Career pathways
Sub-Topic 4
Skills
Below are the skills in this Sub-Topic:
- I have an understanding of the experience and skills required for roles that are relevant to me.
Additional Information
Each role and employer has specific requirements which should be referred to. Below provides some examples for different types of roles.
Trainee, work experience, apprenticeship or student – pre-registration roles:
- Core skills:
- English, including the ability to read, write, speak and listen.
- Number skills to do calculations, record numbers, understand measurements, use timetables or plan work
- Digital skills – use technology, find and manage digital information, complete on-line learning
- Problem solving and organisational skills
- Working as a team
- Planning your time
- Planning your learning and development
- Managing your own health and wellbeing
- The values you need are covered in this framework (pages x to x)
- You will also need to complete the Care Certificate as part of your induction and initial training.
- Other roles may require GCSE English and Maths but not all will require anything higher at this stage.
Direct care roles, Support non-direct care/ancillary roles, Specialist non-regulated roles and existing support roles:
- As above, plus for direct care roles – you will also need to complete the Care Certificate as part of your induction and initial training.
- In some cases you may also need an additional qualification for the role which can often be taken on the job (a team leader course) or as part of your extended education and if applicable a driver’s licence.
- For those wanting to go in a non-direct care role you may also need to have an A level or a practice certificate in a particular field, accountancy, recruitment, training.
Non Regulated professional roles
- You may be required to undertake a diploma at level 2 or 3 to become a supervisor or manager or you may wish to do some additional training as a short course to develop your supervisory skills.
Regulated professional roles
- To become a regulated professional you will need to attend a university course and gain a professional qualification (which is normally the equivalent of a degree or Masters)
- For some careers you can undertake a degree apprenticeship which means you study while you work. They take between 3-6 years to complete. You will spend some time at university but the majority of your time at work.
Overview
Trainee ship or work experience – if you don’t have any work experience you may want to consider a short trainee ship or work experience placement as a volunteer to build up your confidence and gain skills which you can transfer. These types of roles are normally unpaid (other than perhaps expenses) and are part-time or short-term.
Apprenticeship – if you are new to work or want to change careers, an apprenticeship is an excellent way to gain great experience. You will achieve a qualification at the end of the training period and earn a wage. Apprenticeships usually last between 12 and 24 months and are mainly work based with some attendance at college or another education provider.
Student/Pre-Registration – you can develop your knowledge and experience by attending a full-time or part-time course to become a regulated professional. Most courses are at University or college level, and you can undertake a pre-registration course as well. In Primary Care there are roles such as trainee nursing associate which is a higher education diploma.
Direct care roles – the roles covered by this framework are mainly direct care roles, where the member of staff is giving care, advice and support to a named service user/patient. The member of staff will work in the local community as well as in people’s homes and normally have a work base.
Support non-direct care/ancillary roles – such as chef, driver, administration, human resources, finance, These roles are “behind the scene” and will provide services such as paying your wage, recruitment and employment matters, to providing food for staff and patients, or delivery of goods to local health centres, hospitals and patient’s/service user homes.
Specialist non-regulated roles – trainer, health and wellbeing coach,
Existing support roles – If you are already working in health or social care you could also take a qualification to help you develop specialist skills in things like
- Dementia care
- Activity Provision
- Autism Team Leading
- Communication skills
- Stroke
- End of life
Advanced Practitioner/Senior Worker/ Support Officer/Social Prescriber/Senior Peer Support Worker – these roles are a step up in the career progression stage for those who want to advance their careers. You can progress whilst in employment and take other qualifications to assist you in your career development. The roles may also
Supervisory/managerial roles – senior support worker, team or section leader, supervisor, they will manage a number of other people and provide support, training, and development for the staff they oversee. Some of the roles will also continue to provide direct care to patients/service users as part of their role.
Regulated professional role- a regulated professional role means that you have taken a qualification (normally a degree or above) in a specific field of (medicine, nursing, midwifery, social work, etc) and you have been registered with your professional body.
Why is this importantWhy is this important
Every role and each step in a career varies in terms of the training, skills and knowledge that are required. It is important to understand what is required at each stage.
Skills ReviewSkills Review
Having completed this sub-topic I will understand the importance of these skills.
- I have an understanding of the experience and skills required for roles that are relevant to me.