How to Become a Health and Social Care Teacher

Search the latest FE jobs in Health and Social Care here.

Health and social care has never been a subject more in demand. The Covid-19 pandemic has spurred a spike in demand for people wishing to complete health and social care training in the UK, underlining the opportunities that exist in this area now that living with COVID 19 has become the ‘new normal’.

A total of 400,000 individuals had signed up to the NHS volunteer scheme to support the NHS as of May 2020.

Brenda McLeish, chief executive at Learning Curve Group, explained: “It’s great to see such a huge appetite for training, and we want to support these individuals to gain knowledge and skills that will support us not only through this crisis, but in the long term too.”

Qualifications and experience needed to become a health and social care teacher

Most health and social care teacher roles in further education (FE) will require you to have a relevant degree or equivalent. Experience is always a quality in demand in colleges and so experience of nursing or working within a care setting will be preferred.

For health and social care teacher roles, most candidates will also be required to “possess a teaching qualification or be training towards one as well as having knowledge of the current frameworks and standards”.

Colleges are keen to see teacher who are confident bringing their own style of teaching to make their mark on students. You will also need to know course content inside out.

Day in the life of a health and social care teacher

Christine Turay, who works as a health and social care lecturer at Lambeth College, London, took her role after beginning her career as a nursery nurse and then worked with prolific young offenders for Lambeth Social Services. By her own admission, she got into the health and social care world by default.

In terms of qualifications, Turay gained a Level 5 Diploma of Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, as well as an Open University degree in child psychology and philosophy and a life coach diploma. She also holds a Teaching English as a Secondary Language certificate and is a qualified assessor (TAQA) for students on their placements.

As well as underlining the different routes that people can take when becoming a health and social care teacher in FE, Turay’s journey also shows the support available from colleges — she is currently applying to do a Masters through Aberdeen University with the support of her employers.

Salaries in Health and Social Care

The lecturer role in health and social care at Wigan and Leigh College pays anywhere between £24,847 and £33,345 per year. A similar position at Nescot in Surrey has a starting price of £28,478 rising to £33,573.

Here are some FE jobs in Health and Social Care.