Health & Social Care

In brief

Social care work is about helping people with their lives. People who have physical or psychological problems often require practical help coping with the everyday business of living. Social care workers provide this practical support.

It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, or your academic qualifications, somewhere in your community there's a job that you can do helping others. If you like working with people, social care work offers a worthwhile job that could turn into a rewarding career.

You'll be given training in the skills you need to do the job well and there'll be plenty of opportunities to acquire more skills and qualifications such as NVQs. Some social care workers train to become social workers, with responsibility for assessing and planning the levels of support that people need.


There is a huge range of possible careers in social care. Social care workers work with all sorts of people, in a number of different settings, from Children's Homes to people's own homes. There are also many different types and levels of work. In the past, social care workers have not required specific qualifications. However, as stated, staff are now usually expected to obtain a relevant qualification for the work that they are undertaking and a qualifications framework has been developed for those staff who wish to make a career in social care, and work their way up through different qualifications to become a care manager or a social worker. You can also train to become a health worker or a nurse by starting in social care.

 

Health & Social Care Qualifications:

These qualifications are designed to provide competence based assessment for staff working in a Social Care setting, against the National Occupational Standards for the sector.  They are designed for full or part time workers, paid and voluntary, permanent or temporary, as well as day or night workers.

NVQ Level 2 and 3

For people who are working in Social Care settings (Care Staff).  NVQ's are achieved by completing units of competence that reflect your job role and everyday work i.e. Health and Safety, Communication, Protection of Others and your own development.

Assessment for these awards take place in your work place and in partnership with your learning provider and your employer.  You can progress your learning from these awards to level 4 and degree programs.

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