Career guide · Care/Healthcare

Healthcare assistant.

Also known as Care worker, Home carer, Care assistant

Healthcare assistants and care workers support daily living, personal care and wellbeing for older people and people with additional needs in homes, residential care and community settings across Ireland.

Roles open right now

132 roles open in Ireland today have a title matching healthcare assistant. The results are ordered so listings that mention visa sponsorship, and employers with an Irish employment permit record, come first.

Search the healthcare assistant roles open today

A sponsorship mention in a listing and an employer’s past permit record are both signals. Neither is a guarantee that a role is sponsored, or that any candidate is eligible.

What this role involves

Healthcare assistants, care workers and home carers support people with everyday living, personal care and wellbeing in residential care homes, community services and clients' own homes across Ireland. Typical duties include assisting with washing, dressing and mobility, helping with meals and medication reminders, recording observations, and providing companionship and social support. The role is central to Ireland's growing care sector and suits patient, reliable people who work well with vulnerable individuals and alongside nurses and family members.

When this role fits

Likely a fit when

  • your duties are daily care, home care or residential care support
  • you are patient and reliable working with vulnerable people

Likely not a fit when

  • your duties are registered clinical nursing tasks
  • you are seeking an office-based role

Official occupation classification

Roles like this usually map to the following SOC 2010 occupation code, which Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment uses on its occupation lists.

Employment permit route signal

General Employment Permit may be possible

This is an occupation-level signal only. The exact duties, salary, qualifications, employer and permit route decide the outcome.

This is an occupation-level signal only. It is not a determination of eligibility, sponsorship, or permit approval.

Typical skills and qualifications

Certifications

  • Manual handling certificate
  • Occupational first aid

Language

  • English (CEFR B2)

Transferable skills

  • Communication
  • Teamwork

Find licensed recruitment agencies

Licensed agencies whose public websites mention the relevant sector. Explore the directory to research each agency yourself.

Before you rely on a permit pathway

Depending on the exact duties, salary and employer, some roles in this area may be considered under Ireland's General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit routes, while others may fall on the ineligible list. This is general information only, not immigration advice, and official eligibility depends on the current occupation lists and your individual circumstances.

Important

Source: IrishTalents editorial content, aligned to the UK SOC 2010 occupation classification used by Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

IrishTalents is not a licensed employment agency and does not select or submit candidates. Any agency information reflects the wording found on agency websites only, not vacancies, sponsorship, or suitability.

An occupation (SOC) code classifies the kind of work. It does not by itself determine permit eligibility, Critical Skills status, or sponsorship. Job duties, salary, employer and permit route also matter.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. IrishTalents is not affiliated with the Irish government.