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As the population ages rapidly, more and more people will rely on health and social care professionals. The care home sector is huge in the UK but improvements in health and social care services, along with advances in technology now mean that the elderly are able to stay in their own homes longer.

In 2016 a study by skillsforcare.org revealed that 1.55 million people in the UK work in the field.  With an average age of 43, it is an industry that attracts health and social professionals both young and old.  The role of domiciliary carers has increased dramatically over the past decade but the vast range of careers in this sector brings people of all types to work.  Roles as diverse as individual support for those with disabilities or learning difficulties to care homes managers and child care assistants.

Health and social care professionals – the benefits

Due to the availability of local based opportunities, jobs in health and social care draw from all backgrounds regardless of race or culture.  Health and social care professionals cite a number of factors for their chosen career path when asked about job satisfaction.  These include flexible working hours to fit around family life, the diverse nature of the job (no two days are ever the same) and most importantly the ability to make a difference in another persons life.

The community aspect of health and social care work can also not be undervalued. Even those that work as home carers (often referred to as home help) are generally part of a wider based team either in the public or private sector.  This allows for interaction away from the stresses of the job with like minded colleagues who understand the problems they may face.  If you are passionate about providing care to those that need support, TutorCare has a range of training programmes suited to your individual training needs.

Where could I work?

The sector (both care home work and health and social care) is extremely broad and can offer a number of roles to suit those that want new or alternative challenges. As health and social care professionals you could find work as a;

• Domiciliary carer in the client’s own home – the elderly often require constant care or regular home visits.  Tasks can range from monitoring health, administering medication or assisting with day-to-day chores.
• Primary Care assistant – working in community care ensuring that the patients remain comfortable by assessing and supporting their daily requirements.
• Care assistant in a residential home – responsibilities may include administrative tasks on behalf of the residents, organising day trips or just proving companionship.  General grooming may also be required aiding patients with washing, cleaning and mobility.
• Personal shopper or assistant – you could be directly employed by an individual or family to offer services related to shopping, dog walking (if they have pets) or paying bills for the end client.

As the age of the population grows, opportunities for career progression for health and social care professionals are also set to increase. Senior positions can include managing care homes or helping to coordinate the provision of care at a local authority.  Leadership and management opportunities increase as you gain experience and over time with the right training you can find that the sector can also be financially rewarding.

TutorCare health and social care training courses will help give you an understanding of the issues that face health and social care professionals, but ultimately can open up multiple career paths.  If you interested in seeing what is on offer why not start with our Health and Social Adults CYP Diploma Level 3 course, and begin to make a difference to someone in need today.