Support Worker CV Guide

What to include in a Support Worker CV

Whether you are writing your CV for the first time or refreshing an old one, condensing your information into a few pages while ensuring it stands out to employers can feel daunting. However, do not worry; this guidance will help you navigate the process and make it easier.

Before writing your CV, study the job description thoroughly and identify what the employer is asking candidates to possess, as this will help you focus on the most relevant aspects of your qualifications, experience and skills. Once you have this information, you can decide on a design and layout for your CV. Always choose one that is easy to read and professional-looking.

Now you have a CV template, you need to consider what sections to include. Most CVs have contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references. Some also have additional sections, e.g. for hobbies and interests, certifications, professional memberships and volunteering experience. Once you have chosen your main sections, it gives you a framework to work to, thus making the task more manageable.

Let us look now at each of the common sections in a CV and what you can include when applying for a support worker job. We will start with your contact information, as it is one of the easiest, and it can help you get the ball rolling.

Contact information

The contact information section typically goes at the very top of your CV, in the centre or at the side of the document. It is where you provide clear and accurate details to enable potential employers to contact you easily. Here is what to include:

• Full name – use your legal name as it appears on official documents, but do not worry too much about adding your middle name.
• Location – include your town, city and/or county. Just provide enough information so employers can see where you are based.
• Email address – use a simple, professional email (e.g. firstname.lastname@email.com). Avoid adding one that is overly casual or contains nicknames.
• Phone number – add a reliable number where employers can reach you. If you have a voicemail, ensure it sounds professional.

You can also include the following optional information:

• LinkedIn profile – if you have a well-maintained LinkedIn showcasing your experience and it does not conflict with your CV, you can include the link.
• Professional website or portfolio – if relevant to support work, e.g. a blog on care practices.
• Driving licence status – if the role requires travel, mentioning “Full UK Driving Licence” can be beneficial.

There is some information that you should avoid including, such as:

• Full home address – for privacy reasons.
• Personal identifiers – do not include your date of birth, national insurance number, marital status, religion and other personal information.
• Photographs – CVs typically do not require a photo unless specified by the employer.
• Multiple phone numbers or emails – stick to one reliable phone number and email to avoid confusion.
• Personal social media links – unless they are relevant to your profession, avoid including them.

Professional summary

A professional summary (aka a personal statement, career summary, professional profile or executive summary) is a 3-5 line paragraph that typically goes under your contact information. It is where you highlight your qualifications, experience, skills and personal qualities. You can also include your passion for the role/field and career goals. It is a snapshot of your expertise, helping employers quickly understand your suitability for a role.

It is crucial to put some thought into your professional summary and ensure it is well-crafted, as it is usually one of the first things employers will read when skimming CVs. It sets the tone for the rest of your CV; if it is relevant, engaging and clear, they are more likely to want to continue reading. On the other hand, if it is generic and uninspiring, your CV may be overlooked. It is your first opportunity to make a strong impression.

When writing your professional summary, you want to tailor it to the specific support worker position you are applying for and include some of the following elements:

• Action verbs – these make your summary more dynamic. Start with strong ones, such as “Compassionate”, “Empathetic”, “Dedicated”, “Experienced”, etc.
• Job title – include your current or previous role, e.g. “Support Worker”. If you have limited experience, add “Individual” or “Graduate” where relevant.
• Qualifications and certifications – if you have relevant training detailed in the job posting, e.g. Certificates, Diplomas, T Levels, NVQs in Health and Social Care, mention it.
• Experience – mention your years of experience in support work or a related field.
• Key skills – mention core skills for support work like empathy, communication, patience, problem-solving and teamwork.
• Specialist areas – if you have expertise in mental health, elderly care, disability support or substance misuse recovery, include it.
• Achievements and impact – highlight measurable successes, such as “Helped clients improve independence through tailored care plans”.
• Personal qualities – emphasise traits essential in support work, such as dedication, reliability, adaptability, caring, etc.
• Express your passion – show enthusiasm for supporting individuals, such as: “Passionate about empowering vulnerable individuals to lead fulfilling lives”.
• Career goals – highlight your aspirations, especially if you see the job as part of your career journey.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a support worker:

“Experienced Support Worker with 5+ years providing compassionate care and promoting independence. Skilled in elderly care, mental health support and personalised care plans. Strong communicator, collaborating with families and professionals. Holds NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, committed to continuous development.”

Education

Employers typically want to see your qualifications, training and certifications, so your CV should include an education section. You can add it after your professional summary if you have limited experience in support work, or you can put your work experience first if you are already in the field.

The education section of a CV is important because it helps employers assess your background, knowledge and suitability for the role. Here are some pointers on what to include (in reverse chronological order – most recent first):

• Relevant qualifications – list your highest level of education, such as GCSEs, A-Levels, T-Levels or a certificate/diploma in health and social care.
• Certifications – you can include additional training and courses, such as safeguarding, mental health, disabilities, first aid and CPR, food hygiene, health and safety, etc.
• Ongoing professional development – if you have attended workshops, webinars or seminars related to support work, these show initiative and commitment.
• Institution and dates – include the school, college, university or training provider and the years you attended.
• Grades – where relevant, e.g. for GCSEs and A-Levels, add your expected or achieved grades.

Work experience/employment history

Your CV should include details of your work experience/employment history, and you may want to add this section before your education if you have already been working in support work. It is a crucial part of your CV, demonstrating your skills, what you have accomplished and how your experience aligns with the specific support worker job.

