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Create ResumeA support worker CV in the UK should be 1–2 pages, with the length based entirely on your experience level. One page is ideal for entry-level candidates or those with limited experience, while two pages is the standard for experienced support workers with multiple roles, care settings, or specialist training. Anything longer is usually ignored or skimmed.
Your CV must be structured in a way that allows a recruiter or hiring manager to quickly assess your suitability for vulnerable client care, often in under 10 seconds. That means clear sections, strong prioritisation of relevant experience, and a format that works with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
This guide breaks down exactly how long your support worker CV should be, how to structure it, and what layout actually improves your chances of getting shortlisted.
The correct length is not arbitrary. It’s based on how much relevant, decision-making information you can present clearly.
Use a one-page CV if you are:
A student or recent school leaver
Applying for your first support worker role
Transitioning from an unrelated job
Have less than 2 years of relevant experience
Recruiter insight:
If you don’t have much relevant experience, stretching to two pages weakens your application. Hiring managers prefer concise, focused candidates over padded CVs.
Use two pages if you:
Your CV structure must reflect how hiring decisions are made in care roles: Can you safely and effectively support vulnerable individuals?
This is the exact structure recruiters expect:
Keep it simple and professional.
Include:
Full name
Phone number
Professional email address
Location (town/city, no full address needed)
Avoid:
Photos
Full address
Your layout must support fast reading and ATS compatibility.
Clear section headings
Consistent font (e.g. Arial, Calibri)
Logical order
Bullet points for experience
Tables or columns (break ATS parsing)
Graphics or icons
Have 2+ years of support work or care experience
Have worked across multiple care environments (e.g. residential care, supported living, mental health, learning disabilities)
Hold certifications (e.g. NVQ Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care)
Have specialist experience (e.g. autism support, complex needs, behavioural support)
Recruiter insight:
Two pages is not “too long” if every line adds value. What matters is relevance and clarity, not strict brevity.
Too long (3+ pages):
Key information gets buried
Recruiters skim or skip sections
Signals poor prioritisation
Too short (under 1 page with experience):
Looks incomplete or underdeveloped
Misses critical evidence of capability
Reduces credibility
Personal details (DOB, marital status)
This is one of the most important sections.
It should immediately answer:
What type of support worker are you?
What settings have you worked in?
What client groups have you supported?
What is your key strength or value?
Good Example:
Experienced Support Worker with 4+ years in supported living and residential care, specialising in learning disabilities and autism support. Skilled in behaviour management, safeguarding, and person-centred care planning. Known for building trust with vulnerable clients and maintaining high standards of safety and dignity.
Why this works:
Specific experience
Clear client group
Demonstrates impact
Uses care-sector language recruiters scan for
This is where many candidates fail by being vague.
Your skills must be:
Relevant to support work
Recognisable to recruiters
Reflective of real capability
Strong skills examples:
Safeguarding and duty of care
Personal care support
Medication administration
Behaviour management
Risk assessment
Care planning and documentation
Supporting individuals with learning disabilities
Mental health support
Communication with families and healthcare professionals
Recruiter insight:
This section helps your CV pass ATS filters and quick scans. Avoid generic skills like “hardworking” or “team player” unless backed by context elsewhere.
This is the most heavily weighted section.
Structure each role like this:
Job title
Employer name
Location
Dates
Then include bullet points that show:
What you actually did
Who you supported
How you made an impact
Good Example:
Provided daily personal care and emotional support to adults with learning disabilities in a supported living environment
Assisted with medication administration following care plans and compliance protocols
Managed challenging behaviours using de-escalation techniques
Maintained accurate care records and incident reports
Supported clients in developing independent living skills
What makes this strong:
Specific duties
Clear care setting
Demonstrates responsibility
Shows compliance and safety awareness
Include:
Relevant qualifications (e.g. NVQ, diploma, degree)
School qualifications (if early career)
Keep it concise.
This section is highly valuable in care roles.
Include:
NVQ Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care
Safeguarding training
First Aid
Manual handling
Medication training
Autism or mental health certifications
Recruiter insight:
Certifications often act as shortlisting filters, especially for regulated care roles.
Over-designed templates
Text boxes
Multiple colours
Why this matters:
Many care employers use ATS software. If your CV is hard to read digitally, it may never reach a human.
Order matters.
Always:
Put your strongest, most relevant experience first
Focus on recent roles
Cut outdated or irrelevant jobs
Recruiter behaviour:
Most hiring managers skim the top half of your first page. That’s where your strongest evidence must be.
Instead of guessing, use this logic:
You can clearly show your suitability within one page
Your experience is limited
Adding more would dilute quality
You have multiple relevant roles
You need space to show different care settings
You have valuable certifications and training
Key principle:
Never add length without adding value.
Length and structure alone won’t get you hired. What matters is how you present your experience.
Top-performing CVs:
Focus on real care responsibilities
Show understanding of safeguarding and risk
Highlight client outcomes and independence support
Use correct care-sector terminology
Avoid generic, corporate language
Even well-structured CVs fail due to these issues:
Saying “helped clients” instead of explaining how and in what context
Not specifying whether you worked with:
Elderly
Learning disabilities
Mental health
Autism
Physical disabilities
Listing tasks without showing responsibility or outcomes
Making the CV hard to scan quickly
Old retail or warehouse roles without linking transferable skills
When reviewing CVs, hiring managers typically look for:
Evidence of safe care delivery
Experience with specific client groups
Ability to handle challenging situations
Understanding of compliance and safeguarding
Consistency and reliability
Your CV structure and length must support quick validation of these points.
Before submitting, check:
CV is 1–2 pages maximum
Sections are clearly structured
Experience is relevant and prioritised
Skills match care industry expectations
No unnecessary design elements
Easy to scan in under 10 seconds
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