Careers in Healthcare guide highlights unique benefits of health-related roles

Careers in Healthcare: A Guide to Working in Voluntary Organisations highlights the growing significance of voluntary organisations as dynamic providers of healthcare services, offering rewarding careers in a wide range of health-related roles.

“At the same time, for many people in the health sector, working in voluntary organisations offers opportunities to deliver services to client groups and in contexts that other publicly and privately provided services cannot reach.”

The guide includes case studies of 15 voluntary sector providers such as Action for Blind People and St Johns Ambulance, demonstrating the unique benefits of working in the sector. These include the ability to 'make a difference' working for a cause, a flexible and fast-moving environment, a 'hands-on' culture and greater autonomy and empowerment.

Skills for Health chief executive John Rogers said: "The wider health sector and the population generally benefit enormously from the skills and experience paid employees develop in the voluntary sector.

"At the same time, for many people in the health sector, working in voluntary organisations offers opportunities to deliver services to client groups and in contexts that other publicly and privately provided services cannot reach.

"Currently health-related careers in the voluntary sector do not have as high a profile as they should so I am delighted that this guide demonstrates the many challenging and exciting opportunities available."

Skills-Third Sector trustee and CEO of Scope Richard Hawkes said: "I welcome this guide from Skills for Health which illustrates some of the opportunities for health related careers and development available in the third sector. At Skills - Third Sector we have as much interest in this work and we have a united commitment to draw people into fulfilling and rewarding careers.

"A common concept of health is the NHS, but there are many organisations and teams of people that play an important part in health delivery and support. Flexible, innovative, empowering, forward thinking - these are some of the terms which many associate with voluntary organisations, and the case studies of individuals and organisations contained in this document will help to illustrate why."

The guide forms part of a range of careers information, advice and guidance produced by Skills for Health to support those who advise and guide people on career choices within the health sector. Further information is available at www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/careersinformationandadvice

Source: Skills for Health