About Us
A job in Health and Social care is rewarding, you can have a life-long career in this field. We have seen over the last year how important health and care workers are and how much people in the community value what they do.
Care Development East is dedicated to promoting excellence across the social care and health workforce in the east of England. We provide impartial advice, support, guidance and information to the sector operating as an independent, non-profit making organisation.
We work to:
Support the sector to implement new competencies needed to comply with legislation
Promote a positive local image of health and social care
Seek and secure funding for the sector
Raise the profile of the sector as a career of choice
Assist care providers to develop a highly skilled, person-centred workforce
Care Development East works with a range of organisations and partners to deliver a high quality service, develop new initiatives, improve access to training, and to promote rewarding careers in care through our brand Care Careers Suffolk and our Next Generation Project
Hear the facts not the myths!
Ever wondered if working in health and care could be for you? Let’s try to answer some of the questions and dispel some of the myths about working in the sector.
Myth #1: There are no opportunities for career progression in health and care.
There are lots of opportunities to progress in a career in health and care. The NHS has The Career Framework which has been designed to improve career development and job satisfaction for NHS employees.
It encourages individuals to learn new skills and take on extra responsibilities that enable them to progress within the organisation. Many people take on additional responsibility within their own area, while others retrain and move into different roles.
The NHS also runs a Graduate Management Programme.
You can learn and gain qualifications as you are working, up to a master’s degree, meaning you can quickly progress into roles with more responsibility and work towards a specialism of your interest, such as Occupational Health.
Health Education England has developed an e-learning programme for healthcare professionals, to help them make informed career choices and effective applications for their next career steps.
Myth #2: Health & care jobs are poorly paid.
All employers must pay the minimum wage, but some health and care employers pay more, to show they value their staff. There are lots of opportunities to progress in your career, which means moving into roles that pay more.
The NHS offers a fair and transparent pay structure with competitive and flexible benefits and has one of the most generous pension schemes on offer. As an NHS employee, you will have unique access to a health service discounts scheme.
An entry level, band one role such as a Domestic Support Worker, can start on £18,005 in their first year. A band three role such as an Occupational Therapy Worker, can start on £19,737 per year. A band five role such as a newly qualified Practitioner can earn up to £30,615. For information on the NHS pay scales please visit https://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-pensions-and-reward/agenda-for-change/pay-scales.
Myth #3: Jobs in health and care are only about personal care and working with old people.
Care roles are all about supporting people to live independently in a way that they choose, and personal care is just one of the ways you could do this. There are over 350 jobs in health and care and not all involve personal care, like a Counsellor, Technician and Activity Coordinator. Find more roles to suit you here: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles
Myth #4: Careers in health: it is just doctors, nurses and paramedics, isn’t it?
No – there are a whole host of roles including non-clinical jobs such as librarians, chefs, accountants, porters, cleaners and estates staff, IT, communications and administration. There are many other health careers – like Healthcare Scientists, Podiatrists and Orthoptists.
There is also an increase in the demand for psychological wellbeing practitioners. Public health is a key area too – helping people to stay healthy and protecting them from threats to their health. Roles here includes health trainers, environmental health professionals and public health consultants.
Nurses work in a range of community settings (including schools, prisons and private homes) as well as hospitals.
