Support Worker CV Example
A support worker CV highlights your ability to assist individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, or other support needs to live independently.
Recommended template: Sleek
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Include specific client groups you have worked with and the support you provided.
- Highlight relevant training such as positive behaviour support or autism awareness.
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work varied shift patterns.
- Showcase your ability to promote independence while maintaining safety.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Sleek template and customise it for your social services role.
How to Write Your Support Worker CV
A support worker CV should demonstrate your genuine motivation to help people live independent, fulfilling lives. Employers look for candidates who are compassionate, patient, and adaptable, with practical experience in delivering person-centred support. Your CV should highlight the client groups you have worked with, the support skills you have developed, and the positive outcomes you have helped achieve for the people you support.
CV Structure
Use a simple reverse-chronological format with sections for your profile, experience, training, and skills. Each role should describe the service, client group, and your support responsibilities. Follow with one to two achievements that demonstrate person-centred outcomes. If you have limited experience, lead with your training and transferable skills. Keep the CV to one or two pages.
CV Format
Choose a clean, straightforward template. Support worker roles attract many applicants, so clarity is essential. Use clear headings and consistent bullet points. Include your DBS check status and list mandatory training certificates. Save as a PDF.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Support Worker
Dedicated support worker with five years of experience supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in residential and supported living settings. Skilled in person-centred planning, positive behaviour support, and promoting daily living skills to maximise independence. Trained in PROACT-SCIPr-UK and experienced in supporting individuals with complex behavioural needs through consistent, compassionate approaches.
Mental Health Support Worker
Empathetic mental health support worker with four years of experience in a community-based recovery service, supporting individuals with severe mental illness to maintain tenancies, access services, and build social connections. Competent in crisis de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and collaborative care planning. Committed to recovery-oriented, strengths-based practice.
Entry-Level Support Worker
Motivated and caring individual with a genuine passion for supporting people to live fulfilling lives. Recently completed the Care Certificate and a Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care, with three months of voluntary experience supporting adults with learning disabilities at a local day centre. Enthusiastic about building a career in support work and developing specialist skills through training and on-the-job learning.
Write a warm, genuine profile stating your experience, the client groups you have supported, and your relevant qualifications. Mention your approach to support — person-centred, recovery-focused, strengths-based — and any specialist training.
Key Skills for Your Support Worker CV
Person-Centred Support
Delivering support that respects individual preferences, promotes choice, and places the person at the centre of all planning and decision-making.
Behaviour Management
Using positive behaviour support approaches to understand and respond to challenging behaviour while minimising restrictive interventions.
Daily Living Skills
Supporting individuals with cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting, and personal care to develop and maintain independent living skills.
Medication Prompting
Reminding and assisting individuals to take prescribed medication in accordance with support plans and medication protocols.
Safeguarding
Recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns involving vulnerable adults, following organisational procedures and local authority protocols.
Communication
Adapting communication styles to meet individual needs, including using visual aids, Makaton, or easy-read materials where appropriate.
Record Keeping
Maintaining accurate daily logs, incident reports, and support plan updates to ensure continuity of care and regulatory compliance.
Team Working
Collaborating with colleagues, families, and external professionals to deliver coordinated, consistent support across all areas of a person's life.
Work Experience Examples
Describe the support setting, the number and needs of individuals you supported, and the daily tasks you performed. Include both practical support and relationship-based work. Highlight achievements that show positive outcomes — increased independence, reduced incidents, successful move-ons. Show that you care about the people you support, not just the tasks you complete.
Senior Support Worker
Dimensions UK, Surrey
Provided specialist support to four adults with learning disabilities and autism in a registered supported living service, while also leading shifts and mentoring new support workers.
Responsibilities
- Delivered personalised support in accordance with individual support plans, assisting with personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, and community access.
- Implemented positive behaviour support plans for individuals with complex needs, using proactive strategies to reduce incidents and promote emotional regulation.
- Administered medication following NICE guidelines and company protocols, maintaining accurate MAR charts and reporting any concerns to the registered manager.
- Led shifts, delegating tasks to support workers, conducting handovers, and ensuring all documentation was completed accurately and on time.
- Supported individuals to attend appointments, social activities, and employment opportunities, promoting choice and independence in all aspects of daily life.
Achievements
- Reduced restrictive practice incidents for one individual by 60% over twelve months through consistent implementation of a revised positive behaviour support plan.
- Supported a service user to secure a voluntary work placement at a local charity shop, marking their first community-based activity in three years.
- Completed the Team Teach Level 2 qualification and became the service's behaviour support champion, delivering refresher training to all staff.
Support Worker
Richmond Fellowship (now Recovery Focus), Nottingham
Provided community-based support to adults recovering from mental health crises, helping them maintain independent living and develop coping strategies.
Responsibilities
- Worked with individuals on a one-to-one basis to develop recovery plans, set goals, and build daily routines that supported mental health and wellbeing.
- Accompanied service users to medical appointments, benefits assessments, and housing appointments, providing practical and emotional support.
- Facilitated group activities including cooking workshops, walking groups, and peer support sessions to reduce isolation and build confidence.
- Recorded progress notes, risk assessments, and incident reports accurately, contributing to regular care plan reviews with the wider team.
Achievements
- Supported three individuals to move from supported accommodation to independent tenancies over a twelve-month period, exceeding the service's annual move-on target.
- Received positive feedback in the annual service user satisfaction survey, with 100% of respondents reporting feeling supported and respected.
Education & Qualifications
List your Care Certificate, NVQ qualifications, and any specialist training such as positive behaviour support, autism awareness, or mental health first aid. Include school qualifications if you have limited post-school education. Show ongoing commitment to learning.
Care Certificate
Foundation competency framework for new support workers covering 15 standards of health and social care practice.
NVQ Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care
Vocational qualification demonstrating competence in delivering person-centred support to individuals with varying needs.
Positive Behaviour Support Training
Specialist training in understanding and responding to challenging behaviour using evidence-based, least-restrictive approaches.
Autism Awareness / Learning Disability Training
Training in understanding and supporting individuals with autism and learning disabilities using person-centred methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I highlight on a support worker CV?
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