New to Care? Start Your Career With Us

You do not need qualifications. You do not need experience. You do not even need to know what domiciliary care means yet. If you are kind, reliable, and genuinely want to help people live well at home, that is enough to start.

SW Care has been operating since July 2018. We are a CQC Rated Good provider, a Real Living Wage Employer, and part of a Top 20 Home Care Group 2025 on homecare.co.uk. Our families rate us 9.8 out of 10 from 121 verified reviews. That reputation comes from hiring good people and training them properly — not from expecting new starters to arrive fully formed.

This page is for you if you have never worked in care before. It explains exactly what happens when you join us, what we provide, what we expect, and why so many of our best carers started with zero experience.

No Experience Required — We Train You From Day One

Some of our strongest carers came to us from completely different backgrounds. Retail workers, teaching assistants, office administrators, stay-at-home parents returning to work. What they had in common was patience, warmth, and a desire to do something meaningful with their working day.

When you join SW Care with no prior care experience, here is what happens:

• Week one: You begin our structured induction programme. This covers the essentials — moving and handling, infection control, safeguarding, medication awareness, and dignity in care.
• Shadow shifts: Before you visit a client on your own, you shadow an experienced carer. You watch, you ask questions, you learn the rhythms of a care round.
• Buddy system: Once you start working independently, you are paired with a senior carer who checks in with you regularly. You are never just left to figure things out.
• Care Certificate: Within your first 12 weeks, you work through the Care Certificate — the nationally recognised standard for new care workers. SW Care funds this training and supports you through every module.

After your initial training period, ongoing development continues. You can work towards government-funded NVQ qualifications in Health and Social Care, attend regular refresher courses, and build a genuine career path in the care sector.

> “I was terrified on my first day. I had never done anything like this before. But the shadowing was brilliant — by my third shift I felt like I knew what I was doing. The team made me feel welcome from the start.” — Rachel, Care Assistant, Cheltenham

What You Actually Do as a Home Carer

Home care is about helping people stay in their own homes for as long as possible. You visit clients at their houses and support them with the things they find difficult. No two days are the same, but your work typically includes:

• Personal care — helping with washing, dressing, and grooming
• Medication reminders — making sure clients take the right tablets at the right time
• Meal preparation — cooking simple meals or heating pre-prepared food
• Companionship — having a cup of tea, chatting, going for a short walk
• Light housekeeping — tidying up, doing laundry, keeping things clean and safe

You are not expected to do medical procedures. You are not a nurse. You are a carer — and that means being the reliable, friendly face that makes someone’s day better. For many clients, your visit is the highlight of their morning.

Read more about what a typical day looks like for our carers.

What We Look For in New Starters

We do not look at your CV first. We look at you. The skills that matter most in home care cannot be taught in a classroom:

• Reliability — clients depend on you turning up when you say you will
• Patience — some people need more time, and that is fine
• Empathy — being able to see things from someone else’s perspective
• Common sense — spotting when something is not right and flagging it
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car — you will be driving between client homes

You must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which SW Care funds for you.

What You Get From Day One

We believe that if you want good carers, you have to treat them well. Here is what SW Care provides:

• Real Living Wage — not the government minimum, but the higher independently calculated rate
• Paid travel time between client visits
• Mileage reimbursement for every mile driven
• 28 days paid holiday (pro rata)
• Full uniform and PPE provided
• Enhanced DBS check funded by SW Care
• Workplace pension scheme
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Ongoing training and career development
• A supportive team that answers the phone when you need help

Find out more about why carers choose SW Care and what makes us different from other care providers in Cheltenham.

Career Changers Welcome

Many people discover care work later in life. Perhaps you have been made redundant, or your children have started school, or you are simply tired of a job that does not feel meaningful. Whatever brought you here, you are not starting from zero — you are bringing life experience that makes you a better carer.

Parents know how to manage a busy morning routine. Retail workers know how to talk to people from all walks of life. Anyone who has looked after an elderly relative already understands the basics of compassionate care.

> “I was a teaching assistant for 12 years. When the school closed, I thought my career was over. Joining SW Care was the best decision I ever made. The work is harder in some ways, but it is so much more rewarding.” — Dawn, Care Assistant, GL51

How to Apply

Getting started takes one phone call. Ring us on 07400 098 363 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) and tell us you are interested. We will have an informal chat, answer your questions, and if it sounds like a good fit, arrange an interview.

You can also apply online or email us at jobs@swcare.co.uk.

No CV needed for the first conversation. Just call and say hello.

Browse our current care job vacancies in Cheltenham to see what roles are available right now.