Support Worker CV Example

CV structure and length

Keep your support worker CV to two pages. Employers screen dozens of CVs per vacancy, so clarity beats length. Use reverse-chronological order: personal statement at the top, then experience, skills, education, and certifications.

Section-by-section pointers

Personal statement: Name the population you support (learning disabilities, mental health, autism, elderly/dementia) in the first sentence, then state your key qualifications (Care Certificate, NVQ level, DBS, driving licence). Close with one standout outcome or skill that shows person-centred values. Keep it to 3-4 lines.

Experience: List your roles in reverse order. For each, state the care setting (residential, supported living, domiciliary, community) and the population. Use 3-4 bullet points per role, each with a concrete outcome: who you supported, what you helped them achieve, and a number (e.g. "Supported 6 adults with learning disabilities, increasing community access from 1 to 4 outings per week").

Skills: Lead with your care qualifications and mandatory training (Care Certificate, NVQ, safeguarding, first aid, medication administration), then add specialist skills (PBS, MAPA, Makaton, moving and handling). Employers scan this section for screening gates, so list the awarding body and date for each certificate.

Education and certifications: Put your NVQ/Diploma at the top, followed by GCSEs or A-Levels. If you hold multiple care qualifications (e.g. NVQ Level 2 and 3), list both with dates. Include the awarding body (Pearson, City & Guilds, Skills for Care) so the recruiter knows it's a recognised qualification.

Additional information: State your DBS clearance date and driving licence status. If you use Makaton, BSL or another communication method, mention it here. Volunteering and interests are optional but useful if they show care values or relevant skills (e.g. volunteering with a disability sports club).

Write achievement bullets that show enablement

Support work is about helping people live more independently, so frame your bullets around what the individual achieved, not just what you did. Use the pattern: who you supported + what you helped them achieve + a number.

Before and after examples

Action verbs for support work

Use verbs that show enablement and person-centred practice: supported, helped, enabled, facilitated, coordinated, maintained, contributed, reduced, increased, built, reviewed, monitored. Avoid passive or vague verbs like "was responsible for" or "involved in".

Quantify wherever possible

Numbers make your impact concrete. Include:

• How many people you supported (e.g. "Supported 8 adults with mental health conditions")
• Frequency of activities (e.g. "Increased community outings from 2 to 5 per week")
• Compliance or quality metrics (e.g. "Maintained 100% MAR chart accuracy across 3 CQC inspections")
• Reduction in incidents (e.g. "Reduced restrictive interventions by 50% over 2 years")
• Progression toward independence (e.g. "Reduced support hours from 24/7 to twice daily over 18 months")

Qualifications that matter

Support-worker employers screen for specific care qualifications, so list them with the awarding body and date:

• Care Certificate (Skills for Care), the baseline for all new care workers. If you completed it as part of an NVQ, mention both.
• NVQ/Diploma in Health & Social Care, Level 2 is entry-level, Level 3 is standard for experienced support workers, Level 4 is for senior or supervisory roles. State the level, awarding body (Pearson, City & Guilds) and year.
• Safeguarding adults, Level 2 is standard, Level 3 or 4 for senior roles. Include the provider (SCIE, local authority).
• First aid at work, the 3-day certificate is preferred over basic first aid. State the provider and expiry date if recent.
• Medication administration, essential for most support-worker roles. If you completed it as part of your NVQ, say so.

Specialist training

List any condition-specific or behaviour-management training that sets you apart:

• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), shows you can manage challenging behaviour proactively. Include the level (awareness, practitioner, lead).
• MAPA or de-escalation, physical intervention training. State the provider and expiry date.
• Autism, dementia or mental health awareness, condition-specific training signals you understand the population. Include the provider (National Autistic Society, MHFA England, Dementia UK).
• Makaton, BSL or PECS, communication skills for non-verbal individuals. State the level (Makaton Level 1, 2; BSL Level 1, 2).
• Moving and handling, if you hold a trainer qualification, mention it.

GCSEs and A-Levels

Include GCSEs if you have English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above (many employers list this as essential). A-Levels are optional unless they are in a relevant subject (Health & Social Care, Psychology, Sociology). If you do not have GCSEs, your NVQ and Care Certificate carry more weight, so lead with those.