When completing your work experience section, you should include your most relevant previous job roles and the following information:

• Job titles – list your current and past roles, such as “Support Worker” or “Care Assistant”.
• Employers and locations – include the names of the organisations you worked for and where they were based.
• Dates of employment – include the timeframe you worked there, e.g. month/year or present.
• Key responsibilities – highlight relevant duties, such as providing emotional support, assisting with daily living tasks, coordinating activities, managing care plans, etc. You should include 3-5 examples as bullet points and include action verbs to make them more impactful.
• Achievements – try not to list your duties but also showcase contributions you made in your roles, like improving a service, introducing a new care approach or receiving positive feedback.
• Transferable skills – if you have experience in similar roles, even outside healthcare, emphasise skills like communication, empathy, teamwork and problem-solving.

If you are new to the support work field, you may want to include voluntary work, apprenticeships, internships or even personal caregiving experience to demonstrate your capabilities.

Here is an example of how you can add your work experience to your CV:

Support Worker. ABC Care Services, Birmingham. January 2022 – Present.

• Provided emotional and practical support to individuals with disabilities, ensuring their independence and well-being.
• Developed and implemented personalised care plans tailored to clients’ needs.
• Assisted clients with daily activities, including meal preparation, medication management, and mobility support.
• Organised a weekly community engagement program, leading to a 25% increase in participation among clients and a noticeable improvement in social interaction.
• Maintained accurate records and liaised with healthcare professionals to ensure seamless care delivery.

Prioritise quality over quantity, i.e. if you have an extensive work history, focus on the roles that best match the job you are applying for.

Key skills and achievements

When you read the job description for the specific support worker role you want to apply for, you may notice it will mention the skills they want the ideal candidate to possess. Therefore, your CV should include your skills most relevant to the role.

Key skills are the abilities and competencies that enable you to perform tasks effectively. They are crucial, as they support your work experience and allow potential employers to quickly assess whether you are a good fit for the job.

You can develop skills in education, training, work and personal life, e.g. hobbies and extracurricular activities. There are two main types – hard and soft.

• Hard skills are technical abilities learned through education, practical experience and on-the-job training. Some examples for a support worker include personal care, health and safety knowledge, medication administration, safeguarding, recordkeeping, basic first aid, food hygiene, etc.
• Soft skills are interpersonal and personal skills that help you interact effectively with others and support individuals. Some examples of soft skills for a support worker include empathy, communication, patience, adaptability, teamwork, time management, trustworthiness, etc.

You can include your skills in various sections of your CV. You can integrate them into your work experience, have a dedicated section – “Key Skills” or “Core Competencies”, or combine them with your achievements. Wherever you add them, ensure you tailor them to the job and include hard and soft skills. Adding keywords from the job posting can help your CV pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which many organisations use as a filtering tool to find the most suitable candidates.

Achievements differ from skills, as they are specific accomplishments demonstrating how you have applied your training, experience and skills. They show measurable results and impact in previous roles and can set you apart from other candidates. We will look at achievements in further detail later.

Other information

While CVs tend to have similar sections, which we have covered so far, it does not mean that you cannot add, remove or change things; your CV is unique to you! You may find that you have additional information that does not fit in a particular section or want something to stand out and not get lost. If so, you can add other sections and content and here are some examples you could consider including:

• Certifications and training – if you have a large education section for formal qualifications, such as GCSEs, A-Levels, Diplomas, Degrees, etc., you may want to have a separate section for other courses you have attended and other continuing professional development, e.g. workshops, conferences, webinars and online training.
• Volunteering experience – you can include volunteering in your work experience section, especially if you have not yet had a support worker role, or you could have a separate section. Add the name of your volunteering role, the organisation, dates and your responsibilities (in bullet point form).
• Professional memberships – if you are a member of any relevant professional body or association, you could include it separately, e.g. the National Association of Care & Support Workers.
• Languages – if you speak multiple languages, it can be an asset in caregiving, especially when working in diverse environments. You can add them to your skills section or have a separate one. Add the language and proficiency level, e.g. basic, conversational or fluent.
• Hobbies and interests – if you have space, you could include this section to showcase activities that reflect your personality, qualities and suitability for the role. Some relevant examples include volunteering, community involvement, wellness practices, advocacy, fundraising, creative activities and sports & fitness. If you add them, keep them concise, e.g. list 3–5 hobbies in bullet points or a short sentence format.
• Testimonials – if you have multiple endorsements, you can create a separate section detailing positive feedback or testimonials from employers, clients or families. You can even add quotes.

If you add other sections, ensure they are relevant and do not make your CV look cluttered and difficult for potential employers to read.

References

The references section is usually the last in a CV. It is where you provide details of 2-3 individuals (referees) who can give potential employers insights into your past work experience, skills, work ethic and character. Strong references are crucial, as employers use them to confirm your previous roles and responsibilities. It also helps them gauge your reliability, professionalism and interpersonal skills.

Before writing your references section, check the job posting and see if the employer has requested specific details. If not, you can add a simple statement, “References available upon request”. If you need to include details, here are some pointers on writing the references section:

• Choose relevant references – ideally, select former employers, supervisors or colleagues who can vouch for your ability to work in a support worker role. If you have limited experience, you can ask someone from your education, training or volunteering background.
• Include key details – provide the referees’ full names, job titles, companies, contact details (email and phone number) and your relationships with them.
• Follow employer guidelines – some employers may request specific types of references, such as character references or employment history. Include the correct type.
• Keep it professional – ensure your references know employers may contact them and they can provide a fair and accurate assessment of your work and/or character. Always ask permission, and you can also provide them with details of the job you are applying for so they can tailor their references accordingly.