A social companion with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education supports people in coping with everyday life in their own home. Social support is therefore outreach-based and designed for longer-term support, both with individuals and with families or groups. Social companions support their clients in coping with everyday life, organizing leisure activities and social gatherings, whereby the client's self-determination is always paramount. Social companions pay attention to the needs of the people they accompany, encourage them in their contact with others and in recognizing and using their own resources. As they work on behalf of others, they must be involved in the planning, documentation and evaluation of their work and, if necessary, involve other professionals.

During the continuing education, further training to become a social companion, participants train their personal resources and personality, including in the areas of communication, self-management and conversation skills. Trainees are taught theories, approaches, methods and specialist knowledge relating to social support and its practical implementation. This includes, for example, methods of support management, project management and social work, as well as the confident use of budgeting, forms, documentation, protocols and checklists. Prospective social workers also gain knowledge on topics such as psychopathology, social law, work with the elderly, addiction, intercultural competence, migration, treatment approaches, co-dependency, severe crises and work integration.

After passing the Federal Professional Examination in Social Support, graduates are awarded the protected title of "Social Support Worker with Federal Professional Certificate".

In order to be admitted to the Federal Professional Diploma of Higher Education (FPE) in Social Care, participants must have completed an apprenticeship as a care specialist Federal VET Diploma, health specialist Federal VET Diploma or another equivalent qualification in the health or social sector and have subsequently worked in the social sector for at least two years with a minimum 50% workload in care and support. In the case of a reduced workload, more years of professional experience must be demonstrated. Alternatively, an upper-secondary level qualification followed by at least three years of professional experience of at least 50% in the aforementioned field can serve as an admission requirement. In this case too, the professional experience must be extended accordingly with a lower workload. In both cases, the professional experience must have been gained within the last five years prior to registering for the examination, with a maximum of 25% documented voluntary work.

Social assistants are employed by private individuals as well as by social services, private organizations, churches, social and health institutions, child and adult protection authorities, guardianship authorities or health leagues.

Continuing education, further training to become a social worker with a federal certificate takes between 65 and 90 days, spread over 2 to 3 years, depending on the school. You should therefore enquire directly with the school of your choice about the duration of the course.