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When starting out in social care it’s important to remember your career path is likely to have many turns and take you many places.
Whether you’re going into the sector as a youth worker, care assistant, social worker, or support practitioner, the chances are you won’t end your career with the same job title.
You’ll find yourself trying new things, responding to changing environments, making small moves and developing changing interests, some of which might lead you in a different direction.
So don’t stress out if you don’t know at 22 what you want to do with the rest of your life. There are many 50 year olds out there who still don’t know.
Social care services are growing and changing all the time, which means new kinds of roles are always popping up on s1jobs.
One example might be that of a care navigator. This is someone who works as the bridge between social services and the NHS, helping people access social care, health, housing and employment support in the community.
It might be a scary thought when you’re just starting out but your career progression is completely in your own hands.
Sitting back and waiting for a promotion, pay rise, or praise won’t cut it – you need to earn your rewards before you go asking for them.
Of course, it’s in employers’ interests to have their staff as well trained as possible and in the social care sector there’s an advancement framework for staff to follow, from on-the-job training to further qualifications and leadership programmes.
Take advantage of as many of these training opportunities as you can. Not only do they ensure you’re growing as a care professional but they look mighty fine on your CV when you look for another job.
If you decide to move to another post, job hop carefully as the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. There’s huge value to be had in building experience, history and a reputation within a company.
It’s also worth exploring opportunities within another department, or looking at a sideways move before deciding to move on.
If a job isn’t a good fit, don’t hesitate to get on s1jobs and start searching for something else. A job you dislike benefits no-one and is a waste of time, talent and motivation.
But remember: don’t burn bridges, as you leave. At this early juncture in your career you don’t know if you’re likely to need that bridge one day.
So give the required notice period, be courteous to your boss and walk out the door beaming with positivity about your next job – and enjoying every step of the journey.
You can find the latest Social Services, Housing and Childcare opportunities on s1jobs.