Answered by Barry Price

Dear Bernie,

There is no separate minimum age for working in adult social care. A young person aged 16 or 17 who has reached school leaving age can work in care, including helping with personal care, provided their employer meets the rules for young workers.

The employer should use safe recruitment checks, complete a young-person risk assessment and provide a structured induction, training, supervision and ongoing support. Skills for Care recommends a social care learning programme, commonly an apprenticeship; the Care Certificate remains important but is not, by itself, a learning programme for this purpose.

Before working independently, the young person should be assessed as competent and confident for each task, including personal care. Where possible, they should initially be additional to the staffing team, learn alongside experienced colleagues and receive coaching, buddying or mentoring. They should not be left in charge of a care setting or work alone while inexperienced.

Employers must also follow the legal limits on young people’s working hours, breaks, rest periods and night work, and ensure that work does not interfere with required education or training.

CQC Regulation 18 requires providers to deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff, with the right skill mix, training and supervision. Age alone should not determine suitability; the decision should be based on the individual’s values, competence, confidence and the needs and safety of the people using the service.

For practical details, see Skills for Care’s Guidance on employing workers aged 16 and 17 and its wider Recruiting young people resources.

Best wishes,

Barry

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