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Caregiver CV example and template (South Africa)

Caregivers in South Africa work in frail care centres at retirement villages, old age homes, home care agencies and private homes, looking after elderly, sick or disabled people who need help with daily life. A frail care manager or family reading your CV wants to know which training you have, whether you can safely bathe, feed and move a person who cannot do it alone, and whether you have patience with people living with dementia or nearing the end of their life.

The example below is for a caregiver with about seven years in home-based care and a frail care centre. If you are new to caregiving, write down any care you have given to a grandparent or sick relative, and do a short HWSETA-accredited course or a First Aid Level 1 course before you apply. Many agencies will not place a caregiver with a client until they have at least first aid and a basic care qualification.

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Caregiver CV example

Charmaine Jacobs

Caregiver with 7 years in frail care and home-based care

079 555 0136 · charmaine.jacobs@example.co.za · Somerset West, Western Cape

Profile

Patient and caring caregiver with seven years in home-based care and frail care, currently caring for twelve residents in a frail care unit in Somerset West. Holds the HWSETA-accredited Ancillary Health Care certificate (NQF 1) and First Aid Level 2. Experienced with bathing, feeding, safe lifting, medication reminders, dementia care and supporting residents and families in palliative care. Looking for a full-time caregiver post in the Helderberg or Cape Town northern suburbs.

Work experience

Frail Care Caregiver

Avondrust Retirement Village Frail Care Centre, Somerset West | Mar 2022 – Present

Give daily personal care to twelve residents, including bathing, dressing and oral care
Feed residents on soft and pureed diets and record food and fluid intake
Move residents safely using a hoist, wheelchair and correct lifting methods
Turn bed-bound residents every two hours and report pressure areas to the nursing sister
Calm and redirect residents living with dementia, especially in the late afternoon
Support residents and families in palliative care under the registered nurse's direction

Home-Based Caregiver

Helping Hands Home Care Agency, Strand | Jun 2019 – Feb 2022

Cared for elderly clients in their own homes on 12-hour day and night shifts
Reminded clients to take medication and kept a daily medication and care record
Helped a client recovering from a stroke with walking exercises set by the physiotherapist
Did light housekeeping, laundry and simple meals for clients living alone

Education

National Certificate in Ancillary Health Care

HWSETA-accredited training provider, 2019, NQF level 1

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Strand Secondary School, 2011, NQF level 4

Subjects: Afrikaans Home Language, English First Additional Language, Life Sciences, Consumer Studies, Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation

Skills

Personal care and bathing
Feeding and pureed diets
Safe lifting and hoist transfers
Pressure care for bed-bound clients
Dementia care
Palliative care support
Medication reminders and care notes

Certificates

First Aid Level 2, St John South Africa, 2025
Dementia Care (short course), Dementia care training provider, 2023
Introduction to Palliative Care for Carers, Local hospice training programme, 2024

Achievements

Chosen to train new caregivers on safe hoist use at the frail care centre in 2024
Thank-you letters from three families for end-of-life care

Personal details

Driver’s licence:: Code B (Code 8)
Nationality:: South African
Languages:: Afrikaans (Home language), English (Fluent), isiXhosa (Basic)
Notice period:: One month
Availability:: Day and night shifts, weekends and live-in posts

References

Sister Annelie van Wyk

Frail Care Unit Manager, Avondrust Retirement Village Frail Care Centre

021 555 0165

Bronwyn Daniels

Care Coordinator, Helping Hands Home Care Agency

021 555 0121

Caregiver CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

Patient and caring caregiver with seven years in home-based care and frail care, currently caring for twelve residents in a frail care unit in Somerset West. Holds the HWSETA-accredited Ancillary Health Care certificate (NQF 1) and First Aid Level 2. Experienced with bathing, feeding, safe lifting, medication reminders, dementia care and supporting residents and families in palliative care. Looking for a full-time caregiver post in the Helderberg or Cape Town northern suburbs.

