Understanding Health and Social Care Careers

Introduction

This paper purposes to expound on the issue of employability, thus majoring on occupations, especially in the health and social care sector. In this regard, this paper presents the following objectives. The first objective is it to outline the range of occupations within health and social care. The second objective is to provide required research skills in researching careers. The third objective is to outline a typical hierarchy within health and social care and the final objective is to provide the importance of hierarchy in terms of roles and responsibilities.

An outline of the range of occupations within health and social care

Occupations within health and social care require compassionate individuals, having interpersonal skills. There are various occupations in this field, which require different types of skillsets whilst providing physical, emotional, as well as social support (Twigg et al., 2011). They include the following.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is an occupation whereby, occupational therapists assist individuals whose health conditions are hindering them from handling various activities, and as such, they ought to be good problem solvers (Lloyd & King, 2004).

Rehab work

Rehab work is an occupation whereby, rehab workers assist people in living independently after having an illness or having faced by an accident. In this regard, they assist adults, having mental health problems, drug misuse issues, and even learning disabilities (Quinn et al., 2016).

Health Psychology

Health psychology is an occupation whereby health psychologists improve the awareness, as well as attitude of people towards health. As such, they assist patients in making positive changes in their behavior and also thinking (Twigg et al., 2011).

Social work

Social work is an occupation whereby, social workers assist people, as well as families, live happy and fulfilling lives. As such, they encourage people to live independently whilst protecting them from abuse or even harm (Lloyd & King, 2004).

Research skills in researching careers

One of the challenges faced when researching careers is being in a position of making confident career decisions, which differ from those supported or promoted by advisers. Given that there are many career paths, or fields, it is evident that it is often challenging, gaining clear enough perspectives of the path that would be best pursued. However, academic training provides significant ability of solving some of the challenges without relying on advisors. Indeed, a career researcher should have significant research skills that can assist in coming up with a solution, which is the ability of doing the research and selecting a suitable career (Bimrose et al., 2008). The research skills are as provided below.

Attending jobs fares

The first research skill is attending job fares. Notably, job fares provide career researchers with a chance of learning many things regarding career related issues, and these include selecting the most appropriate career, networking skills, as they get to know many employers, as well as employees and even getting to be interns. Moreover, they assist career researcher to identify many career opportunities and options (Browning et al., 2014).

Volunteering

Volunteering assists career researchers to explore various careers, prior to making a decision on a given career that they would love to get into. This is owing to the fact that attendance provides career researchers with a perspective about a given career, which consequently influences their decisions. Moreover, volunteering assists career researchers to gather significant information regarding a given career and thus, find more about whatever they are looking for, in regards to their career. Finally, it is evident that volunteering results into an expanded network, increased knowledge, as well as improved skills, which aids in building career researchers (Browning et al., 2014).

Online search

It is significant to note that online search can significantly enable career researchers to have significant research skills, which are beneficial for their career. Research skill is data collection skill, which assists in broadening of the mind, and also assists in written, as well as verbal communication skills. In this regard, a career researcher can be able to gain a significant level of understanding, and even empathy. Of importance to note, a time spent on books is never wasted, as it is productive. It is worth noting that reading about a given career path is doing the career a great favor (Strauss, 2018).

Using different job search systems

Career researchers can use different job search systems, in order to get to know much about a career they are interested in. In this regard, they can use search systems such as websites, in order to expound their knowledge on the same. It is worth noting that wider searcher can increase their knowledge and as such, they can be able to select an appropriate career, owing to detailed research. Moreover, it is evident that relying on just books, provides limited research, which may not be assistive to career researchers.

An outline of a typical hierarchy within health and social care

A hierarchical organizational structure within health and social care is one that contains a direct command chain from the top to the bottom. In this regard, the senior organization is responsible for making all the critical decisions, which are then passed down through subsidiary management levels (Strauss, 2018). As such, when a person occupying a lower position wants to make a decision, then they have to pass a request to the top management via a chain of command for it to be approved, wherefore, the decision would then be returned. The advantage of having a hierarchical structure is that it only allows a few individuals to have control of all the organizational aspects. Moreover, it enhanced a significant control orientation, wherefore, not all individuals have the advantage of controlling all organizational aspects (Twigg et al., 2011). Secondly, it enhances a significant career path, whereby, it provides a clear career path that allows other employees to gradually advance through various management levels for a period of time. In this regard, it is evident that those who reach the senior positions often tend to have a massive experience with a given organization. It also provides a clear reporting, owing to the fact that power is centralized, thus, it is easy determining the individual authorized in making decisions (Ellner et al., 2015).

The importance of hierarchy in terms of roles and responsibilities

Hierarchy aids in enhancing accountability for various activities. In this regard, it establishes a path of accountability for all activities within health and social care. Secondly, hierarchy assists in the development and guidance of professionals. In this regard, those in lower ranks look up to those in higher ranks to develop their working skills and to improve their performances (Bunderson et al., 2016). This then implies that hierarchy assists professionals in understanding the individuals they ought to be receiving guidance and development from. For this reason, it is vital to enhance competence within all levels of the hierarchy.

Fourthly, hierarchy provides a clear career path for all the involved professionals within health and social care. This is owing to the fact that the outline comprising of the executive, managerial, as well as supervisory positions assist professionals in determining their career goals, and the kind of ladder they desire to take. Fifthly, hierarchy enhances efficient communication between the professionals. As it is aforementioned that all parties are responsible for one another, except for the individual occupying the highest rank, it is thus notable that sufficient and effective communication is vital in ensuring that work activities are well articulated and handled (Child, 2019). Finally, it is significant to note that team members within the hierarchy, especially those in lower ranks have the privilege of reporting to more than one individual. Of importance to note, is that this enhances a strong relationship between the team members, having more than one individual overseeing the another person’s performance (Bunderson et al., 2016). Overall, it is significant to take note of the fact that hierarchy is important as it defines the roles that all team members play, thus, aiding in ensuring that roles and responsibilities are significantly and accordingly undertaken within any organization, not only in health and but also in social care.

Conclusion

Based on the above provisions, it is evident that the four objectives presented in the introductory section have been met. Firstly, there are a range of occupations within health and social care and this paper has pointed out four, which are social work, rehab work, occupational therapy, and health psychology. On the second objective, which is to provide the research skills in researching careers, this paper has pointed out the following: attending jobs fares, volunteering, online search, and using different job search systems. Whilst putting into consideration, the third objective, this paper makes it clear that a hierarchical organizational structure within health and social care is one that contains a direct command chain from the top to the bottom, and as such, power is generated from the top management. Finally, the importance of hierarchy in terms of roles and responsibilities has significantly been expounded upon as provided above.

References

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