Health & Social Care Careers
WHAT ARE HEALTH & SOCIAL CAREERS?
There are few things in life more important that your health. The Health and Social Care sector covers a huge range of different careers helping to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, promote healthy living and reduce health inequalities. With over 350 different career opportunities within the NHS alone, this is a huge area to explore.
Social care aims to provide vulnerable individuals with physical, emotional and social support to help improve their quality of life while health care roles focus on helping people with their physical health. Despite this, many roles now cover both health and social care as it is increasingly understood that there is an important crossover between these two sectors.
WHY SHOULD I BE INTERESTED?
Without a doubt, the best thing about working in health and social care is that you’ll be helping people every single day. Careers in this sector will provide you with the unique opportunity to see the results of your hard work by having a direct positive impact in people’s lives whether you are enhancing their physical or emotional health or preserving their safety.
What’s more, the health and social care sector is undergoing rapid growth and change. With new career pathways continually opening up, working in this sector provides you with endless opportunities to learn and apply new skills and could see you taking on new and exciting roles throughout your career.
GROWTH
This is a continually growing sector. The Social Care sector alone will have half a million extra jobs available by 2030.
EMPLOYERS
The NHS is not only the largest single employer in the UK but in Europe with over 1.3 million staff.
SKILLS
Typical roles look for compassionate people who can communicate effectively with many opportunities to develop specific technical skills depending on career path.
SALARY
Average salaries range from around £29,000 to £44,000.
WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE SUITED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL ROLES?
When we think of health and social care, we often think of directly clinical roles but there is a huge range of careers to suit different people’s strengths. You could work on the front line in a hospital or you could be in a role where you never meet a patient but the core values will still be similar.
Health and social care professionals are compassionate and personable with a good dose of humour. They are empathetic, responsible and have strong ethical values but most importantly they are dedicated to making a positive impact in people’s lives. Starting from these foundational qualities, you will gain the experience and technical skills needed to navigate through a successful health and social care career.
WHAT KIND OF ROLES ARE OUT THERE?
Care Worker
14k – 25k
Starter – Experienced
35 – 40
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends
shifts on rota
What’s the role?
Care assistant, support worker, nursing home assistant
Care workers help vulnerable people manage their daily activities and live as independently as possible.
Where should I start?
There are no set qualifications to become a Care Worker as there are loads of possibilities for training on the job but there are a number of ways you could boost your initial application.
You could consider a college course in a relevant subject.
These could include:
- Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care
- Level 2 Diploma in Care
- T Level in Health
Find course providers here
Or if you’d like to gain some experience while you learn, you could complete an adult care worker intermediate apprenticeship or a lead adult care worker advanced apprenticeship.
Find apprenticeships near to you here
Or get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Counsellor
27k – 48k
Starter – Experienced
35 – 40
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends
shifts attending events/ appointments
What’s the role?
Therapists/ Counsellors help people discuss their problems and feelings in a confidential setting.
Where should I start?
To successfully become a Counsellor, both specialist knowledge and practical training are required. There are loads of different routes into getting these.
You could start by completing an introduction to counselling college course to help work out if this is the right career for you.
Relevant courses include:
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Skills and Theory
- Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Find course providers here
You could also consider studying for a diploma, degree or postgraduate course in counselling or psychotherapy. You should look for courses that include practical skills training and supervised work placements.
Search courses here
Alternatively you could volunteer and complete training courses with organisations such as Relate, Samaritans and Cruse. This will help you to gain experience to help boost your application.
Dental Hygienist
27k – 41k
Starter – Experienced
37 – 38
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends on a rota
What’s the role?
Dental hygienists give advice and treat tooth decay and gum disease.
Where should I start?
Dental Hygienists need specialist knowledge and training to treat patients but there are a number of ways into getting this
Firstly, you could consider completing a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject such as:
- oral health science
- dental hygiene
- dental therapy
Search courses here
Alternatively, if you’d like to gain some practical experience straight away you could start by completing the Dental Nurse (Integrated) Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
This will give you a broad range of dental skills and you can then specialise by completing further training to become a registered dental hygienist.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Dietitian
27k – 48k
Starter – Experienced
38 – 40
Average hours per week
Occasional Weekends
What’s the role?
Dietitians diagnose and treat people with nutrition problems and help people make healthy lifestyle and dietary decisions.
Where should I start?
You’ll need specialist knowledge and training to become a Dietitian so that you can effectively advise and treat patients. There are a number of ways into the role
Firstly, you could consider completing a degree in dietetics or human nutrition. You should check that this is accredited by the British Dietetic Association
Search courses here
Or if you’d like to get some practical experience straight away you could complete a dietitian degree apprenticeship which will split your time between university study and on the job learning.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Healthcare Assistant
20k – 26k
Starter – Experienced
37 – 40
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends/ Bank Holiday
shifts on rota
What’s the role?
