“Will I be doing the same job in five years?” That’s what many people wonder when considering a career in the care field.
The good news? Care work offers far more progression than most people realise. Unlike roles where you hit a ceiling quickly, complex care provides genuine pathways to advance your skills, responsibilities and salary.
At HASCS, we see potential in every new starter, whether you’re fresh to health and social care or bringing experience from another sector.
Let’s explore how your care career could develop, from those crucial first steps to specialised nursing and management roles.
Starting Your Journey in Care
Nobody walks into care knowing everything. Even the most skilled nurses and care managers started somewhere – often through a desire to help others.
When you start in an entry-level caring job, you’ll learn the all-important ropes: how to safely move someone, help with medications, and support people in a way that respects their choices.
But you’re not just following a training manual here – you’re working alongside people who’ve been doing this for years and know all the little details that make a real difference to someone’s day.
Building Specialised Skills
Usually, after a few months as an entry-level care assistant, you’ll start getting comfortable with the everyday responsibilities. That’s when most people begin exploring the opportunity to train in more specialised skills like:
- Working with breathing equipment and tracheostomies
- Managing seizures and supporting people with epilepsy
- Helping with PEG feeding tubes
- Spotting and supporting mental health challenges
- Taking on more responsibility with medications
However, as a HASCS complex care assistant, you’ll have the opportunity to learn these skills from Day One. Our clinical educators work closely with each package of care to ensure the right clinical skills are taught from the get-go.
Either way, you’re becoming more valuable – both to the people you support and as a professional.
You’ll find yourself naturally drawn to certain aspects of care. Some people love the technical elements, while others discover they have a knack for communicating with people who struggle to express themselves.
Pathways to Nursing Roles
If you’ve got your eye on nursing jobs or other qualified positions, working in complex care gives you a massive head start. You can earn while you learn through routes like:
- Working up through health and social care qualifications
- Taking access courses that prepare you for nursing
- Training as an assistant practitioner or nursing associate
- Applying for nursing apprenticeships that combine work and study
The best part? You’re not just reading about care in textbooks – you’re seeing it in real life every day.
That practical experience makes a huge difference when you’re studying, giving you real-world examples for all those academic concepts.
Leadership Opportunities
Not everyone wants to be hands-on forever. If you discover you’re good at organising care or supporting other staff, there are plenty of leadership paths to explore:
- Helping new colleagues find their feet
- Taking the lead on specific types of care
- Moving into team leader or management roles
The care sector desperately needs managers who actually understand what it’s like on the front line – people who’ve been there and done the job themselves.
A Culture of Continuous Learning
What makes complex care fascinating is that you never know it all.
Every person you support is different, and care practices are always evolving. You’re constantly picking up new skills and adapting to new situations.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, HASCS is committed to helping you grow. Contact our friendly recruitment team to chat about where your career in care could take you next.
