Introduction
Our Industry guides give you the lowdown on what the Bradford District has to offer. They're here to help you figure out what qualifications and training opportunities are available nearby and to give you the scoop on career options in specific industries.
If you're not sure about what careers are out there, these guides are perfect for exploring and getting to know each sector better. They're your go-to for understanding the different paths you can take into a career, whether it's through Apprenticeships, Traineeships, starting out early in your career, going to college or university, or learning on the job.
In Bradford District, there are 15 industry sectors to explore - you can find them all on the Career Options page. Each guide will tell you specific ways to plan for an occupation, as well as suggesting educational and vocational opportunities.
Build a Career in Health Science and Medical Services
When it comes to a Career in Health Science and Medical Services, you should have a keen interest in any of the following:
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Evidence-based decision-making.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Communication
- Creative Problem Solving
- Organisation
- Technical know-how.
The wide variety of skills required by the Health Science and Medical Services industry means there is an interesting range of career opportunities available. As long as you are determined, there are many opportunities to transfer your knowledge and skills into other areas across the industry including:
Early Education, childcare and childhood development
It is important that children gain confidence and develop their social skills within a safe environment from a very early age. Practitioners work in an infant or primary school, a children's centre, or a nursery, caring for babies and children up to the age of five. Early years practitioners also work with parents and carers in supporting development and learning at home
Childhood Health
Child health professionals provide families with support to promote good health and prevent illness in their babies and children. They also support the health needs of families and the wider community, recognising that the world around the child also affects the child’s health. Professionals may also be involved with the care and treatment of those with physical, emotional or special educational needs.
Children’s Social Care
Social care professionals deal with sensitive issues and difficult times for families, all facing different difficult issues such as domestic violence or mental health issues. You need to build trust and give families the support and guidance they need. It’s a field which demands patience, intelligence and perseverance, and, of course, an instinctive personal need to do the best for the children in your care.
Adult Social Care
Social care offers a range of job roles to help support and care for vulnerable adults, enabling people to live life in the way they choose, planned with and around them to meet their needs. Depending on the role, you may not need qualifications or previous experience, but it is important to have the right values, behaviours and attitudes to work effectively with people.
Adult Health
Roles within Adult healthcare consist of physical and mental health services, helping people to remain independent at home for as long as possible and providing the care and support that best meets the needs of our patients, in the most suitable location.
Health Science and Medical Services is a growing Industry with increasing demands by the following employers and organisations:
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust –
https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust –
Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust –
https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk
University of Bradford –
Qualification Information
English/Maths/Science – Core Subjects
Maths and numeracy-related tasks are common in healthcare and include understanding nutrition information, interpreting blood sugar readings and other clinical data, adjusting medications, and understanding probability in risk communication.
English and health literacy is essential for patient safety, self-management and effective health and social care relationships with patients, families and carers. Improving health and health outcomes for patients. This leads to improved understanding of medication information, instruction and adherence. It also reduces risk of serious health problems resulting from misunderstanding and communication.
Science is used in Health and Social Care as evidence comes from scientific research. Evidence is vital to allow health and social care professionals to make informed decisions and offer the best treatments and options to their patients, service users and communities.
Courses in Health Science and Medical Services
15 Career Choices in Health Science and Medical Services
The below jobs are a sample of 15 occupations that can be found in Health Science and Medical Services in Bradford District and beyond. Click on the job title for more information:
- Medical Secretary - provide office support in hospitals, GP surgeries, private clinics and universities
- Medical Illustrator - produce photographs, videos and graphical images for use in healthcare
- Health Service Manager - run local healthcare services like hospitals, GP practices and community clinics
- Health Promotion Specialist - educate and inform people about health issues
- IT Service Engineer - Computer service and repair technician, IT engineer, IT service technician, IT support engineer, IT field engineer
- Healthcare Science Assistant - support healthcare professionals
- Medical Physicist - specialists in healthcare science, also known as clinical science
- Anaesthetist - doctors who give anaesthetics to patients before, during and after surgery
- Microbiologist - study organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and algae to make advances in environmental science, medicine and agriculture
- Performance Sports Scientist - use knowledge of how the body works to help people improve their health or sporting ability
- Clinical Scientist - research and develop techniques and equipment to help prevent, diagnose and treat illness
- Laboratory Technician - carry out tests on samples for scientific research, product development and medical diagnosis
- Biochemist - investigate the chemical processes that take place inside all living things, such as viruses, bacteria and people
- Geneticist - study how genes work in humans, animals, plants and microbes, and how they are passed on
- Pharmacologist - study how genes work in humans, animals, plants and microbes, and how they are passed on
Useful Resources
Find below some useful websites giving information about working in this sector:
Careers in Bradford, District & Craven - Health & Social Care - One Workforce Hub
National Service Careers - Social Care
Digital Badges
Digital badges are a great way to gain recognition for skills and learning which doesn't have a qualification attached to it. If you are a learner aged 13+ please sign up to our Navigatr platform to access the digital badges we offer.
This is quick, easy and free to do. Follow the link below to create your own Navigator account and earn your first digital badge by reading the information and completing quiz at the bottom of the page:
https://www.navigatr.org/what-are-digital-badges-2
To see some of the badges available for Bradford District click on the link below for more information:
Problem solving and analysing information form central focal points when it comes to a career in the Health Science and Medical Technology sector. Careers in Health Science and Medical Technology include researching, designing and developing new products and processes to treat those that need it most.
I would like to find out more about…
The study of diseases to discover new treatments or invent medical devices to assist patients.
Providing diagnostic for patients in an accurate manner by using lab testing, X-rays or blood tests.
Studying and managing health data to help support with providing better health care.
Supports with all aspects of health services to further improve mental or physical health of a patient.
The positive development of emotional and mental health through psychologists, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist to name a few.