Care workforce pathway for adult social care
The care workforce pathway outlines the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours people need to work in adult social care.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The care workforce pathway is a new career structure for the adult social care workforce.
The pathway was launched in January 2024, covering 4 direct care role categories. Four more role categories were added in April 2025.
The 8 role categories are now:
- new to care
- care or support worker
- enhanced care worker
- personal assistant
- supervisor or leader
- practice leader
- deputy manager
- registered manager
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) developed the pathway in partnership with:
- Skills for Care (SfC)
- representatives from the adult social care workforce
- people who draw on care and support
The pathway has been informed by responses to the call for evidence, which ran for 8 weeks in April and May 2023.
DHSC, in partnership with SfC, is committed to continue to build on the progress we have made. We want to ensure we meet our ambition to develop a comprehensive, universal career structure for adult social care.
Updates to this page
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Added 4 new role categories to the pathway: enhanced care worker, personal assistant, deputy manager and registered manager. Updated the overview document to reflect the development of the pathway.
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First published.