Social care jobs, like Granny Ina’s kitchen clear-outs, can throw up some real surprises. Anyone fancy a tin of spam from circa 1973?
When we consider social care roles, we often think of the traditional home carers, social workers, and personal assistants who work tirelessly to help those in need.
But there’s a whole host of other jobs allied to this sector, some of which might come as a surprise to anyone looking at s1jobs for career inspiration.
Here are our top social care surprises.
Art therapist
If you’re creative and keen to use your skills to help others, this is the perfect role. Art therapists use everything from painting to pottery to help people tackle emotional and behavioural issues, as well as those recovering from illnesses such as a stroke.
Chaplain
Often care homes have a dedicated chaplain – either an ordained minister or layperson – who provides a listening ear and one-to-one pastoral support. Chaplains are also familiar figures in hospices.
Welfare rights officer
One of the best ways to help people is to advise them on housing, disability living allowances, employment benefits and rent support. This role is usually based in a public advice centre, or for a charity, community group or housing association.
Complementary therapist
Covering a wide range of therapies, from acupuncture to homeopathy, practitioners often work hand in hand with the medical profession in hospitals, clinics or health centres. Helping a patient to stop smoking or giving an aromatherapy massage to a cancer patient can be hugely rewarding.
Advocacy worker
This is all about giving a voice to those who struggle to be heard. For example, you might provide advocacy for someone with a learning disability who needs help getting a care package or support victims of domestic abuse.
Money advice administrator
As the title suggests, this is all about money: how to access benefits, budget planning and debt advice. Like a welfare rights officer, this role is usually based in an advice centre or housing association.
Activities worker
Care home managers long ago realised how important it is to stimulate the physical and mental wellbeing of their residents. This is where an activities co-ordinator can help. They can be found organising regular activities like quizzes, games days, garden parties and martial arts for pensioners (no, seriously!).
Surprise yourself with the wide range of vacancies in Social Services, Housing and Childcare on s1jobs.