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.

A group of hospital beds on a ward

Build a Career in Health & Social Care, Adult & Child Services

When it comes to a Career in Adult and Child Services, you should have a keen interest in any of the following:

  • Attention to detail
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Organisation

The wide variety of of skills required by the Adult and Child 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.

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.

Adult and Child Services is a growing industry with increase demands by the following employers and organisations:

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust –

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust –

https://www.bdct.nhs.uk

Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust –

https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk  

Betterstart Bradford –

https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk

Bradford Care Association –

https://www.bradfordcareassociation.org

University of Bradford –

https://www.bradford.ac.uk/health

A pile of open books

Qualification Information

Some of the skills and knowledge you will gain from your GCSE studies will be particularly useful to a career in Health & Social Care.  We can't list every one, but some examples are below:

English Language

  • Reading comprehension
  • Discussion and debates
  • Technical accuracy
  • Analytical skills
  • Time management

English Literature

  • Comparative analysis
  • Contextual understanding
  • Critical thinking and evaluation

Maths

  • Data handling
  • Problem solving
  • Probability

Science

  • Data analysis
  • Disease transmission and control
  • Human biology

Citizenship

  • Building communication skills
  • Teamwork
  • Developing empathy and understanding

PSHE

  • Drugs, alcohol and substance misuse education
  • Understanding risks
  • Physical safety
  • Social responsibility

Health & Social Care

  • Health and social care services
  • Barriers to accessing services
  • Coping with change
  • Care values
An operating theatre with a group of doctors around a patient

15 Career Choices in Health & Social Care, Adult & Child Services

The below jobs are an example of what work can be found in this sector in the Bradford District and beyond.  Click on the job title for more information:

  • Social Care Accommodation Warden - manage the day-to-day running of services like sheltered housing, youth hostels and student flats
  • Care Home Manager - lead and run residential homes for adults or children
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapist - help patients change negative patterns of thinking or behaviour with talking therapy
  • Family Support Worker - help families with long or short term problems
  • Occupational Therapist - help people who have difficulties caused by physical or mental illness, disability, accidents or ageing
  • Palliative Care Assistant - provide specialist end of life care and support to patients and their families
  • Social Worker - help to protect vulnerable children and adults from harm or abuse, and support people to live independently
  • Anaesthetist - give anaesthetics and monitor patients during surgery and help reduce pain after operations
  • Dentist - promote good oral hygiene, diagnose and treat teeth and mouth problems and help prevent dental disease
  • Health Visitor - work with families with a child aged 0 to 5 to identify health needs, promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness
  • Hospital Doctor - diagnose and treat illness and disease in patients admitted to hospital
  • Midwife - support pregnant women and their babies before, during and after, childbirth
  • Paramedic - deal with emergencies, giving people life-saving medical help
  • Nurse - care for people who are sick, injured or have physical disabilities
  • Pharmacist - give advice on the use and supply of medicines and medical appliances
Bookshelves full of different books

Skills Statements

Our skills statements are like golden nuggets crafted by industry pros. They pinpoint the essential skills required in specific sectors or careers. These statements are your secret weapon to understanding what employers really want and figuring out how to shine brighter than the rest. They'll give you the inside scoop on the skills that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Follow this link to find the Skills Statements for:

Diagnostic Services

View Skills Statements

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:

Find out more

The Health and Social Care sector consists of any organisation which provides healthcare support to people, for example hospitals, dentists, and specialist support like physiotherapy, and social care support, for example, nursing homes, foster caring, and nurseries. In short, it includes any organisation or service which helps people live more independent, healthier lives.

I would like to find out more about…

Taking responsibility and maintaining good health by eating well, exercising, regular check ups and paying attention to signs and symptoms.

Supporting adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health. This includes personal care such as helping with washing, dressing or domestic care such as going to shop or cleaning.

Look after and teach children in childcare centres, nurseries, preschool, afterschool provisions and private households.

Supporting children to grow strong and confident with the support of their families and extended community.

Providing support for children in general by protecting them from harm. Ensuring children who are looked after are taken care of through appropriate fostering and residential care placements.

Explore current vacancies in this sector

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