High-flying careers in health and social care

According to figures published by Health Education England (HEE) there was a huge jump in people searching for careers in health care with 47% more visitors to the website compared to the same period the previous year. The pandemic has inspired uptake of healthcare training and the most searched for careers include nursing, paramedics and call handlers for NHS 111. This comes at a time where according to figures published by the House of Commons, there is over 100,000 unfilled vacancies within the NHS and 122,000 vacancies in adult social care. Not only is a career in the health and social care sector very much needed, it can also lead to a very well paid and rewarding career. People tend to think of doctors and dentists as the main high-flying healthcare roles but there are many other careers that are equally well paid and do not require years of studying to qualify. Have a look at some of the examples below: Nurse Consultant The average salary for a nurse in the UK is £30,000 and rises depending on experience and additional training in specialist areas such as district nursing. Building up on your experience and training, you can work your way up to consultant level where you‚Äôll be leading on high-level decision-making and management of services. Reaching this level will require a career-long pursuit of specialist skills and qualifications as well as vocational experience. At this level, you can expect to be paid a salary starting from £82,000. Physiotherapist Physiotherapists help patients with physical difficulties resulting from illness, injury, disability or ageing to restore and maximise their movement. Qualified physiotherapists start on £24,900 and this rises with experience. Highest paid earners usually work in private practice and with experience and training, a salary of around £75,000 is achievable. Care Home Manager Care home managers are front-line leadership roles within a residential care setting. Although this role does not need a degree to enter, a qualification in management or leadership as well as specialisms such as dementia is beneficial. Salaries are typically between £25,500- £37,000 but can rise to over £70,000 in larger settings. Optometrist Optometrists examine patients' eyes, give advice on visual problems, and prescribe and fit spectacles or contact lenses. They are trained on identifying eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. Salaries start from £25,000 and can rise to over £65,000. Social Worker Social workers support individuals and their families through difficult times and ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm. Their role is to help improve outcomes in people's lives. Salaries vary depending on a range of factors, including the local authority you work for, the setting you work in (e.g. adult, mental health), your skills and experience, and your location. The average salary for a social worker in the UK is £46,000 and can rise even further in senior management roles. A career in health and social care is a career for life, and there is an ongoing shortage of skills within this sector. High level roles can be challenging but fulfilling, with lucrative salaries up for grabs. To explore your first steps within this rewarding industry, take a look at our Health & Social Care courses and see where they can take you. Sources Prospects- www.prospects.ac.uk/ NHS Careers- healthcareers.nhs.uk/ House of Commons Library: The heath and social care workforce gap- commonslibrary.parliament.uk/the-health-and-social-care-workforce-gap/ Randstad- randstad.co.uk/