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Health and social care is one of the largest employment sectors in the UK. According to Skills for Care’s 2025 State of the Adult Social Care Sector report, there were 1.71 million care jobs in England in 2024/25. Add to that the 1.54 million people working in NHS Hospital and Community Health Services< (NHS England, June 2025), and the scale of the sector becomes clear. With demand set to grow as the UK population ages, Skills for Care projects that a further 470,000 new care roles will be needed by 2040.
A health and social care degree prepares you for a wide range of roles across this sector. Some are frontline care positions. Others are in management, policy, research, or public health. This guide covers the main career paths available to health and social care graduates.
Jobs you can do with a health and social care degree
The roles below reflect the breadth of what a health and social care degree can lead to. Some require further training or registration after your degree. Others can be entered directly on graduation.
Care worker
Care workers support people who need help with daily life, including older adults, people with disabilities, and those with long-term health conditions. You might work in someone’s home, in a care home, or in a day centre. The role involves personal care, emotional support, and helping people maintain their independence.
A health and social care degree gives you a strong grounding in the theory behind good care practice, including safeguarding, person-centred care, and working with diverse needs. Many care workers use their degree as a foundation to move into senior care, management, or specialist roles over time.
Entry-level care worker salaries in England typically start from around £22,000 to £26,000, with senior and specialist roles paying more. Local authority and NHS care roles often have more structured pay scales.
Nurse
Nursing is one of the most common career goals for health and social care graduates. However, to become a registered nurse in the UK, you need to complete a nursing degree approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). A health and social care degree alone does not qualify you to register as a nurse.
That said, a health and social care degree is excellent preparation for a nursing programme. The knowledge and skills you build, including anatomy, safeguarding, communication, and working with diverse populations, align well with nursing degree content. Many graduates go on to take a pre-registration nursing degree as a postgraduate or top-up qualification.
NHS nurses in England are paid on the Agenda for Change pay scale. Newly qualified nurses typically start on Band 5, with a starting salary of around £29,970, rising with experience and specialism.
Healthcare assistant (HCA)
Healthcare assistants work directly alongside nurses and other clinical staff in hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, and community settings. The role includes monitoring patients, taking observations, assisting with personal care, and providing practical support during clinical procedures.
HCAs are employed in large numbers across both the NHS and the independent sector. A health and social care degree is valued by employers hiring for HCA roles, particularly those that carry additional responsibilities or are on a career development pathway towards nursing associate or nursing qualifications.
NHS HCA roles are typically paid on Band 2 to Band 4 of the Agenda for Change scale, ranging from around £23,615 to £28,000 depending on the level of the role and experience.
Health administration and management
Health and social care organisations need skilled managers and administrators to run effectively. Roles in health administration cover a wide range, from medical secretary and patient services coordinator to service manager and NHS graduate management trainee.
A health and social care degree combines knowledge of how care systems work with practical management skills, making graduates well suited to these roles. If you want to move into a more senior management position, a postgraduate qualification such as a health and care management degree can help develop the strategic and operational skills needed at that level.
Social work
Social workers support individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, including mental health issues, domestic abuse, addiction, poverty, and disability. They assess needs, coordinate services, and work with other professionals to safeguard vulnerable people.
To become a qualified social worker in England, you need a Social Work degree approved by Social Work England. A health and social care degree does not qualify you to practise as a registered social worker. However, it provides a strong foundation for entry onto a Social Work degree programme, and many graduates use it as a stepping stone.
Social workers in local authority or NHS settings are typically paid on the Agenda for Change scale or local authority pay bands. Newly qualified social workers generally earn between £30,000 and £35,000, rising significantly with experience and specialisation.
Youth worker
Youth workers support young people aged roughly 11 to 25, helping them develop skills, access services, and navigate challenges such as mental health, substance misuse, homelessness, and education. The role can be based in youth centres, schools, charities, local authorities, or outreach settings.
A health and social care degree equips you with many of the skills youth work requires, including understanding of safeguarding, mental health, behaviour, and working with diverse communities. Professional qualification in youth work is available through the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), and some graduates choose to pursue this alongside or after their degree.
Youth worker salaries vary between sectors. Local authority youth workers typically earn between £25,000 and £35,000. Charity and voluntary sector roles may start lower but can offer good progression for those who develop specialist expertise.
Public health roles
Public health professionals work to improve the health of populations rather than individuals. Roles include health promotion officer, public health analyst, epidemiologist, and public health programme manager. These roles exist in local authorities, the NHS, UKHSA, and charities.
A health and social care degree provides a solid entry point into this field. For more advanced or specialist public health roles, a postgraduate qualification is often expected. An MSc in public health or an MSc in global health management can open doors to senior positions in this growing field.
Discover health and social care degrees at Arden University
At Arden University, you can study health and social care entirely online, at your own pace, around your existing commitments. Our programmes are designed for people who want to build knowledge and skills that are directly relevant to working in one of the UK’s most important sectors.
Whether you are looking to enter the sector for the first time, advance within your current role, or move into management or postgraduate study, Arden has a pathway that can help you get there. Speak to our admissions team to find out which programme is the right fit for your goals.
FAQs
What jobs can you get with a health and social care degree?
A health and social care degree can lead to a wide range of roles across the sector. Common career paths include care worker, healthcare assistant, youth worker, health administrator, and roles in public health or service management. Some graduates also progress into nursing or social work through further study.
Is a health and social care degree enough to become a nurse?
No. To become a registered nurse in the UK, you need to complete a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)-approved nursing degree. However, a health and social care degree provides a strong foundation for progressing onto a nursing degree or related training route.
What can you do after a health and social care degree?
After graduating, you can move into frontline care roles, administration, youth work, or support roles in health services. Many graduates also continue their studies in nursing, social work, public health, or health and care management to specialise further.
Do you need a qualification to work in social care?
Not always. Some entry-level care roles do not require a degree, but having a health and social care degree can improve your job prospects and progression opportunities. To become a registered social worker, however, you must complete a Social Work degree approved by Social Work England.
What is the difference between health and social care jobs and NHS jobs?
Health and social care jobs cover a wide range of roles across both the NHS and the wider social care sector, including local authorities, private providers, and charities. NHS jobs are specifically roles within NHS services, such as hospitals, clinics, and community health services.
Can you work in public health with a health and social care degree?
Yes. A health and social care degree can lead into public health-related roles such as health promotion or service coordination. For more senior or specialist public health roles, a postgraduate qualification such as an MSc in public health is often required.
What skills do you gain from a health and social care degree?
You develop a mix of practical and professional skills, including communication, safeguarding, understanding health systems, person-centred care, teamwork, and problem-solving. These are valued across both care and management roles.
Is there demand for health and social care jobs in the UK?
Yes. The sector is one of the largest employers in the UK, with ongoing demand driven by an ageing population and increased need for care services. Reports from Skills for Care and NHS England both highlight continued growth in workforce demand over the coming years.
