Support Worker CV Examples & UK Templates

Support workers play an important part in the welfare of others. They look after those who need additional assistance to lead an independent and fulfilling life. 

Showing that you have an extensive knowledge of care and the empathy to back it up can be challenging. That’s why you need a support worker CV that is detailed and hits all of the main marks. 

CV guide for a support worker CV

Reach new career heights with Resume.io. Our guides and CV examples cover over 150 professions. Our CV builder makes it easier than ever to create a compelling support worker CV.

This CV guide and corresponding support worker CV example will cover the following:

• How to write a support worker CV
• Choosing the right CV format for support work
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your support work experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right CV design/layout
• What the support work job market looks like, and what salary you can expect

How to write a support worker CV

Before you get started writing your support worker CV, you need to know what to cover. Let’s take a quick look at the main elements that your CV should include: 

• The CV header
• The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The CV skills section
• The education section

As a support worker, you will provide care to those who need it the most. That may be people with physical disabilities or problems such as autism, learning disabilities, and mental health needs. 

Showcasing your diverse range of skills can be tricky. However, there are some simple ways that you can make sure your support worker CV is on point. 

• Highlight your results. There are many qualifications that correlate with the role of support worker. However, it’s important to give your CV more depth. Yes, you should list your qualifications, but you also need to focus on the impact that your work made. Share anecdotes that accentuate the role that you played in people’s lives.
• Tailor your CV to meet the needs of the employer at hand. Many people don’t do this, and that is a mistake. However, when you do your research about a company (or service provider), you can tweak your application to meet their demands.
• Optimise your CV to beat the bots. Make sure that you use appropriate keywords throughout your application to help you get past the CV-scanning software.

Choosing the right CV format for a support worker

Structure is key when writing your CV, and adhering to a defined structure will ensure that you communicate your relevant strengths. If your most recent experience is appropriate to the role, you would generally use reverse-chronological order.

However, reverse chronological is not the only CV format you can use. But, if you have relevant experience, this would be the most appropriate. Use our CV examples for inspiration when formatting your support worker CV. Alternatively, take a look at our CV formatting guide.

Include your contact information

Next up, you need to make sure that the hiring manager can contact you if they need to. You should include your basic contact information in your CV header.

The header is not the most exciting part of this document, but it pays to get it right. Let’s take a look at what you should include in this section of your CV: 

• Full name & title. Start things off with your first name, surname, and job title.
• Professional email address. Use a suitable-for-work email address.
• Phone number. Include a phone number where you can be reached. Make sure that you check the phone message first.
• Location. Include your location, i.e. your town or city and county. You don’t have to include your full address as this is seen as old fashioned.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: You don’t need to include this, as it could lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: There’s no need to include your passport number or marital status.

Make use of a summary

In the CV summary, you have just a few lines to inform the employer of the skills and experience you possess in this line of work. Just as you read a synopsis before plunging into a novel, the summary provides the same benefits.

In the same way that you are unlikely to read a book if the synopsis doesn't offer much enticement, the employer might not delve further into your CV if your summary fails to impress. 

When writing your CV summary, some key points are the expected value you will bring to the clients you deal with, your most significant achievements, and your personality. Why have you reached this point in your career, and what are your future ambitions?

You can find adaptable support worker example summaries below:

Outline your support work experience

The priority for any employer is that you have the expertise to fulfil the needs of a support worker. Therefore, it is beneficial if your employment history shows clear career progression.

Use bullet points when detailing your responsibilities, but focus only on those most relevant to the role. You may need to tailor this section to suit each position you are applying for.

Don't fret if you don't have any direct experience as a support worker. Due to the nature of the role, you likely have transferable skills. Any positions that involve dealing with customers would be relevant, as soft skills are often just as necessary as direct experience.

To save space, you should cut out any sentence openers such as “I” or “I have.” These don’t add anything to the overall content of your CV and simply waste words. 

It’s important to show tangible results when writing these bullet points. Let the employer know that your actions lead to positive reactions. Here’s an example of what not to do:

• “Assisted with meal plans”
• “Helped to manage benefits and budget”
• “Took care of admin”

While these may be the bones of the tasks, they don’t give the hiring manager much to go on. It’s smarter to dig deeper and offer the reader more. Be more specific about your achievements: 

• “Assisted in creating 10+ nutritionally balanced meal plans a week”
• “Supported service users in managing weekly benefits and creating stable budgets”
• “Helped with admin duties, such as paying utilities and calling repair people”

By zooming in on what you did for clients, you show the hiring manager that you hold real value. 

