 The healthcare sector boasts some of the most rewarding professions in the UK. However, it’s also fair to say that careers in this area are some of the most stressful and emotionally draining. When it comes to healthcare careers, we aren’t just talking about doctors and nurses, but clinical support staff, such as donor carers and new-born hearing screeners; allied health professionals, such as radiographers and orthoptists; and specialist therapy staff, such as occupational therapists, speech therapists and art therapists.  Social care is an equally important area of work. Careers in social care are concerned with helping vulnerable people in the community and providing them with support. Like healthcare, it is both rewarding and emotionally draining

 Careers in healthcare are more likely to require a combination of further study and on-the-job medical training; whilst careers in social care are more likely to allow people to work towards professional qualifications later on in their career. It’s important to remember that not all staff are trained medical professionals; there are plenty of roles in health and social care that focus on managerial, I.T. and administrative work. This means there are plenty of different careers available for students from all kinds of academic backgrounds.  The clue is the name: ‘care’. To succeed in this profession, students need to genuinely care about helping other people. People skills and communication skills are paramount. Professionals in this sector must be able to establish relationships with patients and service users in order to gain their trust. Compassion is key, but also students need to be aware that they’ll have to develop a thick skin, as many roles can be particularly demanding

  Nurses and midwives form the largest group of staff in the NHS. Nurses and midwives are highly trained, skilled and knowledgeable individuals. Consequently, to practice as a qualified nurse, students will need a degree or diploma in nursing, while aspiring midwives will need an accredited degree in midwifery.  Nurses make sure patients receive the right care to suit their needs; they are focused on the well-being of the whole person. Nurses tend to specialise, either choosing to work with children or adults. Two other main nursing specialisms are learning disability and mental health nursing. Skilled nurses put their patients at ease, offer clear advice and guidance and work well in a medical team.

 Becoming a medical doctor or surgeon is a lengthy and challenging process. Competition is fierce to get into medical school and therefore academic excellence and scientific ability is a must. There are over 60 different specialities in medicine, from the commonly known GP (general practitioner) to haematologists (specialists in the study of blood

 It’s not all about doctors and nurses; there are other health professions offering vital services to patients. Allied health professionals help the NHS and other organisations in the healthcare sector to provide a full range of care. Each and every one of these professionals makes a difference, from the teams on the front line delivering emergency medical care, such as paramedics, to those providing essential after- care, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and prosthetists. The majority of these roles require an approved degree or diploma in a relevant subject

 Clinical support staff (a.k.a. healthcare assistants) assist doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This doesn’t just mean working in hospitals, but in laboratories, GP’s surgeries and sexual health clinics. Every area of healthcare requires dedicated clinical support workers. However, these roles are often a stepping stone towards more advanced careers in the healthcare sector. In order to make the step up though, it’s likely that you’ll need to study for other relevant qualifications, such as specialist healthcare NVQs, nursing diplomas and midwifery degrees. Generally though, there are no minimum qualifications required for clinical support roles. However, to thrive in this line of work, students will need to be patient, caring, sensitive and professional at all times

 Healthcare work isn’t just about who we see on the frontline; there are also plenty of people working behind the scenes, making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Indeed, many people are engaged in managerial, I.T. and administration work in the healthcare sector. These professional provide vital support to doctors, nurses, research scientists, clinical support staff and the entire range of healthcare professionals.  People working in social care tend to specialise in a particular area of social care, such as: mental health

 Social workers tend to fill a more senior role than social care workers. Specialising either in adult or child social work, they assess and evaluate the complex problems of service users, and then offer expert advice and support. Social workers need specialist training. To qualify as a social worker, students will need to complete an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in social work. Really, we’ve only brushed the surface of careers in social care; a staggering variety of options are available. For instance, students could become a specialist youth worker, community education officer or probation officer. However, generally, in all social care careers, students need to be aware that they’ll have to strike a balance between being as supportive as possible without getting too emotionally

 Starting salary?  £14,500 - £35,000 per annum  Potential earnings?  £23,000 - £175,000+ per annum  Qualifications needed?  All healthcare roles require specialist training and qualifications; be that a degree, a diploma or an advanced diploma. Some social care roles do not require a degree or vocational qualification, but to become a social worker a degree in social work is essential.  Skills needed?  Communication skills; patience; the ability empathise and sympathise with a range of people; awareness and understanding of social problems; a desire to help people; compassion; determination; problem-solving; physical and/or emotional dexterity; ability to work under pressure; resilience.  Positives?  Immense satisfaction in saving and improving people’s lives; senior level positions pay very well; varied and unpredictable working day.  Negatives?  Stressful; emotionally draining; long and irregular hours; some roles takes years and year of training before qualification.