There are over 300 different roles across the health and social care sector offering a huge range of career opportunities for people from all types of backgrounds and levels of qualification.
What skills do I need?
There are plenty of roles and routes into employment in the sector and many opportunities provide on-the-job training.
Skills needed:
- Listening – helps build trust with patients, understanding individual’s needs and care.
- Organisation – common sense and practicality are important.
- Social skills – you will need good self-awareness and social skills – health and care is all about people.
- Empathy –to listen, understand and comfort those in your care.
- Resilience – it can be emotionally as well as physically and mentally tiring. Being resilient and knowing how to look after yourself is important for any healthcare professional.
Health and social care is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors (well over 100,000 employees in across Norfolk and Suffolk) and certainly one of the most important. It is a good career option for those wanting to make a difference to people’s lives.
I’m Interested – What are my Next Steps?
Local employers:
The NHS – the largest employer of health and social care professionals in the UK.
Care Careers Suffolk – provides a free information service for the growing care sector – and see their newly developed section of live vacancies in Health & Social Care.
Learn more about roles in the care sector:
- http://carecareerssuffolk.co.uk/careers-in-care/career-pathways-and-job-roles/
- What is a personal assistant?
- https://www.knowledgeanglia.nhs.uk/
- Training Development | Care Development East
Further Training and Qualifications:
There are several foundation and entry level qualifications that can help you to take the first steps (e.g. L2 diploma in health and social care, the Care Certificate and apprenticeships). For more information on courses: