Routes into Support Worker roles

Add to favourites

HCSWs enter the role via a number of access points including school leavers, college, university, other NHS roles or from a non-NHS background. 

Some new HCSWs may have already achieved relevant healthcare experience and / or related qualifications prior to starting in post for example:

  • If a new HCSW has completed a Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP), including access to nursing / allied health service at SCQF Level 6, they can progress onto an HNC programme (SCQF Level 7) or decide to work as a HCSW
  • New HCSWs who have completed a Modern Apprenticeship while in year 5 and 6 at High School will have gained work experience, a National Progression Award (NPA) in Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6 and the core units of an SVQ in Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6
  • A new HCSW may have left a health-related degree programme early and achieved a Diploma in Higher Education (SCQF Level 8)

Using Recognition of Prior Learning and mapping learning against the SCQF levels helps to identify a new HCSWs starting point and their future direction.

Preparation and transferable skills
learning

No matter where you are in your career journey, you’ll already have lots of skills which can be transferable to a role in health and care.  What are transferable skills and how can I demonstrate them when applying for jobs?  You may find the blog article 'How to write about transferable skills for your NHSScotland job application' helpful.  

You can visit the NHS Scotland Careers website to see how your current skills match the profiles of over 100 different job roles. Remember that the skills you use everyday can be applied in so many different settings.

Read the blog article on how a Modern Apprenticeship helped Jodie to reach her potential and become a maternity support worker.

Preparation programmes

If you are considering a career in the NHS or social care sector as a Support Worker, you may find the preparing for work in healthcare website or the induction resource for adult social care of interest and helpful. 

Preparing for work in Health and Social Care

This resource is intended to complement your organisations induction programme and relevant policies and procedures. It will support workers, together with their employers to identify what knowledge and guidance they need to be equipped and confident to safely provide person centred support to people in their new role.

The resource is split into 2 components

  1. Preparation for work in healthcare.
  2. Preparation for work in social care

The modules and resources found in the resource are designed to be accessed according to your own learning needs. Although the topics are related, they do not follow on from one another. Speak to your supervisor/ line manager to discuss what your particular learning needs might be.

Induction resource for adult social care

As part of Scottish Government’s commitment to develop a national induction framework for new entrants to adult social care, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and NHS Education Scotland (NES) are working in collaboration on a new framework will support workers moving between employers or undertaking different roles. 

Workers can use the learning assessment in the resource, together with their employers, to identify what knowledge and guidance they need to be equipped and confident to safely provide person centred and compassionate support to people in their new role.

This resource is intended to complement your organisation’s induction programmes and relevant policies and procedures.