What is it?

The sector encompasses provision of healthcare including medical, nursing and allied professions. Social care includes social work and the provision of personal care. Employers in the health and social care sector include

• NHS and private hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Veterinary surgeries

Facts and figures

• Health and Social Care sector accounts for around 15% of employment in Sussex (around 85,800 employees)
• this sector has a greater proportion of small sized establishments, employing between 11 and 49 people, than is found for all industries (32% compared with 11%)
• Workers in this sector are more likely to have qualifications at Level 4 or above than those in all industries (38% compared with 24%) but 33% of those working in the sector are low skilled (with qualifications at Level 1 or no qualifications)
• employees are more likely to work part-time than their equivalents in all industries (49% compared with 36%)
• majority of jobs are in the public sector and public policy remains a key driving force behind the future of this sector

source: Sussex Enterprise

Employers in Sussex

Large employers include the NHS and Nuffield Hospitals. The county is home to the Brighton & Sussex Medical School which is administered jointly by the Universities of Brighton & Sussex. Many small sized establishments include privately-run care homes, social care providers and agencies providing healthcare workers. Voluntary and community employers feature in the sector.

Higher education qualifications suitable for the sector

• foundation degrees/HNCs/HNDs such as Animal Management, Complementary Healthcare, Health & Social Care, NVQ level 4 Health & Social Care
• undergraduate degrees such as BSc Community Specialist Practice, Bachelor of Medicine, BA/BSc Nursing Studies, BSc Osteopathy Studies, BA Social Care Management, BA Social Work, Bachelor of Surgery
• postgraduate degrees such as Doctorate in Podiatry, MA Health Promotion, MSc Mental Health, MSc Primary Care, Doctorate in Social Work, MA Social Work, Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Social Work

Here we are focusing on higher education but there are many other qualifications and routes to study available including NVQs, Apprenticeships and BTEC awards. Talk to your local college or private training provider about what's available.

Where to study in Sussex

• University of Brighton
• University of Chichester
• University of Sussex
• Open University
• Central Sussex College
• Chichester College
• Hastings College of Arts & Technology
• Northbrook College Sussex
• Sussex Downs College

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