What do carers do in a care home? Daily duties explained

Care home carers help residents with everyday life, including washing, dressing, eating and drinking, moving around, medicines, appointments and social activities. They also notice changes in health and mood, record care and follow each resident’s care plan. Carers are usually the staff residents see most, and nursing homes add registered nurses for clinical care.

At a glance

• Core tasks are personal care, mealtime support, mobility help, health monitoring, appointments and social activity.
• Carers may help with medication, and some take on delegated healthcare tasks under a nurse’s supervision.
• They follow the care plan and help keep it accurate by recording changes.
• New carers are commonly inducted using the Care Certificate, with dementia and other training on top.
• Carers do not make clinical judgements beyond their role. Nurses and doctors do.

What are a carer’s main duties?

Skills for Care describes care workers as supporting people with social and physical activities and everyday needs such as eating and drinking. The role includes assisting with personal care, booking and accompanying people to appointments, and monitoring health indicators such as temperature, pulse, breathing rate and weight.

How do carers support dignity and independence?

CQC requires homes to treat residents with dignity and respect, including privacy, autonomy and independence. In practice, carers should encourage people to do what they can, explain what they are doing and ask before helping. Our guide to dignity in personal care and the explainer on what personal care is go into more detail.

At mealtimes, CQC guidance says staff should place food within reach, present it in an easy-to-eat form where appropriate, keep it at the right temperature, encourage independent eating and drinking, and allow enough time. Carers also watch for weight loss and dehydration and act without delay.

What do carers do for residents with dementia?

Many care homes support people living with dementia, and Skills for Care notes that dementia training may be offered on top of the standard induction. Good practice is for carers to use a person’s life story, routines and preferences to understand what may be causing distress, rather than only reacting to behaviour. Read about dementia and agitation and sundowning for what families and staff can do together.

Specialist dementia homes are not always necessary. Our guide to choosing a dementia care home explains when they help.

What extra tasks do some carers take on?

Some carers work as enhanced care workers. They carry out delegated healthcare activities such as catheter and stoma care, pressure area care and oxygen monitoring. These must be taught, supervised and assessed by a registered healthcare professional. Enhanced care workers should understand the boundaries of the role and seek guidance when something is outside their competence.

Pressure care is a good example of teamwork between carers and nurses. Read more in pressure ulcers and, for continence care, dementia and incontinence.

What training and checks do carers have?

Providers must give staff an induction, supervision and regular appraisal, and all staff must be trained to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people. The Care Certificate, with 16 standards, is a common introduction. It covers duty of care, communication, privacy and dignity, fluids and nutrition, awareness of mental health and dementia, safeguarding, infection prevention and basic life support.

Employers must also carry out recruitment checks, including employment history and good character. For more on the wider team, see who works in a care home and care home staffing levels.

What should families expect from carers?

• Staff who greet residents by name and explain what they are about to do.
• Call bells answered promptly and residents helped without rushing.
• Updates when something changes, such as a fall, weight loss or new medicine.
• A named key worker who knows the resident’s preferences and life story.

A named key worker is often your best day-to-day contact. The Alzheimer’s Society suggests getting to know the manager and the key worker, and raising concerns calmly at a quiet time, with suggestions for solutions. If you see practice that worries you, use the steps in how to complain about a care home.

Frequently asked questions

Can care home carers give medication?

Care workers may help with medication, but this depends on the home’s policy and the worker’s training. In nursing homes, registered nurses lead on clinical care. Ask how the home trains and checks staff who handle medicines.

Do carers have to be qualified?

Employers may ask for GCSE-level English and maths, and a social care qualification is helpful but can be completed after hiring. Providers must ensure staff are competent, trained and supervised, and many carers complete the Care Certificate and go on to a Level 3 diploma in adult care.

What is the difference between a carer and a nurse?

Carers provide personal care and everyday support. Registered nurses provide and oversee nursing care, make clinical assessments and are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Nursing homes always have a nurse on duty.

Do carers help with activities?

Yes, they join in and support social and physical activities. Larger or better-resourced homes may also employ an activity coordinator, who does not provide personal care but plans and runs programmes.

Where to get help next

Compare how homes staff and support residents using the compare tool, visit with our visiting questions, and find homes near you through Find care.

Sources

• Skills for Care: Care worker
• GOV.UK: Care workforce pathway, enhanced care worker role category
• GOV.UK: Care workforce pathway, care or support worker role category
• CQC: Regulation 14, Meeting nutritional and hydration needs
• CQC: Regulation 18, Staffing
• Skills for Health: The Care Certificate standards

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.