Are You Classed as a Key Worker?

Key workers are not just nurses and firefighters, there is a whole host of other professions that are classed as key workers. A key worker is essentially anyone that works in the public sector and the government wants to make it easier for these type of people to be able to rent or buy a property.

Who Is Eligible

The government has produced quite a lengthy list of professions that qualify as key workers.

Most jobs within the NHS will be classed as key workers, the government defines them as “clinical NHS staff”, which means doctors and dentists do not qualify, mainly because they are already on a substantial wage and should be able to afford to buy and rent their own property.

Teachers and nursery nurses in primary schools and sixth form colleges also class as key workers. The line becomes a bit more blurry concerning headmasters and headmistresses, so you would need to check with your local authority if this applies to you.

Most police officers, community support officers and a number of civilian staff are also classed as key workers. Again, it depends on your rank and pay as to whether you are classed as a key worker, so you should check with your local authority,

Prison officers and some of the lower ranking prison staff are classed as key workers, along with probation service staff.

Professions such as social workers, educational psychologists, and therapists who are employed by local authorities such as the NHS are also seen as key workers and can apply for the scheme.

Local authority planners, along with firefighters and other staff below principal level in the fire and rescue service qualify. If you are on your way to becoming a senior level figure within the forces then you should check that you still qualify as a key worker.

Certain posts within the Ministry of Defence also fall under the scheme, along with Connexions personal advisors which are employed by a local authority.

And finally, qualified environmental health officers/practitioners who work in local authority a government agency or any other public sector agencies also qualify, some highway agency traffic officer staff are also suitable to apply for the scheme.

There are a few grey areas when it comes to who can and cannot apply for a key worker scheme, so if you think you are borderline or are not sure if you fall into the key worker category check with your local authority as to what its boundaries are.

Your Location

Unfortunately just because you are classed as a key worker it does not necessarily mean you will be able to apply for the scheme. Not all areas have a key worker scheme available.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire all have key worker schemes available, along with Hampshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Kent, Sussex and Essex.

Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk and Suffolk can also offer such schemes.

Quite a lot of places in the North of England are excluded, this is mainly because there is a lot more affordable housing in the North of England, so a lesser need for it.

There are key worker schemes available in the North of England, but they will normally be on a lesser scale.

The government is quite broad in its description of what a key worker is, so if you fall into one of the above categories there is a good chance you will qualify for the scheme, but you should double check with your local authority.