If you are thinking about a career in care but have never worked in the sector before, this is probably the question sitting at the top of your mind: do I actually stand a chance without experience?
The short answer is no, you do not need experience to become a care worker at ENS. What matters far more is who you are.
Why ENS recruits on values, not CVs
Care cannot really be taught from nothing. The instinct to notice when someone is having a bad day, the patience to let someone do things their own way and in their own time, the reliability to turn up when you say you will; these are not things a qualification can put into a person. They are already there, or they are not.
That is why ENS recruits based on values and potential rather than prior experience. If you are patient, reliable and genuinely interested in helping people live life on their terms, you already have what matters most. The clinical and practical skills are taught properly, on the job, with training built around you from your very first day.
What the first stage of a care career actually looks like
Every ENS carer starts at the same point: Entry Support Worker. This is a genuine, structured starting role, not a token title.
At this stage, the focus is on direct care delivery, learning the fundamentals: basic care skills, safeguarding, accurate record keeping, and building real relationships with the people you support. You will complete an induction workbook, move through a supported probation period, and begin working towards your Care Certificate, which is the recognised foundation qualification for care workers in England.
None of this is something you are left to work out alone. New starters get regular supervision, peer mentoring and a structured training programme from day one.
What training and qualifications does ENS actually pay for?
This is often the second big worry for people considering a career change into care: the cost and time involved in getting qualified.
At ENS, every qualification you need is fully funded, from your Care Certificate through to NVQ Level 5 if you progress into leadership. There are no waiting lists and no cost to you, and training is delivered through on-site facilities and accelerated programmes designed to fit around your existing life and commitments.
If you are drawn to more specialist work later on, ENS also provides dedicated training in areas like PEG feeding, tracheostomy care and ventilator support, so clinical skill-building is a genuine, supported career step rather than something you need to arrange yourself.
What if I am not sure care work is for me long term?
That is a completely reasonable thing to feel before you have tried it, and it is worth knowing that a job at ENS does not lock you into one type of role forever.
There is a clear, transparent pathway from Entry Support Worker through to Registered Manager, with meaningful pay increases and real responsibility at every stage. You will always have someone assigned to guide, encourage and support your development, and shifts are flexible around your life, whether you are looking for full-time, part-time or bank hours.
You are also never left unsupported once you are working. Every ENS carer has access to 24/7 back office support, meaning an expert consultant is available by phone on every single shift.
Is there anything ENS looks for that would rule someone out?
Beyond the standard checks every care employer carries out, such as an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references, ENS is not looking for a particular background, age or career history. Support workers join from retail, hospitality, parenting breaks, other care roles, and plenty of people who have simply never done anything like this before.
What ENS is genuinely looking for is someone who wants to make a real difference, who will show up consistently, and who is open to learning. Everything else is built around you once you are through the door.
Ready to find out more?
If you have been considering a move into care but experience has been holding you back, it does not need to. ENS Care & Support has spent over 30 years building a genuine career pathway for people who care about people, not people who already have a care CV.
Find out more about joining our team, or make an enquiry directly with our recruitment team to talk through what a role at ENS could look like for you.
