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Health and social care courses

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Health and social care courses

The health and social care sector currently employs over 1.5 million people and is continuing to grow. With the number of people over 65 predicted to grow by 29% by 2035, the industry will also need to employ more people to cope with the increased demand.

If you’re someone who is empathetic and loves taking care of others, a career in health and social care could be perfect for you. Our range of health and social care courses can help you get on track to achieve a rewarding career in the sector.

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Our range of health and social care courses

We offer a wide range of health and social care courses and qualifications designed to be studied from home. Having a busy lifestyle shouldn’t mean that you have to miss out on pursuing your goals and developing your career. Whether you’re working, caring for your family, or have other commitments, our range of health and social care courses can be studied at your own pace, in your own time.

NCFE CACHE courses

Many of the courses we offer within the health and social care sector are NCFE CACHE qualifications.

Who are NCFE CACHE?

The Council for Awards in Care, Health, and Education (CACHE) became part of NCFE in 2015. CACHE are the industry-leading specialists in providing qualifications in the care and education sector. Their courses are developed by industry experts to ensure that all required skills and knowledge are covered.

All NCFE CACHE courses lead to a nationally recognised Ofqual regulated qualification and are accredited against the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Their qualifications have helped millions of people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to meet the professional standards required in the health, education, and care industries.

Types of NCFE CACHE qualifications

Some NCFE CACHE qualifications are available either as an award, certificate, or diploma. These are known as nested qualifications. Nested qualifications allow learners to top up their previous studies in a subject to achieve the next qualification, for example learners who have completed an award can top up their qualification to achieve a certificate or diploma.

CACHE Alumni membership

Once you have enrolled on a CACHE/NCFE CACHE qualification, you will have access to the CACHE Alumni membership scheme for two years. CACHE Alumni is a professional membership network for those studying/working in the care, health, and education industries. The membership provides valuable resources and advice during your studies when working towards your qualification.

Frequently asked questions

To work in health and social care, you will typically need GCSEs in English and Maths, as well as good verbal communication skills. You’ll also need to be empathetic, patient, and have the ability to work well with others.

Depending on the career path you want to take, you may need to go to university. If the career you aspire to requires you to achieve a degree, our Access to HE Diploma in Health is a great starting point and alternative to A Levels. If your chosen career doesn’t require you to have a degree, a course may be the best way for you to gain the knowledge you need to take your next step. Other alternative routes you can take include apprenticeships, applying directly, or volunteering.

There are a huge variety of careers available in the health and social care industry, each requiring different levels of qualifications. These careers include:

  • Care worker
  • Healthcare assistant
  • Community support
  • Support worker
  • Social worker
  • Occupational therapist
  • Nurse
  • Midwife
  • Paramedic
  • Administration

We highly recommend thoroughly researching potential career paths and how to achieve them before enrolling on a course.

Unlike studying at a regular college or institution, Open Study College has no term dates or timetables. This means you can start studying your health and social care course with us at any time.

You will receive contact details for your tutor when you enrol, and you are free to contact them for any study-related questions at any time. We also have a learner services team dedicated to helping our learners with all administrative matters.

No time at all. If you choose to study an online course, you’ll get your log in details within 24 hours. If you choose a study pack, with standard delivery your course pack will be with you within ten working days, or with express delivery just three to five working days.

The short answer is yes! Most of our courses require you to be at least 14 years old to enrol, however, we would always recommend that you check the course entry requirements as this can vary. Ultimately, our courses are designed for adults with busy lives, so you can juggle your life commitments while working towards a brighter future.

Our study packs contain all of your study materials in printed format which are posted out to you with an OSC pen, study guide, and notebook. If you’d prefer to study online, you’ll receive access to our e-learning portal and your study materials will be housed electronically, which you can access on a computer, laptop, or tablet.

Unlimited support from our expert tutors, a FREE XO Student Discounts membership, and a free CV review are just a handful of the many benefits we offer here at Open Study College. We also genuinely care about you and your future which is why we offer a range of recruitment support too, including free ‘how to become’ guides, an employability skills download, and job hunting help. We want to help you achieve your goals in whichever way we can!

If you enrol on an NCFE CACHE/CACHE qualification, you will receive access to the CACHE Alumni membership for two years. CACHE Alumni is a professional membership network for those who work in the CACHE industries, providing valuable resources and advice for professionals studying towards an NCFE CACHE qualification.

Looking to speak to an adviser?

We are delighted that you are considering joining us to study and take pleasure in welcoming you to our family.

Open Study College is one of the UK’s leading distance-learning colleges. We provide professionally-recognised health and social care courses that enable you to study at your own pace, in your own environment either online or via printed materials sent to your home.

We understand that choosing a course is a big decision. That’s why we have a team of friendly, knowledgeable education specialists who can help you choose the right health and social care qualifications for you.

Over the past 17 years, we’ve enrolled over 130,000 people on courses that have improved their education and their career prospects!

Our education specialists can answer any questions you may have, talk you through our finance options and get you enrolled over the telephone.

As a family-founded college, we think of our learners as extended members of our family. We’re all here to help you achieve your goals in life, whatever they may be.

If you’d like to speak to an education specialist about our online health and social care courses, simply complete the form here and you’ll get a call back at the requested time.

Our education specialists are here to assist you with anything you may need. Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch within 24 hours, Monday to Saturday.

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