If you’re looking into how to become a carer in the UK, you’re considering a career that’s both in high demand and very rewarding.
With an ageing population and more people choosing to receive care at home, the need for carers continues to grow. According to the latest Skills for Care Workforce report, there are around 1.59 million people working in adult social care in England, with over 130,000 vacancies at any one time.
That means there are strong opportunities to get started, whether you’re completely new to care or thinking about working for yourself. While care work can be physically and emotionally demanding at times, many carers value the flexibility, job security, and opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
In our guide, we’ll walk you through how to become a carer, the different roles available, what qualifications and training you might need, and whether self-employment could be the right option for you.
Types of Carer Role
There are several different types of care roles to consider, depending on the kind of support you want to provide and the setting you’d like to work in. You may find these categorised slightly differently elsewhere, so it’s worth understanding the distinctions before deciding which route is right for you.
- Home Care: Home care workers provide support to individuals in their own homes, assisting with personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and administering medication. They may also help with daily living activities, including meal preparation, housekeeping, and other household tasks, enabling people to live safely and independently at home.
- Specialist Care Roles: Specialist care roles are similar to home care but focus on supporting individuals with specific or complex needs. This may include dementia care, palliative care, or support for people with complex physical or long-term health conditions. These roles typically require additional training, skills, and experience to ensure high-quality, person-centred care.
- Respite Care: Respite care provides temporary support for an individual who is normally cared for by a family member or live-in carer. It allows the primary carer to take a break from their caring responsibilities while ensuring the individual continues to receive safe, high-quality care.
- Supported Living: Supported living carers assist individuals to live as independently as possible within their own homes or supported accommodation. They often support people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions, focusing on developing independence, life skills, and confidence while promoting choice and inclusion.
- Domiciliary Care: Domiciliary care provides support to individuals in their own homes, helping them maintain their independence and wellbeing. This may include assistance with everyday tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping, and companionship.
Important Disclaimer
Different organisations may define domiciliary care in various ways. At Surewise, we classify domiciliary carers as those who provide non-physical support only. This means our Domiciliary Care policy does not include hands-on care or medication administration.
If your role involves physical care or giving medication, please check our other Carer Insurance options which are specifically designed for these duties.
Different Working Arrangements for Carers
Once you’ve decided on the type of care work you want to do, the next step is to think about how you want to work, and who you want to work for.
Carers can work in several different ways, depending on whether they’re employed, working through an agency, or working independently.
Below is how we classify these different working arrangements for insurance purposes:
- Self-Employed Carers: Self-employed carers manage their own work, either by working directly with clients or through agencies. They are responsible for handling their own tax and National Insurance contributions, rather than having these managed by an employer.
- Domiciliary Self-Employed Carers: This arrangement is similar to self-employment, but typically focuses on providing non-physical support only. In many cases, hands-on personal care is not covered under this type of insurance or working arrangement.
- Carers Employed by Agencies or Care Businesses: Many carers are employed by care agencies or providers, who manage payroll, including tax and National Insurance contributions, as well as providing the necessary insurance cover.
- Domiciliary Carers Employed by Agencies or Care Businesses: Some agencies and care businesses specialise in domiciliary care, employing carers to provide support in clients’ homes. These carers are managed and insured by their employer in the same way as other agency staff.
- Direct Payment and Home Employment Arrangements: In some cases, individuals arrange their own care using direct payments or personal funding. The person receiving care becomes the employer and is responsible for managing employment obligations, including arranging appropriate insurance.
Please note: We’re unable to offer insurance for residential carers working within care homes. Care homes require much broader insurance cover, spanning every role within the building, rather than cover for individual carers, so this falls outside our domiciliary carer insurance products.
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)
Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Carer?
This is a very common question, and the good news is there arn’t any specific qualifications that you need. You will need specific training if you are administering medication, lifting and handling etc.
Most employers and private clients will require you to have the following:
- A DBS check
- The right to work in the UK
- Good communication skills
- A caring and reliable attitude
Many carers begin with no qualifications and build their experience and training on the job.
For insurance purposes we will ask for proof that you are qualified to carry out the tasks that you are required to do.