Skills to list on your Caregiver CV

Bathing, dressing and personal hygiene for bed-bound and frail clients
Feeding, including soft and pureed diets and assisting clients who struggle to swallow
Safe lifting and transfers with a hoist, wheelchair or walking frame
Turning bed-bound clients to prevent bedsores (pressure sores)
Medication reminders and recording medication taken, as instructed by the nurse or family
Dementia care, including calming confused or anxious clients
Palliative care support, keeping clients comfortable near the end of life
Taking temperature, pulse and blood pressure and reporting changes
Continence care and changing adult nappies with dignity
First aid, including falls, choking and diabetic emergencies
Recording daily care notes for the nurse or family
Light housekeeping, laundry and preparing simple meals in home-based care
Companionship, reading, walks and gentle activities

Duties written as strong bullet points

Gave daily personal care to twelve frail care residents, including bathing, dressing, oral care and grooming
Fed residents on soft and pureed diets and recorded food and fluid intake on their charts
Moved residents safely between bed, wheelchair and bath using a hoist and correct lifting methods
Turned bed-bound residents every two hours and reported red or broken skin to the nursing sister straight away
Reminded clients to take prescribed medication at the right times and recorded each dose taken in the care file
Calmed residents living with dementia during episodes of confusion using redirection and familiar routines
Supported residents and their families during palliative care, keeping residents clean, comfortable and pain-free under the nurse's direction
Took blood pressure, pulse and temperature each morning and reported any change to the registered nurse on duty
Wrote clear daily care notes at the end of every shift for the next caregiver and the nursing team

Tips for a stronger Caregiver CV

List every care course with its NQF level

Write the exact name of each course, the training provider and the NQF level, such as "Ancillary Health Care, NQF level 1, HWSETA-accredited provider". Frail care centres and agencies compare caregivers mainly on training, so this section deserves as much space as your experience.

Describe the clients you cared for

Say what kind of people you looked after, such as bed-bound elderly clients, people living with dementia, stroke patients or people with disabilities. Do not include their names or medical details. A family looking for dementia care will choose the caregiver who has done it before.

Show you know the limits of your role

Caregivers remind clients about medication and report changes, but do not give injections or change prescriptions. Writing "medication reminders, as instructed by the nurse" shows a manager you understand your scope and will call a nurse or doctor when you should.

Mention live-in and shift work clearly

Home care agencies often need live-in caregivers or 12-hour day and night shifts. Say which arrangements you have worked and which you are willing to do now. It helps agencies match you to the right client quickly.

Questions people ask

Which qualifications do caregivers need in South Africa?

Many employers ask for an HWSETA-accredited ancillary health care or home-based care qualification, which range from NQF level 1 to level 4. A first aid certificate is usually required too. Short courses in dementia care or palliative care help you stand out for frail care and hospice work.

What is the difference between first aid level 1, 2 and 3?

Level 1 covers basic emergencies such as choking, bleeding and resuscitation. Level 2 and level 3 go further into injuries, medical emergencies and managing an incident until help arrives. Frail care centres often prefer level 2 or higher. List the level and the year you completed it, because first aid certificates must be renewed.

Is a caregiver the same as a nurse?

No. Caregivers help with daily living, such as bathing, feeding, moving and companionship, and work under the guidance of a nurse or the family. Nurses are registered with the South African Nursing Council and can give medication and treatment. Do not use the word nurse on your CV unless you are registered with SANC.

How do I write about palliative care on my CV?

Say that you supported clients and families at the end of life, kept clients comfortable and clean, and worked with the nurse or hospice team. If you did a palliative care course through a hospice, list it under certificates. Keep the wording respectful and never include client names.

Can I work as a caregiver without matric?

Yes, many caregivers start without matric. Write the last grade you completed, then focus on your care training, first aid and experience caring for family members. Some higher-level HWSETA qualifications may ask for a certain school grade, so check with the training provider.