Careers

For many health and social care graduates the most obvious careers paths involve joining an NHS Foundation Trust, or the social work department for a Local Authority.

However, the public sector covers a broad collection of large and small government bodies. This means that there are other employment opportunities for graduates that let you use your skills and experience in other ways.

Some public sector roles you would be suitable for include:

• Service Reviewer – Public services need strong oversight to ensure that members of the public receive appropriate treatment or level of care. As a service reviewer you will help hold care providers to the high standard set by legislation. You could work as a Mental Health Act Reviewer for the Care Quality Commission, where your expertise in mental health care will help support inspectors visiting mental health facilities. You will need an in-depth knowledge of the service you are working in, as well as analysis skills and experience in using databases. You may find that completing some postgraduate modules helps develop these skills if you wish to move into this area of work.
• Workforce Development Manager – Roles like this can be found in larger government bodies such as the Department of Health and Social Care. The needs of the public are always changing, and your role will involve working with education providers to ensure that healthcare and social work staff are receiving training appropriate for their future roles. Along with knowledge of health or social care you will also need some experience in education or workforce development, as well as project management and report writing skills. A Masters degree or other postgraduate qualification could be particularly helpful for these types of roles.
• Placement Co-ordinator – Universities and colleges that provide healthcare and social care courses manage professional placements for their students. As a Placement Co-ordinator you will help identify and recruit organisations that can offer placement spaces, ensure that they are set up to provide a suitable training experience, and work with students to resolve any problems and issues they experience while in placement.
• Healthcare roles in the Ministry of Defence – The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is one of the largest public sector employees in the UK. Due to the nature of their work they advertise many civilian healthcare roles through the NHS, but many are based in or near military facilities such as naval bases or army barracks. Healthcare jobs with the MoD include dental hygienists, nurse managers, and social workers with a focus on rehabilitation.

You may think that the private sector has little to offer someone who wants to work in healthcare or in a social work setting.

But roles that require experience in areas of healthcare and social work can be found in plenty of companies and organisations outside of the public sector. These roles use the same skills you would need for professional practice but put them to use in different ways or to give different results.

Some of the roles you will find that align with your experience are:

• Occupational health – You can find a range of occupational health roles in large companies and human resources consultancy organisations. You will help employees return to work after a period of sick leave, ensure that new staff with health conditions are given appropriate support, and advise line managers on how best to support their staff. You will need to be a Registered Nurse and some roles may also need an additional qualification in occupational health.
• Specialist school support – In the UK some private schools specialise in educating children with disabilities or conditions such as autism. These schools often have therapy departments in which speech and language therapists or occupational therapists carry out one-on-one therapy sessions with students or provide larger teaching sessions for a whole class. You will also manage case notes for individual students, provide feedback on progress, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure students are getting the support they need to thrive. Alternatively, social work graduates who hold Qualified Teacher Status can also train to take up a SENCO role, ensuring that children with Special Educational Needs receive tailored support in line with their diagnosis.
• Training provider – Many companies in industries such as construction and private care homes are required to provide additional training for staff. This can include first aid, moving and handling people, and safeguarding vulnerable adults. These training sessions require specialist knowledge and are often provided by private training provider companies. These roles can be very interesting as you will meet new people every day and put your healthcare or social care experience to different uses. You may need an additional teaching qualification for these roles and may have to travel to different sites to deliver training sessions.

The “third sector” is a term used to describe organisations that fall outside the scope of the public and private sectors. It includes charities, community interest companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and social enterprises and co-operatives.

Third sector roles are often advertised through specific online platforms that focus on charity jobs. You may find that the experience and skills required, even for very similar-sounding roles, varies significantly. Some of the jobs you will find in the Third Sector include:

• Hospice and End of Life Care – Hospitals aren’t always the best place for end of life care. Around the country hospices can offer terminally ill patients and their families a comfortable and supportive environment. Alternatively, some charities offer support that allows people to remain at home during their final weeks, such as those focused on people with cancer. These roles can be a great alternative for nursing graduates. Palliative care undoubtedly can be emotionally challenging, but it can also be very rewarding to be a key part in facilitating a positive end of life experience.
• Client Engagement Officer – Charities that focus on specific groups of clients, such as those who are homeless or people with disabilities, often look for Client Engagement roles to ensure that they are supporting people effectively. You will work with clients to understand their needs and help develop programmes that will support them effectively. You’ll also write case studies to show impact and help support future marketing or fundraising activities. This role requires candidates who are used to working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, such as social work graduates.
• Link Worker – These roles can be found in both public and third sector roles. The most common is a Social Prescribing Link Worker. These roles will often work with primary care providers such as GP surgeries to help patients access local support services and community groups. You don’t need a specific medical background but an understanding of how the NHS or support services work is very helpful. The most important skills needed are communication, empathy, and taking a non-judgemental approach.