District nurses care for people outside of hospitals in patients’ homes, GP surgeries and residential care homes.
Where should I start?
There are no set qualifications to become a Healthcare Assistant but you will need to gain some relevant experience. There are a number of ways you boost your application to help you find that first job
You could consider a college course in a relevant subject. These often include work placements which is a great way to gain some initial experience.
This could include:
- Level 2 Diploma In Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work
- Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
- T Level in Health
Find course providers here
Or if you’d like to earn while you learn, you could consider an intermediate apprenticeship as a healthcare support worker. This will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to become a full Healthcare Assistant.
Find apprenticeships near to you here
Health Visitor
34k – 48k
Starter – Experienced
38 – 40
Average hours per week
Evenings
shift on rota
What’s the role?
Health visitors work with families with a child aged 0 to 5 to identify health needs, promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness.
Where should I start?
To become a Health Visitor, you’ll need to first become a registered nurse or midwife. Once you’ve gained some experience, you’ll then be able to apply for training.
There are several routes into gaining the specialist knowledge and experience required to become a registered nurse.
You could study for a degree in Adult Nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This will include a mix of university study and supervised work placements.
Search courses here
Alternatively, if you already work or have experience in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, it may be possible to complete a degree apprenticeship in adult nursing.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Maternity Support Worker
20k – 26k
Starter – Experienced
40 – 42
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends/ Bank Holidays
shifts on rota
What’s the role?
Maternity support workers help midwives provide care to women and their babies, before, during and after childbirth.
Where should I start?
There are no set qualifications to become a Maternity Support Worker but employers will be looking for relevant experience and often a qualification in childcare or healthcare.
There are a number of ways to go about getting this
You could consider a college course in a relevant subject. These often include work placements which is a great way to gain some initial experience.
This could include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Child Development and Care
- Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
Find course providers here
Alternatively, you could start by completing an intermediate apprenticeship as a healthcare support worker which will give you a broad range of skills in healthcare.
After this, you could then choose to complete a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship where you can choose to specialise in maternity support.
Find apprenticeships near to you here
Or get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Midwife
27k – 48k
Starter – Experienced
35 – 40
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends/ Bank Holidays on a rota
What’s the role?
Midwives support pregnant women and their babies before, during and after, childbirth.
Where should I start?
To successfully become a Midwife, you’ll need both specialist knowledge and practical training. There are a number of different routes you could take
Firstly, you could complete a degree in midwifery approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Search courses here
If you’d like to earn while you learn you could complete a midwife degree apprenticeship where you’ll split your time between university study and on the job training.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
If you’re not sure if midwifery is for you, you could instead become a registered adult nurse which will give you a broad range of skills and experience in healthcare. There are opportunities to later take a conversion course to become a midwife.
Nurse
27k – 40k
Starter – Experienced
37 – 42
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekend/ Bank Holiday
shifts on a rota
What’s the role?
District nurses care for people outside of hospitals in patients’ homes, GP surgeries and residential care homes.
Where should I start?
To apply for Nursing jobs, you’ll first need to become a registered nurse which will require gaining specialist knowledge and experience. There are several routes into this.
You could study for a degree in Adult Nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This will include a mix of university study and supervised work placements.
Search courses here
Alternatively, if you already work or have experience in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, it may be possible to complete a degree apprenticeship in adult nursing.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Paramedic
26k – 39k
Starter – Experienced
36 – 38
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends/Bank Holidays on a shift pattern
What’s the role?
Paramedics respond to emergency call-outs and give people life-saving medical help.
Where should I start?
To provide life-saving medical care, Paramedics must have specialist training and experience. There are loads of different ways you could get into this
Firstly you could consider completing a paramedic science degree. You should check that this is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Search courses here
You could also get into this role through a paramedic degree apprenticeship which will combine university study with practical on the job experience.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
If you’re not sure if this is the career for you, you could start out as an ambulance care assistant or an emergency medical technician to start gaining some experience. You could then apply for a place on a paramedic training scheme.
You could also gain experience through volunteering with an organisation such as St John Ambulance.
Social Worker
27k – 42k
Starter – Experienced
37 – 40
Average hours per week
Evening/ Weekends/Bank Holidays on a rota
What’s the role?
Social workers help to protect vulnerable children and adults from harm or abuse, and support people to live independently.
Where should I start?
Social Workers need specialist training to be able to do their jobs effectively. There are a number of ways into completing this
You could complete training at university by doing a degree in social work approved by Social Work England or, if you already have a degree in a different subject, by completing a postgraduate qualification.
Search courses here
Alternatively, if you’d like to earn while you learn, you could complete a Social Worker Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship which will split your time between university study and on the job training.
Get started with advanced, higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities here
Most courses and employers will look for you to have experience working with vulnerable groups or children. To gain skills and experience, you could consider volunteering with local community groups or charities.
Get ideas for volunteering opportunities here.
