How to Write a Care Assistant CV (Free Step-by-Step-Guide)

If you're passionate about positively impacting lives and considering a career as a care assistant, the rewarding experience is well worth overcoming initial challenges. As a caregiver, your vital role involves supporting individuals with qualities like diligence, empathy, and patience, covering tasks such as personal care, household responsibilities, companionship, and transportation.

The UK presents diverse job opportunities across sectors such as healthcare facilities, residential care homes, domiciliary care agencies, childcare centres, and mental health organisations. To effectively capture recruiters' attention and navigate applicant tracking systems, a carefully crafted modern CV is essential.

This article provides insights and practical examples tailored to the UK, guiding you in creating an ATS-friendly CV that reflects your patient-centred attitude and showcases relevant work experience, education, and key skills aligned with your career goals.

Care Assistant CV example

Download this free sample CV for a care assistant in PDF

Emma Thompson, a care assistant with 5+ years in clinical sectors, focuses on her ability to provide physical and emotional support to adults and the elderly. She demonstrates leadership and suitability for senior roles and opted for the Otago template.

Refer to the matching care assistant cover letter example for more tips!

Customise this care assistant CV example

Start now

For more information, read the article on how to write a good CV.

What to include in a care assistant CV? 

While tailoring your CV for each application is essential, certain information and skills remain consistent across roles. Simplify the process by creating a master CV—a comprehensive career log featuring your work history, qualifications, and expertise. Use this master CV as a foundation for customising applications to specific job openings. Learn more by consulting our article that delves into the intricacies of the CV writing process.

Explore our CV writing guides tailored for pharmacist or support worker roles to gain additional insights.

Incorporate caregiving skills in your personal profile

A professional summary for a care assistant should be a concise overview of your skills, experience, and career goals. Emphasise your commitment to providing compassionate care and mention key qualifications. To create an impactful care assistant summary:

• Incorporate soft skills like communication and adaptability.

• Clearly state your experience, career goals, and education level.

• Keep it concise, within 70 words or six lines, avoiding personal pronouns.

• Align with the job description to showcase suitability and research skills.

For more details, refer to our article on how to write a personal profile or browse the examples below.

Find inspiration on crafting an engaging personal profile by consulting our medical or healthcare CV example.

Highlight relevant care assistant skills

When crafting your CV, it is crucial to format it for clarity. You should integrate soft skills into your personal profile while dedicating a separate section highlighting hard skills and technical abilities. Moreover, written and verbal communication skills are essential as you will be frequently tasked with collaborating and presenting findings to clients or stakeholders clearly and concisely.

To learn more, see the nurse CV example or refer to what skills to put on a CV.

Include care giving work experience

When writing work experience, it is essential to be specific about your duties as well as your achievements. List them separately in three to four lines while addressing the main requirements of a job post. Recruiters and hiring managers want to hear about day-to-day duties and your overall legacy in your previous role. To learn more, read our article about work experience on a CV.

Example:

Care Assistant, Royal London Hospital, London, UK, 2022-Present

Provide comprehensive physical, emotional, and social care to individuals with mental illness, disability, or old age. Supervise and guide junior assistants. Administer medication and maintain accurate medication records. Monitor and record vital signs and changes in health and report any concerns to the healthcare team.

• Designed and implemented a new system for tracking patient progress and treatment plans, resulting in a 20% increase in patient satisfaction.

• Conducted training sessions for new staff on best practices for patient care and safety.

• Collaborated with the healthcare team to develop a new protocol for managing patients with complex medical needs that resulted in a 30% reduction in hospital readmissions.

If you have little to no work experience, there are still ways to showcase your skills and experience on a CV effectively. Switch the focus of your CV to your relevant qualifications and certifications and place them at the top of your CV.

If you’re a school leaver, we suggest highlighting your GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications in English and sciences. Usually, you don’t need a university degree, but employers would expect you to have a basic healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ, in the UK. To learn more, read on how to create a skills-based CV.

Example of a care assistant with little to no experience:

Volunteer Care Assistant, Royal London Hospital, London, UK, 2022-Present

Contribute to the provision of comprehensive physical, emotional, and social care for individuals dealing with mental health issues, disabilities, or ageing. Collaborate with senior care professionals to ensure the well-being of patients. Assist in maintaining accurate records of activities and services provided. Monitor vital signs and promptly report any changes in health to the healthcare team.

• Developed effective communication skills through patient interaction, enhancing overall satisfaction.

• Gained valuable experience in patient management, contributing to a more streamlined care process and fewer hospital readmissions.

Read further and find out how to write a CV with no experience.

Mention education or professional training

When writing your education on a CV, list qualifications and relevant training such as NVQs and first aid. Employers expect sound literacy and numeracy skills, and healthcare qualifications may be required. Include university degrees with honours, whether 2:1 or first and special qualifications like NVQ level 2 or 3 for senior roles. List care certificates separately under “Certifications”.

