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Go Higher in Health and Social Care: inspiring students

Medical innovations and an ageing population present both challenges and exciting opportunities in Health and Social Care.

With 350 careers in this sector, making up 13% of jobs in West Yorkshire, there's something for everyone. However, despite its size and importance, there is a skills shortage in key roles like nursing and midwifery. Experts predict we will need an extra 20,000 jobs in the next decade. This highlights the need for young people to explore career options and train as future health professionals.

To tackle this growth and inspire the next generation, Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority organised a Go Higher in Health and Social Care event for Year 9 students from three schools. The goal was to excite students and expand broaden their understanding of opportunities in this diverse field.

Carousel of hands-on activities

A variety of sector specialists supported this interactive event at the University of Huddersfield. Participants included:

Staff from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Medical Mavericks, who run workshops for future medics and scientists
Active Social Care, a Huddersfield-based social care company
LabCorp, which conducts clinical trials
iCare, a home care provider, along with audiology and podiatry practitioners
Higher Education (HE) ambassadors.

55 students took part in workshops lead by employers and HE representatives. They explored career pathways, practical skills and workplace experiences. Activities included:

Keyhole surgery simulations and ultrasound tasks.
Risk assessment discussions for patient care.
Escape room challenges, featuring a visit to a mock ambulance, known as a 'simbulance'

Increased knowledge and awareness

The event successfully showcased the wide range of opportunities in the sector and the skills needed for success.

[I learned] more in-depth about background jobs that are often overlooked i.e. people taking care of apparatus.

Student

I now understand that you need patience and skills if you want to enter Social Care.

Student

Employers also recognised the event's value.

The ageing population and ageing workforce mean we need to get young people into the sector. It is essential that from a young age they know about the careers available in Health and Social Care and why they are important.

Maria Semertzidou, HR Manager at Active Social Care

Partnership events

GHWY and the Combined Authority are running a series of Go Higher In events in 2023-24. These focus on growing sectors like STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Health and Social Care, digital media, and Green Skills.

Guided by Local Skills Improvement Plans, these events provide students with meaningful workplace experiences. They also offer insights into career pathways, employer interactions and real-life skills development.

Additionally, they highlight the importance of strategic partnerships and collaboration, linking careers education in schools and colleges to local economic needs.

West Yorkshire Careers Portal

If you want to provide young people with workplace experiences, sign up to the West Yorkshire Careers Portal. This platform connects local employers with schools and colleges to offer experiences to young people.