Thinking of a Career in Care?

It is a great time for anyone thinking of embarking on a career in Health and Social Care. The sector is rapidly expanding, which means employers are always looking for committed individuals who are passionate about helping those who need support.  Gaining employment in Health and Social Care can be the start of a long and rewarding career. People can work in many different areas of Health and Social Care, such as residential or domiciliary care, and there are always opportunities to develop and progress. Access Skills provide the diplomas required to work in the health and social care profession, from Level 2, to help begin your career all the way to Level 5, to gain the knowledge to become a Registered Manager.

The term Health and Social Care is a familiar one, but what does it mean? The Government’s Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) states that health and social care ‘makes sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve.’ Health and Social Care is the term used to describe the personal care given by private or public organisations to help people in the community that needs specialised assistance to live healthier lives, have a better quality of life, and be more independent. The Health and Social Care sector covers a wide range of services and organisations whose primary aim is to enable people.

A key part of health and social care is safeguarding those at risk from harm or abuse. Those working in the health and social care sector have a duty of care to safeguard those in their care. As part of their duty of care, those working in the profession must always act in the person’s best interests and ensure that they are kept safe from harm or abuse. Access Skills offers free Safeguarding courses to those in Bedfordshire, Luton, Northamptonshire, and Milton Keynes, thanks to the ESF Fund.

What is the difference between Social Care and Healthcare?

A healthcare requirement relates to the treatment, control or prevention of disease, illness, injury or disability, and the subsequent care the person needs. There are three main sectors within healthcare:

• Hospital care – This could be a short-term/long-term stay for patients or treatment for outpatients.
• Primary care – This could be non-hospital care, including general practitioners, dentists, opticians, and pharmacists.
• Public health – This deals with preventive medicine as well as health services, such as housing, water supplies, sewage, and food hygiene.

A social care need is one where a person requires support during their daily life, such as help with cooking, cleaning, personal care, eating and drinking. Social Care aims to promote independence and social interaction.

Social care services include:

• Care homes – These provide accommodation and 24-hour personal care and support to the elderly who may find it difficult to manage daily life at home.
• Domiciliary care – This type of care is the term used to describe a range of services put in place to help support an individual in their own home. This is available to those that require additional support with day-to-day household tasks or other tasks that allow them to have independent living and maintain a quality of life.
• Supported housing – This is defined as a housing service, where housing and support and/or care services are provided to help people live independently as possible.
• Day centres – This is a service where elderly people or people with learning or physical difficulties can go during the day to socialise with others and take part in activities set up by the day centres.

Foster care services – This offers children a safe and caring family when their biological family are unable to take care of the child. Typically, a foster family is geographically close to their family home. The foster carer or foster parent’s responsibility is to provide a safe and secure environment for the foster child on either a temporary or more permanent basis

Why is working in health and social care a valuable career?

There are many different reasons why people access health and social care services. For example, individuals who have learning disabilities, mental health problems, physical disabilities, physical health problems, dementia, brain injuries or who require end-of-life care may seek health and social care services. Regardless of what reason someone requires health and social care services, they will need high-quality person-centred care. Knowing that you are a part of providing this can be highly rewarding. You will have the satisfaction of knowing you have made a positive impact on somebody’s life and their family.

How can Access Skills help?

Access Skills are proud to be a Skills for Care Centre of Excellence and an official training partner of the National Care Association. As a leading health and social care training provider, Access Skills delivers diplomas from Level 2 through to Level 5. Courses are delivered taking a flexible approach to fit in with individual circumstances and learners will receive tutor support throughout their journey. Access Skills offers both Adult or Child Care pathways with our Diplomas.

You can learn more about Access Skills and how we can help improve the way you deliver care online. Get in touch today to find out more!