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Within the healthcare sector, there are four main areas of care. Three of these - primary, secondary and tertiary care - are concerned with organisations such as the NHS. The fourth, social care, is a little different.
As the system that provides care services to those who require practical support or personal care, social care is an invaluable part of the healthcare system. Focusing less on clinical settings such as hospitals and more on care provided at home and in the community, social care helps support patients within their own environments to ensure that they can remain independent for as long as possible.
The social care team is a large, multidisciplinary team that works together to focus on a patient’s holistic wellbeing. It’s about supporting and protecting a patient’s wellbeing to improve their quality of life. With over half a million people currently receiving care in the community, the social care team is essential to helping others.
Social care is an umbrella term that encompasses the direct support given to individuals to help them at home. This can come in many forms - from extra help around the house, washing, dressing, accessing specialist equipment or even placing individuals into full-time residential care. This will all depend on the person and their needs. Social care can be provided formally, through the council or care organisations, or informally through family or friends.
Social care and healthcare roles differ slightly - social care is focused primarily on aiding with daily living activities, with the purpose of making these as easy as possible for the individual. Meanwhile, healthcare is related to the medical treatment of disease, illness, injury or disability of a person.
Social care is a broad area - qualifications range from social work and counselling to direct care roles, such as nursing. The qualifications themselves range from short apprenticeships to three-year degrees. Regardless of the differences in qualifications, many social care courses will provide a foundational element covering many aspects of social care, such as the importance of safeguarding, protection, and professional practice. Let’s take a closer look at the world of social care!
Social care careers can provide plenty of opportunities to people who want to make a difference in others’ lives. Ranging from clinical experience to non-clinical support, social care careers have something for everyone. With the ability to play a fundamental role at a key point in patients’ lives, why not consider a career in social care?
Social care is perhaps the best example within the entire healthcare sector of how multidisciplinary teams work together in the best interests of the patient. There are many different roles and areas within social care, meaning that there’s plenty of opportunities to get involved, no matter what your experience or skillset is. So, what roles are available? Let’s take a look!
There are a few different roles that fall into this category - from care workers who support people with all aspects of their life (such as meal times or mobility) to personal assistants or rehabilitation workers. Although the roles may differ slightly, all will have that direct contact and a significant role in helping patients live independent lives.
Many registered professional roles - i.e. ones that are regulated by a governing body - have a strong presence in social care. This includes positions such as occupational therapists, nurses, complementary therapists and counsellors.
From cooks, housekeepers, drivers and maintenance workers, there are plenty of support roles that keep the sector moving forwards.
An important area to have is management, who have the responsibility of managing anything from small teams of social care professionals, to large organisations delivering social care in the community. Management roles are on hand to oversee services and allocate them where necessary.
Public health looks at ways of reducing the causes of illness or issues, and looks at ways in which people’s health and wellbeing can be improved. Tending to focus on amending and creating policies, public health work can often significantly affect social care.
Rather than being directly related to one another, they tend to complement and interact with each other instead. Social work is a profession that aims to protect vulnerable people from distressing situations, such as abuse or neglect, and aims to enhance their wellbeing and quality of life.
This is what entry level social care careers can start at, with some exceptions. This can increase depending on the role in question, and with progression opportunities too!
This is what a typical working week looks like - social care professionals will work with flexibility over a seven day period. Some patients need 24/7 assistance, and different working hours may be encountered in order to support their needs, especially if the position interacts with families and parents in different settings.
The NHS, care providers, and local authorities are passionate about supporting individuals who want to make a difference in social care. There are plenty of training opportunities and support to help take you far on your career journey.
Healthcare providers will help provide a healthy work/life balance, including part-time opportunities, flexibility, and childcare support. When you care for others, it’s important that the care provider places value in you, meaning that you’re able to focus on providing the best quality care.
Social care is an incredibly varied career area, with lots of different careers within it. However, regardless of the focus of these careers - whether direct care or support services - there are several core responsibilities that define how social care operates. Let’s take a look.
When it comes to providing care, one of the most important things to do is to understand how an individual may be impacted by the care that’s provided. It’s important to ensure that the care that they receive is specifically tailored to them - this is done by assessing an individual’s needs and creating a care plan that’s influenced by what they require.
Social care can come in many different forms. Some patients may privately hire people to provide care, whilst others may have care organised by care providers and local authorities. Regardless of who provides the care, it’s important that the person receiving the care and their families are listened to, informed, and kept in conversation about any care and any possible changes too.
Many social care professionals will have an influence on the physical care of a patient. Some care roles, especially direct care or registered professionals, will actively assist with physical care needs, ensuring that patients are supported.
Social care isn’t just about providing physical support - it’s a holistic approach that focuses on the emotional needs of a patient too. Many patients, especially those who may experience mobility issues, may often feel isolated and alone. Social care professionals can work together to help with the emotional side of care.
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and social care professionals must be prepared to assist the patient in emergency situations, or work as part of a team to support patients whilst further care is prepared.
Every social care patient is different - they’ll have different needs, interests, and responses to treatments. Care plans are effective ways of ensuring that the delivery of care is kept on track and in line with what the patient needs. Plus, if they need altering to suit the patient, there is a framework in place to support it.
It’s important for the social care professionals to keep an eye on any observations they make and keep regular and accurate records to ensure that all the relevant information on the patient and how they’re coping is stored correctly.
Patient care is something that constantly benefits from renewed education. Understanding new methods, skills, and experiences constantly benefit the person receiving care, and others who may learn from you.
Social care teams work together and with the healthcare sector as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the best care possible for their patients. By relying on different expertise and opinion, they can play a key role in a team that looks after the complete health needs of a patient and ensures continuity in the care they receive.
Social care professionals can sometimes be employed by the individual who requires care. It’s important to be able to provide them the care they need, but also ensure confidentiality too. This means that you must not disclose the care they receive to anyone without their consent.
