Health and Social Care

Want to make a difference in other people's lives? Over 2.5 million people work in health & social care in the UK, providing services that we all rely on, from helping those with disabilities to live more independently, right through to working in residential care homes for elderly people.

What next?
Progression can be made on to further courses of study at university to train as a social worker, nutrition therapist or probation officer. You could also gain employment as a social care worker, advice worker or counsellor.

Potential careers:
Counsellor: £15k - £28k per year
Healthcare assistant: £12k - £16k per year
Probation officer: £21k - £28k per year
Social care worker: £11k - £24k per year
Social worker: £19k - £27k per year

Mental healthcare worker Suzy Mobio landed her first job in the health and social care industry following a successful work placement organised by Redbridge College.

Thirty-three year-old Suzy studied Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care at Redbridge College between 2009 and 2011.

She was offered a position at Easy Living care home in Stratford following undertaking a work placement as part of her course at Redbridge College. 

She now plans to progress on to university and study a degree in mental healthcare.

Suzy said: “For me personally, being able to help people every day makes this the best sector anyone could possibly work in. It is a very rewarding career, with so many different career paths to choose from.

“During each year of my course I was able to go on a different work placement, and my second placement offered me a job. I worked for 15 hours per week alongside my studies, and then went full-time after completing my course. It was very helpful to be working while I was studying, because all the challenges I faced at work related directly to my study.”

Would you like to learn how to make a positive difference to other people’s lives every day?

Then studying Health & Social Care at Redbridge College could be right for you.

Learners at the college discover the strategies used to care for people of all ages, and then bring their knowledge to life with real-world assignments and work placements.

In class, lecturer Marilyn introduces learners to strategies aimed at reducing the risk of abuse to adults in a care setting.

Learners discuss how the recruitment process helps to protect vulnerable adults.

Marilyn says: “Learners develop a big range of skills which are very transferable.

“Studying Health & Social Care is great preparation for a diverse range of careers including nursing, midwifery, social work and nursing.

“Learners have a choice of modules and we work with them to help choose paths which will be beneficial for their future career,” she adds.

Back in class, learners are discussing the types of behavior which could result in an individual being barred from working with vulnerable adults.

They learn that established professional codes of practice ensure that practitioners work at high standards, respect the people using their services and minimise the risks of abuse.

As part of their course, all learners undertake a real-life work placement in a care environment to put their skills into practice.

Marilyn explains: “The college has great links with local employers to help our learners find placements that are tailored to their needs.

She adds “This lesson focused on how learners can look out for the signs of abuse.

“During the course as a whole learners gain knowledge of everything from nutrition and the different life stages to human rights and cultural diversity.”

Twenty-year-old learner Elizabeth Osikorobia studies BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care.

As part of her course, Elizabeth spent her three-week work placement at a local hospital.

She said: “It was a great to be able to apply the things I have learnt at college to a real work situation.

“My ambition is to become a childcare nurse, so the experience was really important for my future career.

“The teachers have also been really supportive and are very friendly,” she adds.

Meanwhile, fellow learner Oladimeji Matemilola, who is also 20, says: “I initially joined the college to study Health and Social Care at Level 1 and have now progressed to Level 3.

“I have learnt so much and now plan to progress on to university to study a degree in mental healthcare.”