If applicable, your education can include the following:

• University degree: Honours can be included but only recommended if it is 2:1 or a first. If you are still a student, add your expected graduation date.

• GCSEs or A levels (or equivalent): Most importantly, include your math and English, as this is usually what recruiters seek.

• Special qualifications: NVQ level 2 or 3 is expected for more leadership/senior roles. Some employers may not require you to finish your diploma when starting the position, but you must at least work towards it.

• Accredited certificates: Some people without training or relevant experience tend to receive training on the job. You may be provided resources to complete the care certificate during this time.

Education section examples

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Edinburgh, 2019

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Manchester, 2018

• Diploma in Health and Social Care, Open University, 2020

Boost your care assistant CV with courses and certificates

This helps you with your application and shows you’re always willing to improve. But remember, keep it short and relevant for the position you are applying for. Below are a few tips for listing certifications and professional training on your CV:

• Create a separate section for courses and certificates.

• Include the following details: course name, institution, or provide name, and completion date.

• Focus on courses and certificates that showcase relevant skills and knowledge.

• Keep the focus on recent and relevant courses and certificates for the job you’re applying for.

Examples of courses and certificates for a care assistant CV

• NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in health care support, 2021

• Level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), 2020

• Diploma in Health and Social Care, 2019

• Care certificate, Skills for Health, 2018

• Level 4 Diploma for Hearing Care Assistant, Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), 2022

For more tips, refer to how to add courses and certificates on a CV.

Key takeaways

This article has covered how to prioritise the key CV sections, where to place your key qualifications and skills, and how to format your care assistant CV. Use our examples above and demonstrate your ability to craft a great CV, impressing recruiters with time and effort put into application.

Next steps?

If you're looking to improve your CV writing skills, head over to our CV Writing Services. Our ready-to-use CV builder offers the opportunity to choose a CV template from over 20 professional designs to create an eye-catching CV. To accompany your winning job-application, learn more about how to start your cover letter.

FAQ

How do I write a good CV for a care assistant?

Ensure it is tailored to the specific requirements of the position and highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and education. Place emphasis on soft skills, such as empathy and communication, as these are crucial in providing compassionate care. Additionally, don't forget to showcase any pertinent certifications or training you have acquired, demonstrating your commitment to excellence in the field.

How do I write a good CV for a caregiver?

Tailor your CV for a caregiver position by focusing on relevant caregiving experience and responsibilities. Highlight essential qualities such as compassion, patience, and interpersonal skills. Include any specialised training or certifications to emphasize your commitment to providing quality care.

What hobbies should a care assistant put on a CV?

Include hobbies that demonstrate relevant skills, such as teamwork or empathy. Consider activities that showcase your dedication, such as volunteering or participating in community service.

How to choose the best care assistant CV format?

The best format is reverse-chronological, which is a standard format recruiters know. This format allows you to create a professional CV that matches the hiring managers’ expectations. To make it more readable, set left alignment only, have one-inch margins and leave a double space between your CV sections.

How to structure a care assistant CV?

Create a clear and readable CV structure by setting left alignment only for your text, having one-inch margins, and leaving a double space between your CV sections. See the steps below:

1. Start with your personal details and add them at the very top of your CV.

2. Create a powerful personal summary.

3. List your hard skills in a separate section while keeping soft skills in the personal profile.

4. Arrange your work experience by listing duties as well as achievements specific to your job target.

5. Mention relevant education or professional training you have undertaken.

6. Additionally, add your driving license and relevant job expertise, such as safeguarding or emergency care.

How long should your care assistant CV be?

A CV should ideally be one to two pages long, providing enough room to showcase your key qualifications and experience without going into too much detail. A one-page CV is preferred if you’re a student or seeking a career change. Choose wisely what relevant information you want to put on a CV and use concise language to convey your accomplishment effectively. When you finish writing, save your file as a PDF or Word document to keep everything neat and intact. Refer to how long a s CV should be for more tips.

What is the difference between nursing and care assistants?

Healthcare assistants (HCA) have fewer responsibilities than nurses when it comes to collecting samples, treating wounds, and monitoring vital signs. The HCA program is shorter than the practical nursing course, making it ideal for those who want to enter the workforce as soon as possible. Unlike nursing, there are no formal entry requirements for becoming an HCA. However, having GCSEs in English and maths or BTEC or NVQ healthcare qualifications can significantly improve your chances of getting a role.

What are the different types of care assistant jobs in the UK?

Care assistants are essential in many different areas, and there are various types of roles available in the UK, such as:

• Live-in Care Assistant

• Domiciliary Care Assistant

• Childcare Assistant

• Social Care Assistant

• Emergency Care Assistant

• Disability Care Assistant

• Mental health Care Assistant.