The successful completion of Continuing Professional Development modules can lead to you moving into more specialist roles where you work with patients with specific health concerns.

You could become a diabetes nurse, helping patients monitor and manage their conditions to help prevent further health issues in the future. Or you might focus on dementia and learn how to support patients with a range of symptoms and help their families navigate the process of diagnosis and symptom management.

If you are an international student or if you’re thinking of emigrating in the future, then you may find that your healthcare or social care qualification enables you to take up paid employment in another country without further education.

Some professional bodies in the UK have reciprocal agreements in place with their counterparts abroad. These agreements mean that both countries recognise that the teaching and skills learned are of a similar professional level and quality, and that graduates from one country can work in the other country without further study.

These agreements can change so you need to review any information very carefully and ensure you are up to date on the latest guidelines and requirements. You can often find the most up to date information on the website for the professional registration body for the country you are moving to. You can also email these bodies for more information if you have specific queries.

Alternatively, you may find that your undergraduate degree doesn’t get you quite the same role in another country, but a postgraduate course will make you more suitable. You may also need to pass some exams to demonstrate your language fluency and numeracy skills before you can register as a professional in your new country.

If you are a registered professional in the UK and plan to return after working abroad then you should also check what steps you will need to take in order to retain your UK registration.

All the undergraduate degrees offered by our School are practical by nature. In order to practise the skills you learn in the classroom, all our degrees include a series of placements in relevant organisations.

We know that a well-rounded education involves giving you diverse workplace experiences. Our placements team have partnerships with a range of organisations in the East of England, so you will have opportunities to work with clients and patients in different settings and from different backgrounds.

Some of our degrees can involve a year studying abroad in a partner institution.

Spending a year abroad can be a great way for you to expand your world view and experience healthcare or social work in an alternative setting. You will develop your skills under the supervision of other experts, learn more about best practice in other countries and cultures, and expand your linguistic skills.

If you don’t speak a second language then don’t worry! We have partnerships with institutions in English-speaking countries including Canada and Australia.

Throughout the year our School organises talks with a range of guest speakers who are experts in their field. This can range from small seminar discussions with members of our Service Users Research Group (SURG), to our Dean’s Lecture which has included Emeritus Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu as a speaker.

A core part of a healthcare or social care degree is building advocacy and empathy by introducing students to experiences, backgrounds and cultures that they may not be familiar with. Our guest speakers have a depth and breadth of different experiences that can help how you view your professional practice and contribute to your understanding of how advocate for others appropriately.

You may end up discussing individual patient experiences or learn more about the development of healthcare services, and how partnerships across disciplines can create positive outcomes.

Our School hosts an annual staff-student research conference which brings together academics and postgraduate research students to discuss their latest research and promote collaborations.

We encourage our research students to take an active part in the conference by participating in talks and presenting their own work in a poster session. Along with encouraging networking skills the conference also gives participants an opportunity to learn more about aspects of health and social care outside of their own areas and promotes interdisciplinary practice across the sector.

Students across the university have access to the Languages for All programme. This gives students a chance to learn a language for a year alongside their degree, free of charge.

The languages and levels offered can depend on the campus you are studying on, or on the staff that are available in a particular year.

As a health and social care student you will be working with patients and clients who may not have English as a first language. Even if you learn the basics and are unable to take your studies further, being able to greet someone in their own language can help develop a positive relationship.

Alternatively, if you are thinking of moving abroad for work in the future then taking a language course while you study can give you a foundation to build on as part of your plans to relocate.

The Essex Students’ Union is home to a broad collection of student-run societies, from cultural and activity societies through to departmental and political and representation groups.

As a student in a health or social care degree you may be interested in societies such as nursing, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social work and social justice, physiotherapy, and St John Ambulance.

Societies are open to all students and organise various activities throughout the year. They are run by student volunteers, so you can run for a committee position and develop your organisation and leadership skills through one of these roles.

Many societies will accept members based on interest rather than the course they're on, so nursing students with an interest in patient communication can join the speech and language therapy society, while social work students could join the sociology society.