If you are looking to train in a career that makes a positive difference, Health and Social Care, Nursing, or Social Work may be the right choice for you. Developing valuable relationships, Supporting people to live the life they choose means that you build a strong bond. Working in any of these disciplines will ensure you meet fascinating people that open up their lives to you, meaning you can develop relationships that improve both your life and theirs.
Career Paths
Social Work
If you want to become a social worker you’ll study at university. See the list of universities offering social work qualifications below.
Social work courses are full time, delivered over four years (undergraduate degree) or two years (postgraduate). There is also a work-based route provided by the Open University.
All courses include practice learning where you are assessed in work placements.
There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the four countries of the UK which allows you to register with SSSC if you studied in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you are a qualified social worker you can check out our vacancies where you might find the right job for you.
For more information please visit: https://www.sssc.uk.com/knowledgebase/article/KA-02466/en-us
What will social workers who have been off the Register for more than two years need to do to return to practice?
The SSSC is introducing return to practice requirements for social workers who have been out of practice and off the SSSC Register for more than two years. The requirements are a mix of supervised practice, informal and formal learning with a tiered approach depending on how long social workers have been out of practice. Returning social workers will have six months from registration to meet the return to practice requirements.
Read full details in the return to practice for social workers article.
Social Care
If you are looking for a career which makes a positive difference, then a job in social services could be for you. You can find out more about qualifications and get information for providers here: Careers and Education - Scottish Social Services Council (sssc.uk.com)
Qualifications for registration
From 3rd June, 2024, The SSSC will take a more flexible approach to qualifications for registration to allow people to move from children and young people services to social care and without having to gain two different qualifications.
The standard qualification for workers in adult services is the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare and for workers in children’s services it’s the SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) qualifications. The SSSC will now accept either of these qualifications for registrants working in adult services.
The SSSC will ask registrants moving to adult services to complete some extra learning, for example adult protection, as part of their CPL rather than doing another qualification.
Nursing
Nursing is a dynamic, rewarding and highly skilled, caring and compassionate career. You will develop diverse skills ranging from the delivery of health education for individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds to delivering complex care for people with multiple acute or long term conditions.
If you are a qualified nurse you can check the vacancies where you might find the right job for you.
For more information please visit: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/search/undergraduate/nursing/all/scotland
Allied health professionals
Allied health professionals are the third largest clinical workforce in NHS Scotland. AHPS' diagnose, and treat people of all ages to enhance their health, wellbeing and quality of life. AHP's also signpost people to other services to help them access additional care and support they need.
For more information please visit: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/explore-careers/allied-health-professions/