Take a look at our adaptable support worker CV example below:

How to write a support worker CV with no experience 

New to support work? The good news is that you don’t need any to get started. Many agencies and companies will offer on-the-job training to help you get up to speed. When you are applying for a job without having direct experience in the sector, focus on the following: 

• Any transferable skills that you have which will come in handy within this role. These may include organisation, time management, empathy, and communication skills.
• Your passion for the role. Why do you want to be a support worker? What do you hope to gain from following this career pathway?
• Voluntary or home experience. Have you had experience of caring for someone in a non-professional capacity? Now may be the time to mention it.

Consider how the life experiences you have had up to this point have informed your decision. Show the reader that you are serious about your future career as a support worker. 

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great support worker

A support worker needs to have particular skills to perform well in such a role. Unfortunately, few possess these skills, which explains why there is an evident shortage in the care sector.

Dealing with vulnerable people can be challenging, and as such, you need to be patient, understanding, and caring. It is imperative that you can make clients feel at ease and that you can offer value to their lives.

Unlike most roles, the soft skills you possess far outweigh the hard skills. Yes, you need to be physically fit and perform specific duties, but how you deal with other people is the most relevant to the employer.

Compile a list of skills you possess relevant to the support worker role. Our CV builder provides a selection of pre-selected skills to choose from. However, you can also choose your own.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our CV template for support workers. 

Wherever possible, try to put your skills in context. For example, when you are filling out your work history section, you might include the following: 

• Detail how your multitasking skills allowed you to deal with a myriad of tasks during your shifts.
• Talk about your first aid training and how you were able to support service users when they needed it the most.
• Reference your physical fitness and explain how you use it on the job.

If you are unsure which skills to include, you should refer back to the job advert. 

Detail your education & relevant support worker certifications

Although there is no specific requirement for set qualifications for a support worker, it will impress the employer if you can share examples of courses and seminars you have attended in your education section. As a support worker, you must keep abreast of changes within the care sector and undertake training courses where relevant. Here’s what that may include: 

• GCSEs (or equivalent). As a support worker, you will need to have passed your GCSEs. You don’t need to detail everyone, just give a grade range here.
• First aid training. If you are first aid trained, that is a real bonus. Make sure that you include this as part of your education section.
• Job training. Many agencies offer job training. Whatever training you have received, you should include it in this section.
• Support worker qualifications. Of course, there are specific support work qualifications, such as the Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care or Level 2 Diploma in Care. If you have completed these, they will set you apart from the crowd.

Additionally, it will impress the employer if you can share examples of courses and seminars you have attended. Of course, if you have a relevant degree, this is also useful to the employer. Take a look at the CV sample below for inspiration.

Pick the right CV layout and design for a support worker CV

As a support worker, the way you present yourself to clients is significant. You need to be well-presented to help gain their trust. The same rule applies when writing your CV. First impressions count, and a messy CV will turn the employer off.

Use a simple, professional design with appropriate spacing to allow the employer to absorb the information. Headings should be bold, and a bit of colour can also add some appeal. 

Think attractive but subtle. The content matters most to the employer; there is no need to overthink the design.

Make sure you proofread the document before hitting that submit button. Poor spelling and grammatical errors show a lack of attention to detail and professionalism.

At Resume.io, you will find a range of CV templates that you can customise to suit your own needs. These templates help take the stress out of CV creation with a professional design and ensure you avoid formatting issues.

Support worker text-only CV example

Support worker job market and outlook

The adult social care sector in England boasted 1.79 million vacancy posts in 2022/23. That was up by 0.5% the previous year. A large amount of those roles would fall into the support worker category. All of this to say that there is currently a major demand for support workers.

Additionally, 2021 saw a serious staff shortage in the adult social care sector, with vacancies at over 8%, compared to the UK average of 3.7%.

What type of salary you can expect as a support worker

According to socialcare.co.uk, the average salary for a support worker is £19,000 per year. 

However, many of these professionals are shift workers who get an hourly rate. Your take-home wage would, therefore, depend on the hours you work.

Key takeaways for building a support worker CV

The CV should include sections which detail your relevant experience, skills, and any significant achievements that make you an excellent fit for the role. 

Give the employer an insight into a 'day in the life' of you as a support worker. What will this look like, and what value will you bring? Tailor your CV to the role, including relevant keywords to pass the ATS.

Check out our adaptable support worker CV sample for more ideas on creating a great layout and design. You can also use our CV builder to perfect your application.