Students Go Higher in Health and Social Care
Medical innovations and an ageing population have created exciting opportunities and challenges within Health & Social Care. With 350 different careers available in the sector, accounting for 13% of all jobs in West Yorkshire, there is something to suit all students.
Yet despite being one of the region’s largest and most important sectors, there is currently a skills shortage in key roles, including nursing and midwifery. Experts predict an additional 20,000 jobs in the sector over the next decade, which shows a clear need for young people to understand the breadth of available careers and to train as one of our future health professionals.
To help address this sector growth and inspire the next generation, Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority collaborated to deliver a Go Higher in Health & Social Care event for Year 9 students with three schools across the region. The aim was to enthuse and expand students’ knowledge of the opportunities in this diverse industry.
Carousel of hands-on activities
A wide range of inspirational sector specialists supported this interactive event, hosted at the University of Huddersfield. These included:
- Staff from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service
- Medical Mavericks, who deliver workshops to inspire the next generation of medics and scientists
- Active Social Care, a social care company based in Huddersfield
- LabCorp, who run clinical trials
- iCare, a home care provider; practitioners in audiology and podiatry
- Higher Education (HE) ambassadors.
55 students took part in a carousel of employer- and HE-led workshops that explored progression pathways, careers within Health & Social Care, practical skills, and experience of the workplace. These included:
- Interactive activities that focused on core skills, such as performing keyhole surgery and conducting an ultrasound.
- Developing and analysing considerations of risk assessments for patient care.
- Escape room style challenges including a visit to the Universities mock-up ambulance - known as a 'simbulance'
Increased knowledge and awareness
The event also effectively promoted the breadth of opportunities available across the sector, as well as the skills that are necessary to succeed in it. One student said it had helped them learn, “more in-depth about background jobs that are often overlooked i.e. people taking care of apparatus." Another said, “I now understand that you need patience and skills if you want to enter Social Care.”
Employers who supported the event also noted the benefits. Maria Semertzidou, HR Manager at Active Social Care, said: “The ageing population and ageing workforce mean we need to get young people into the sector. It is essential that from a young age they know about the careers available in Health & Social Care and why they are important.”
Partnership events
GHWY and the Combined Authority collaborated on a series of Go Higher In events in 2023-24 that focused on the growing industry sectors of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Health & Social Care, digital media, and Green Skills.
Guided by Local Skills Improvement Plans, they provided students with high quality and meaningful experiences of the workplace. They also offered insights into progression pathways, employer interactions, and real-life skills development.
In addition, they demonstrated the importance of strategic partnership and collaborative working, aiming to connect careers provision in schools and colleges to the needs of local economies.
If you would like to offer young people experiences of the work place, sign up to the West Yorkshire Careers Portal. A platform where local employers and schools and colleges can connect and offer experiences to young people.