Why Choose a Health and Social Care Course?
Careers that support others can provide an amazing sense of reward and fulfilment for the employee performing the job. There really isn’t much that can match that feeling of giving back and making a real difference to someone else’s life. Though, with so many altruistic careers available, it can be hard to choose between them.
Health and social care workers are a group of the workforce who dedicate their working lives to helping people in the community who are at-risk, unwell or have certain medical needs. This can be anyone from entire families to individuals, the young to the elderly, and even the seriously ill.
As someone who works in health and social care, it would be your job to support them with their identified needs. This can include anything from helping them maintain good physical and mental health, to providing the assistance they need to live life as independently as possible.
There are certain entry-level jobs in this space that don’t require qualifications, but there are so many benefits of studying health and social care courses. Find out more about what these benefits are below.
What is a Health and Social Care Course About?
Firstly, you may be wondering ‘what is a health and social care course?’ and while there are many different courses dedicated to this subject, they each aim to cover the same subject ground.
This is to ensure each learner covers the core elements of working in health and social care. By taking this approach, your training meets the standards of the social care sector and is recognised by employers.
Generally, courses will explain how health and social care is the umbrella term for numerous services provided in both the public (NHS) and private sector. These can range from services treating ill-health, to those that focus on patient well-being and their non-clinical needs.
Healthcare covers the entirety of medical care provided in GP surgeries and hospitals. Social care, on the other hand, is more community-orientated and includes counselling clinics and home care visits. Health and social care courses will demonstrate the clear cross-over between the two, which has led to them being grouped together.
Through your studies, you will see how social care workers often work alongside healthcare professionals to implement the correct rehabilitation or care plan for sick or vulnerable people. As well as how the aim of professionals in this area is to assess and help those with physical and mental difficulties, by providing them with emotional, mental, and physical health support to ensure they’re living to the highest standard possible.
What is Covered in a Health and Social Care Course?
Different levels of health and social care courses will cover topics in different levels of detail. Health and social care Level 3 courses, like the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care), covers topics like:
- Cell biology
- The History of the National Health Service
- Introduction to Social Work
- The Roles and Responsibilities of Healthcare Professionals
- Social Work Methods
- Human Rights, the Individual & the Law
- Introduction to Social Work
They also cover further modules such as:
- Human Nutrition & the Digestive System
- Understanding Dementia
- Poverty & Health
- Contemporary Issues in Social Policy
- Classification and Use of Social Drugs and Medicines
- Personal Social Services
- Mental Health and Illness
- Morals and Ethics in Social Work
- Equality and Diversity Within Healthcare
This breadth of study puts you in a better position to pursue health and social care related roles and higher-level education in the subject.
What are The Benefits of Health and Social Care Courses?
As it’s possible to work in some entry-level health and social care related roles without qualifications, you may be wondering, ‘why choose health and social care courses?’
Besides exploring a very important aspect of community support, obtaining qualifications by studying health and social care courses can help you to:
Provide Best Practice Care
By studying different types and approaches to care, you will learn how to provide the best possible care as a health and social care professional. From understanding the varying nature of social work provision for children and adults to the current multidisciplinary approach to healthcare, you can ensure you provide a personal and sensitive service to people in your care.
Advance Your Skills
Whether you’re already employed in a related role and want to transition into health and social care, or you’re looking to step up from an entry-level position, studying health and social care courses is a great way to identify gaps in your knowledge.
With the breadth of modules covered in the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care), you will be up to speed on the latest developments in the sector. As well as gain broad ranging knowledge of the many aspects that concern professionals in this space.
Become a Specialist
Another great aspect of studying health and social care Level 3 courses i.e., the equivalent to A Level study, is the new avenues it can introduce you to. People can require support from health and social services for so many reasons, and as people are generally living longer, these needs are becoming more diverse.
In the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care), you discover the needs of people experiencing dementia, drug misuse and mental health issues among others. All of which enables you to discover areas of professional interests, with which you can specialise in your career.
Climb the Ladder
Besides learning about different specialist areas, the knowledge you gain in an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care) is so specific to the industry, it allows you to study a related degree without A Levels.
With a health and social care degree or one closely related, you will be able to pursue roles that are only accessible with higher-level qualifications.
You could become an:
- Advocacy Worker
- Adult Nurse
- Care Worker
- Counsellor
- Occupational Therapist
- Social Worker
- Welfare Rights Officer
How Long is a Health and Social Care Course?
The length of health and social care courses depends on the level of the course you take and how you study them. Health and social care college courses can typically be studied full-time over two years. If you complete them at college, this will be over a fixed timetable of structured lessons.
There is also the option to study part-time health and social care courses if you’re not available until the evening. Though your time spent in education will typically run for a while longer to complete all of the lessons in the course.
If you need a faster way to get qualified, there is another option.
Can You Study Social Care Courses Online?
The fastest way to progress through your studies is to complete health and social care courses online. This is because all the course materials are accessible once you enrol, so if you have completed a module, simply move on to the next.
There’s no waiting around for term time, or the next lesson to start to crack on with your coursework. You progress at your pace and get qualified as soon as you’re ready. To help you stay on track, you will be given an individual learning plan that will outline the submission dates for your course assignments.
This added flexibility means that students studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma with learndirect take, on average, just 9-12 months to complete their course.
Get Started Today!
If you want a career that allows you to support other people in need, studying a health and social care course is an ideal way to get started. What’s more, studying one online with learndirect can help you get qualified quickly, so you spend less time in education and more time in the career you love.
Find out more by chatting with our Course Executives today. They will run through the course with you and answer all your questions.
Simply call them on 01202 006 464 or contact them online.
