Adult social care roles and salaries 

Adult social care is a service that ranges from home care, supported living care to community teams which assist individuals to live with dignity, independence, and social connections. Care is provided to individuals in many debilitating states of life, such as old age, disabilities, neurological degradation conditions, such as dementia, or to assist through the recovery process after an illness. With the rising population and extended health care options extending life expectancies, the demand shows a steady growth across the United Kingdom and generally worldwide.

The current state of pay for the field

The majority of entry-level roles tend to hover around the National Living wage, while many employers will take the initiative to play slightly above it. There are also higher benefits and general pay to account for the higher cost of living areas such as London. Pay is also subject to increased rates when service is provided overnight, on weekends and during bank holidays. It is important to ensure whether travel time is subject to pay, so take that into consideration when applying to home care. Working through an agency can pay more, albeit the shifts are unpredictable. NHS-based roles usually follow national pay bands with local weighting in high-cost-of-living areas.  

The figures below are indicative ranges. Actual offers depend on location, provider type, responsibilities and shift patterns. 

Care worker or support worker

The role of a care worker is one which provides daily support to individuals with activities such as personal care, meals, prompting for medication intake and assisting in social activities. These take place in either private homes or in care facilities. The current rate clusters from about £12 to £14, with higher rates in London and the South East. At 37.5 hours a week, that equates to roughly £23,000 to £27,000 a year before benefits and additional pay. 

Senior care worker or team leader

Senior care workers act as supervisors for small teams and actively contribute to planning out care services. This role acts as a main point of contact for involved families and professionals. Rates commonly sit between £13 and £15 per hour, or around £25,000 to £30,000 a year, depending on responsibility and rota pattern. Based on the scale of the service, the pay may increase as responsibilities rise. 

Care coordinator or scheduler

A Care coordinator ensures that services keep functioning smoothly, matching respective staff to required visits, avoiding schedule clashes, and clearly documenting and communicating necessary changes. Salaries typically fall in the low- to mid-£20,000s, often around £24,000 to £28,000. Experience with electronic rostering systems and solid problem-solving skills can lead to higher pay. 

Reablement support worker

Reablement focuses on restoring confidence and function after illness or a hospital stay.. If working as a part of a community health team, the pay reflects NHS support bands, usually in the mid-£20,000s, rising with experience and overtime pay. 

Activities coordinator

An activities coordinator designs enriching sessions, ranging from musical experiences, reminiscence about past experiences, to gentle exercise, crafts and community outing. Pay generally sits close to the social care baseline, commonly £12 to £15 per hour, with some services offering annual salaries around £23,000 to £26,000. 

Personal assistant through direct payments

Social care can also be arranged on a personal basis and with a bespoke assistant. This direct form of employment has varying hourly rates based on local policy and the nature of the tasks. Direct employment typically varies slightly at or higher than the national living wage. Based on the arrangement, the rates can be significantly higher than the baseline average, and each employer can carry exclusive benefits. 

Adult social worker

The role of an adult social worker revolves around assessing the needs of clients, managing risk, and coordinating support while upholding legal safeguards. Starting salaries typically range from the low £30,000s to the mid or high £40,000s for experienced practitioners.  With certifications such as advanced, specialist and approved mental health professional come higher pay and more responsibilities.  

Occupational therapist

An occupational therapist assists in helping individuals develop independence and safety in their new homes, equipment and daily routines.  The pay usually follows the NHS professional pay bands, with salaries starting in the low £30,000s with progression into the high £30,000s and above, plus enhancements for working hours. 

Registered nurse in social care

A Registered nurse who operates in social care acts as a nurse in charge of clinical assessments, wound management, and the acts of overseeing long-term conditions while ensuring the safe use of medication. They operate in care homes and community services, and on numerous shifts act as a senior professional, guiding a wider team. The typical hourly pay sits between £20 and £23, with extra for nights, weekends or agency shifts. A stable permanent home care role may bring salaries up to £40,000s. 

Registered manager and service leadership

The tasks of setting standards on quality and safety, controlling budgets, meeting compliance targets and regulating services fall into the responsibility of a Registered manager. Due to the expanded workload and responsibilities, earnings can range from the low £40,000s to and high £50,000s. This is subject to fluctuation depending on the size, location and complexity of a service. Larger establishments or homes with high acuity settings can reach £60,000 to £70,000, occasionally topped up by performance bonuses.

Pathways, progression and pay growth

The employers in the adult social care field primarily hire looking for individuals with respect the privacy and dignity of others, and work towards instilling skills after the hiring process, usually through in-work training. Individuals who are entering into the field usually start with a Level 2 or Level 3 diploma, usually followed by a Care Certificate. The move up into the supervision and management roles usually calls for a Level 4 or a Level 5 leadership award. Work in clinical roles requires a professional registration, such as an NMC for nurses or the HCPC for occupational therapists. Social workers are required to register with the national regulator.  

Salaries gradually increase as seniority rises. Going from direct care into a specialisation, or seniority roles such as leadership roles, brings substantial pay bumps. Furthermore, extra income can also manifest in the form of extra work hours during overnight stays and weekends, combined with additional responsibilities. To ensure that your pay matches expectations, compare your hourly rate with the National Living Wage and scour the local job postings for similar roles with tentative salary listings.  

What to weigh up beyond the headline figure

Salary is only a part of the earning elements in social care. You need to make sure whether travel time is paid, how mileage is reimbursed and what the pension and sick-pay schemes are like. Inquire about supervision, paid on work training hours and a progression route towards career development. NHS community teams and council-run services use published pay scales, giving standardised benefits countrywide. Working with an agency provides better reliability in terms of shift rates and flexibility, but the decision-making is lost as the company will dictate your involvement.  

Wrapping it all up

Adult social care offers a wide selection of roles with clear steps to increase both responsibility and earnings. Whether you enjoy hands-on support, clinical practice or leading services, there is a path that can suit your ambitions.