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Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care

The NHS Scotland Academy is supporting people to join the health and social care workforce, with more than 1200 learners having now accessed the new Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care Programme.

Launched in December 2021, this was an innovative new digital resource designed specifically to help support the NHSScotland recovery programme by supporting those who are new to roles in health and social care, along with those applying for the first time, to access useful resources and information to speed up their journey into their new career.

This collection of resources provides information about some core areas of practice for those in the role of support worker in health or social care. They are intended to support those who have little or no previous experience working a care support role at pre-induction stage.

They complement learning from core employer induction materials which may include those delivered in-house and those on TURAS Learn or other digital learning platforms. For those working in social care, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Learning Zone is the main learning platform of use. This collection of resources may also be useful as a reference for more experienced support workers.

Available digitally, anytime from any device, the resource offers an interactive learning experience, including videos, educational modules and quizzes to test their knowledge.

The online resources allow easier access to the most relevant information through two platforms: the Healthcare Programme curated by NHS Scotland Academy; and the Social Care Programme which has been developed by the Scottish Social Services Council.

While much of the content in this resource is relevant across both sectors, some aspects may be more relevant to either health or social care. For example, those working in health care support worker roles may find the clinical observations resource more relevant.  The modules are designed to be accessed according to your own learning needs but do remember that elements that may not relate to your current role may change in the future. Although the topics are related, they do not follow on from one another and can be completed singularly or in any order.

Some of the demonstration videos are undertaken showing equipment such as an adjustable height bed that may be encountered in a hospital,  in a care home or sometimes in person’s own home. Those working in the community may need to think about how some of the techniques shown may need to be modified or adapted considering the constraints of the equipment and space available.  Local policies and practices will also need to be reviewed and considered alongside the learning gained from these resources.

For more information, please visit our Education and training page

Contact Information

NHS Scotland Academy

nhsscotlandacademy@nhs.scot

Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care