Why Study Health & Social Care?
Health and social care is a vast service sector undergoing rapid change, with new government initiatives giving it a higher profile than ever.
Health & Social Care holds an important position in today’s society and, as the biggest employment sector in the UK, there are growing career opportunities.
Health and social care covers a huge range of jobs – from looking after people with physical or mental health problems to working with pre-school children, from being a doctor to helping people who have just left prison.
There are many jobs available globally, nationally and in the West of England within the Health Service, Social Services or with private care homes and other organisations – but you must expect to continue learning new skills and qualifications throughout your career.
There are over 300 different National Health Service careers, and over a million people in the UK who work in them, from radiographers and doctors to specialist nurses, caterers
and accountants. Healthcare needs young people for a broad range of occupations.
There are many roles behind the scenes, particularly if you are good at science and technology.
There is a world-wide demand for people with professional qualifications in health and social care – so you could travel and work in other countries after studying/training.
If you like looking after young children, the childcare professions could be for you – but first, imagine looking after them for eight hours a day, five days a week!
If you want to become a midwife, nurse, dentist, physiotherapist, doctor or other specialist health professional, you will need five GCSEs (Grade C or above) and ‘A’ Level grades (or equivalents e.g. BTEC), and will need to study up to degree level and complete extensive on-the-job training.
Priorities on the healthcare agenda include being more responsive to patient needs, and preventing illness by promoting a healthy lifestyle. The focus in frontline health and social care is on giving service-users more independence, choice and control. These developments mean there’s greater demand for well-trained and multi-skilled people across a range of rewarding employment opportunities.
Social care includes careers working with children, young people, adults, families and older adults. Many people need help in their lives, sometimes for a short while – or over months
or years. If you worked in social care it would be your job to help these people – working as a care assistant, support worker or qualified social worker (with degree level qualifications). These are not your average 9 to 5 jobs – they involve dedication and helping others.
Providing help and care for those in need or who are vulnerable offers a unique sense of personal and career fulfilment.
Which are the best Universities?
http://www.university-list.net/uk/rank/univ-10040-1.htm
http://www.brutish-nursing.com/uk_uni_index.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-degrees/nursing-756204.html
http://www.brighton.ac.uk/snm/
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/index.aspx
http://www.nursing.salford.ac.uk/
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/nursing/
http://www.ucas.com/students/choosingcourses/specificsubjects/nursing
http://www.beds.ac.uk/courses/bysubject/heacar/bsc-nur
What skills will you develop?
Are you what they're looking for?
Do you enjoy meeting and helping people – often using practical skills? Are you able to communicate with, and care for others in a variety of ways? Do you have an interest in a
science subject? If any of these sound like you, perhaps you might be interested in a career in the health or social care sector. You could be working with children, young people or
adults, people with disabilities, the sick or injured or people with problems .
You’ll need to have good communication skills and excellent self-awareness. You’ll also need to have respect for the people you’re dealing with.
What other Health & Social Care related degrees are there?
The list is endless, so my advice is to get researching and find out what best suits you!
http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/courses/prospectus/undergraduate/c.asp?courseurl=health-and-social-care
http://www.icslearn.co.uk/distance-learning-degree/health-social-care-degrees/ba-social-care/
http://www.gre.ac.uk/fd/subjects/hsc/hscc
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-degrees/social-work-542665.html
http://www.nurserve.co.uk/TrainingTypeRegion.asp?Subject=0&location=14
What does it lead on to and what are the chances?
With this multidisciplinary qualification you’ll have a sound foundation for a wide range of careers. Some of these areas include working with families and young people, in community care roles and housing associations. On successful completion of this course you may well find yourself working for traditional public sector employers like the NHS, or within the rapidly expanding private and charity sectors.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/healthsocialcare.htm
How much am I likely to earn?
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/healthsocialcare.htm
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=4
What current developments?
It is essential that students are up to date with current developments. This can be achieved by listening to the news on a regular basis, exploring the NHS web site - http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx and gaining work experience within the health, social care and early year’s field. Consider placements in local hospitals, surgeries, specialist health care organisations e.g. MS Therapy Centre – Warminster, Day Care e.g. Woodmead, Residential Care homes specifically for nursing and dementia e.g. Sutton Veny Nursing Home, Henford House, The Wingfield Care Home –Trowbridge, Physiotherapy departments, Occupational Therapy, Midwifery, Social Work departments, schools – nursery/primary/specialist e.g. Larkrise School – Trowbridge. The list is endless!
http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/
( this section is vital in writing a Personal statement )