on your CV.
You should also use the same wording as the advert where it accurately describes your experience. This can make it easier for an employer to see that you are a good match.
One or two pages is usually enough, so keep your CV clear and concise. Before sending your CV, check it carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes.
If you are considering becoming a carer or working as a personal assistant through Direct Payments, there is support available to help you understand the role and what is involved.
Visit our Direct Payments Resource Centre for more information and practical guidance for people working in or considering care and support roles.
FAQs
What skills should a care worker put on a CV?
Useful skills include personal care, moving and handling, safeguarding and communication. Personal qualities such as empathy, patience, reliability and good listening skills are also important.
Only include skills you genuinely have or are currently training in.
How do I write a care CV with no experience?
Start with the skills and values you already have. Caring for a family member, volunteering, and previous jobs can all provide relevant transferable experience.
Include any care-related training you are completing and explain why you want to work in care.
Should I put my DBS on my CV?
Yes. If you already have a relevant DBS check, you can state your DBS status on your CV. You can also mention if you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service.
How long should a care worker CV be?
One to two pages is enough. Keep the information relevant to the job and avoid filling your CV with unnecessary details.
Do care workers need a driving licence?
Not always. It depends on the role, but a driving licence can be useful for community and home care jobs where you may need to travel between different locations. If you have one, include it on your CV.