Useful Training and Qualifications
If you’re researching care worker training in the UK, there are several options that can help you develop your skills.
Care Certificate
The Care Certificate is the standard induction for new care workers in England. It covers key areas such as safeguarding, infection prevention, communication, and duty of care.
It is designed to ensure new carers have a consistent foundation of knowledge and is usually completed within the first few weeks of starting a care role. It is widely used across the sector and follows guidance set out by Skills for Care and Health Education England.
NVQs / Diplomas in Health and Social Care
These are work-based qualifications you can complete while working:
- Level 2 – a good starting point
- Level 3 – for more experienced carers
They’re usually funded by employers or completed through apprenticeships.
Specialist Training
As you gain experience, you may decide to train in areas such as:
- Dementia care
- Medication administration
- Manual handling
In many cases, this training is available free or at low cost, depending on how and where you work. For example:
- Skills for Care provides guidance, funding information, and learning resources for care workers and employers, including training pathways and workforce development support.
- Local councils often fund or offer access to adult social care training for new and existing care workers in their area. Availability varies by region, so it’s worth checking your local authority website for details.
- Employers and care agencies frequently provide in-house training as part of induction and ongoing professional development, particularly for areas like safeguarding, medication handling, and manual handling.
Apprenticeships or government-backed training programmes may also be available, allowing carers to gain qualifications while working.
Agency Work vs Self-Employment
When thinking about how to become a carer, it’s important to decide how you want to work.
Agency Work (Employed) Pros:
- Regular shifts and steady income
- Holiday pay and employment rights
- Training is often provided
- Less admin
Cons:
- Less flexibility
- Less control over your schedule
Self-Employed Care Work Pros:
- Set your own hours
- Choose your clients
- Set your own rates
Cons:
- No guaranteed income
- Responsible for your own tax and National Insurance
- Need to arrange your own insurance
If you’re considering this route, it’s important to understand what cover you may need. You can read more about our self-employed carer insurance here.
How Much Do Carers Earn?
Pay is an important factor when deciding how to become a carer and which route to choose.
According to the latest Skills for Care workforce data, pay in adult social care varies depending on role, experience, and location. However, most entry-level care workers are typically paid at or just above the National Living Wage, which is £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over (from April 2026).
The table below shows typical hourly pay ranges across different types of care work:
| Role | Typical hourly pay |
| Entry-level care worker | £12.71+ per hour |
| Senior care worker | Around £13+ per hour |
| Self-employed carer | £15–£30+ per hour |
Pay can vary significantly based on experience, specialist skills (such as dementia care or complex needs support), and geographical location, with higher rates often seen in London and the South East.
For a more detailed breakdown of earnings across the sector, see our article on average UK carers salaries.
Insurance for Carers
Insurance can be an important part of working in care, particularly if you’re self-employed or providing care directly for a private individual.
Employers of carers are legally required to have employers’ liability insurance in place.
If you’re working independently, self-employed carer insurance can help protect you against risks such as accidents, claims, or incidents that may occur while working.
You can explore our different carers’ insurance options here.
If you aren’t sure which insurance you will need. Try out our interactive quiz below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a carer with no qualifications?
Yes. Many care providers offer full training for new carers, and most entry-level roles do not require previous qualifications.
How long does it take to become a carer?
You can usually start applying immediately. Most new carers complete induction and Care Certificate training within their first few weeks.
Do carers need a DBS check?
Yes. Most employers and private clients require an enhanced DBS check before care work begins.
Can I become a self-employed carer?
Yes. Many carers work independently or as personal assistants, setting their own hours and rates.
What skills do carers need?
Communication, patience, reliability, empathy, and organisation are all important skills for care work.
Ready to Start Your Career in Care?
Working in care is one of the most accessible ways to begin a meaningful career in the UK.
Many people move into care from completely different backgrounds, and the sector offers clear routes to develop experience and progress over time. There are opportunities across a wide range of settings, whether you prefer agency work or want to become a self-employed carer.
From there, you can build experience, develop specialist skills, and progress into more senior or specialist care roles over time.
