Job description template
Carer (Care Assistant) Job Description
Carer and care assistant job description: duties, skills and checks for care homes and home care, with notes for UK, Australia, US and other markets.
The role in brief
A carer, or care assistant, helps older people and people with disabilities or illness with daily living: personal care, eating and drinking, mobility, medication support where trained, company and keeping records, in a care home, hospital or the person's own home. In the UK and Australia the role is called carer, care assistant, care worker or support worker; in the US the closest titles are caregiver and personal care aide, with home health aides doing more health-related tasks. Most employers train new starters, so values, reliability and kindness matter more than qualifications, but background checks and induction training are standard and in many places required.
- Help people with personal care, including washing, bathing, dressing, toileting and continence care, while protecting their privacy and dignity
- Support people to eat and drink, prepare meals and snacks, and follow care plans for nutrition and hydration
- Help people move safely, using hoists and other equipment only after training
- Prompt or give medication only where trained, authorised and allowed by the care plan and local rules
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Help people with personal care, including washing, bathing, dressing, toileting and continence care, while protecting their privacy and dignity
- Support people to eat and drink, prepare meals and snacks, and follow care plans for nutrition and hydration
- Help people move safely, using hoists and other equipment only after training
- Prompt or give medication only where trained, authorised and allowed by the care plan and local rules
- Get to know each person's needs, preferences and routines and support them to be as independent as possible
- Observe changes in health, mood or behaviour and report them to the senior carer, nurse or manager
- Keep accurate, timely care records and follow safeguarding, infection control and health and safety procedures
- Provide company and support activities, outings and contact with family and friends
- For home care roles: travel between visits on schedule and do light housekeeping, shopping or errands set out in the care plan
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1No formal qualifications required for most entry-level roles; full training is given
- 2UK (England): completion of the Care Certificate as part of induction is recommended for staff new to care; it now has 16 standards following the 2025 update
- 3UK: enhanced background checks before starting (DBS checks in England and Wales)
- 4Australia: an NDIS Worker Screening Check for risk-assessed roles with registered NDIS providers, plus any state or aged care checks that apply
- 5US: state training or certification where required for home health aide duties, and the requirements of Medicare-certified agencies; first aid and CPR may be required
- 6Right to work in the country of employment
Compensation and environment
Work environment
Career growth
Carers progress to senior carer, team leader or care coordinator, then deputy manager or registered manager. Some move into nursing, occupational therapy, social work or specialist roles in dementia or learning disability care.
Common questions
What are the duties of a carer?
A carer helps people with personal care, meals, mobility, medication support where trained, company and activities, and keeps care records. They watch for changes in someone's health or wellbeing and report them.
Is a care assistant the same as a carer or care worker?
Yes, in most UK and Australian job adverts these titles describe the same role. Some employers use care assistant for care home roles and care worker for home care. In the US the nearest titles are caregiver and personal care aide.
What is the difference between a caregiver and a home health aide in the US?
In the US, caregivers and personal care aides generally provide non-medical help with daily living. Home health aides may also check vital signs or help with medication under supervision, as state rules allow, and some states require them to be licensed or certified.
What checks do carers need before they start?
It depends on the country. In England and Wales, employers usually require an enhanced DBS check. In Australia, risk-assessed roles with registered NDIS providers need an NDIS Worker Screening Check. In the US, background checks and any state training rules apply. Check your regulator's current guidance. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do carers need qualifications?
Usually not to start. Many employers train applicants who have the right personal qualities. In England the Care Certificate is the recommended induction for staff new to care, and further vocational qualifications follow as carers progress.
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