Carer skills to include on your CV

By Sophie · Published 30 October 2026

Care skills

Personal care

Describe the personal care tasks you carried out and how you respected the person’s preferences.

On your CV Supported residents with washing and dressing, following their individual preferences.

Person-centred care

Give an example of adapting support to a person’s routine or choices.

On your CV Planned morning visits around clients' preferred wake-up times.

Moving and positioning

Name the moving and positioning tasks you performed in line with training and care plans.

On your CV Assisted residents with transfers using a hoist and the agreed handling plan.

Medication support

State the medication tasks you were trained and authorised to carry out.

On your CV Prompted clients to take prescribed medication and recorded support on their medication charts.

Safeguarding

Describe how you recognised and reported a concern through your workplace procedure.

On your CV Reported a concern about a client’s unexplained bruising to the senior carer.

Infection prevention and control

Give a practical example of the hygiene procedures you followed during care.

On your CV Used protective equipment and cleaned shared care equipment between residents.

Food and hydration support

Explain how you supported eating or drinking in line with a care plan.

On your CV Prepared meals according to clients' dietary needs and recorded fluid intake when required.

Care notes and handovers

Show what you recorded or passed on to colleagues during a shift.

On your CV Updated daily care notes and handed over changes in residents' wellbeing to the next shift.

Personal qualities

Patient communication

Describe how you adjusted your communication to help someone take part in their care.

On your CV Allowed a resident time to respond and used short questions when discussing their morning routine.

Respect for dignity

Give an example of protecting a person’s privacy or involving them in a decision.

On your CV Closed doors and checked consent before assisting residents with personal care.

Observation

Describe a change you noticed and whom you informed.

On your CV Noticed a client was eating less than usual and reported the change to the care coordinator.

Reliability

Show how you managed an agreed visit or shift schedule.

On your CV Completed scheduled home visits and informed the office when a delay affected a call.

Tools and care equipment

Electronic care records

Name the system you used if you can do so accurately and explain what you recorded.

On your CV Entered visit notes and care updates into the provider’s electronic record system.

Mobility aids and hoists

Identify the equipment you used and the care task it supported.

On your CV Used a standing aid to support transfers in accordance with residents' handling plans.

Medication administration records

Describe how you used medication administration record charts within your role.

On your CV Recorded medication prompts on clients' medication administration record charts.

Qualifications

Level 2 Diploma in Care

List the qualification, awarding organisation and completion date if you hold it.

On your CV Level 2 Diploma in Care, City & Guilds, 2023.

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Add the qualification and completion date if it is relevant to the role.

On your CV Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, City & Guilds, 2024.

Care Certificate

Include the certificate and completion date if your employer awarded it.

On your CV Care Certificate completed with home care employer, 2022.

How to choose carer skills for a job advert

Start with the tasks listed by the employer. A home care post may involve travelling between visits and supporting people to remain independent at home. A care home role may place more emphasis on working with colleagues across shifts. Select evidence from your experience that reflects the duties of the post.

Check the level of responsibility requested for medication and moving people. State what you have been trained and authorised to do, rather than suggesting you carried out duties outside your role. If the employer asks for experience with a particular group, explain the support you provided and the setting where you worked.

If you are new to paid care work, consider relevant experience from volunteering or supporting a relative. Be clear about the setting and describe the tasks you actually did.

Where to put care skills on your CV

Use a short skills section to make relevant abilities easy to find. Choose terms that describe real tasks, such as personal care or care record keeping. Under each previous role, add a few bullets explaining how you used those skills. Include the type of setting and the people you supported where this helps the employer understand your experience.

Put completed qualifications in an education or training section. The Level 2 Diploma in Care and Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care are qualifications used in England; employers elsewhere in the UK may recognise different qualifications. A Care Certificate can also be listed as completed training. Add the provider and date when you know them.

If a role involves home visits and you hold the driving licence requested, include that information where it is easy to see. Only list access to a vehicle if you have it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Keep examples specific enough to show what you did. For instance, a care note bullet can explain that you recorded changes in appetite and passed them to a senior colleague. Avoid including names or personal details of people you supported.

Do not claim a qualification, certificate or training course you have not completed. If a course is underway, give its expected completion date and label it as in progress. Employers can then see what you have already learned and what is still to come.

Use care terminology accurately. Prompting someone to take medication is a different task from administering it. Similarly, experience helping with transfers does not automatically mean you are trained to use every type of hoist. Check each bullet against your own responsibilities before sending the CV.

Official source on this job: Care worker job profile, National Careers Service