An introduction to Craig Wade, Health, Science and Social Care Sector Manager at NCFE
27 Jul 2021
In the Science pathway of the Health and Science T Level route, students will have the opportunity to take on various occupational specialisms, giving them the knowledge, technical skills and threshold competence to working the science sector. Having been built by employers and industry experts, students will be prepared to embark on a journey within the vast realm of science.
The challenge faced by STEM employment is not just skills shortages, but also the mismatch of skills. Therefore, having a composite technical study programme built around the skills that industries are in desperate need of, will go a long way in addressing this skills mismatch within the labour market.
Introduction of the Health and Science T Levels will expand the various pathways open to students, whether that be increasing the number of threshold competent employees within industry, or increasing the number of students progressing into higher apprenticeships and higher education. More students will be pursuing a science education and career, making the subject more accessible and increasing the scientific competency of students.
Whoever would have thought the biggest threat to health services, wasn’t funding challenges, but NHS staff shortages? [2], The comprehensive report by the Health Foundation, The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust predict we could see gaps of up to 350,000 positions by 2030. Offering young people more options in their pursuit to enter the health sector, including the T Levels in Health and Science will go a long way to supporting this shortage.
Within the Health and Healthcare Science pathways we will see Occupational Specialisms (OS) in a variety of cross-sector footprints. For example, within Health we will be led by the OS of Supporting Healthcare, but with additional options of Adult Nursing, Mental Health, Midwifery, Children and Young People and Therapies. In addition, you will find the OS of Assisting Healthcare Science within the pathway of Healthcare Science.
As with all T Levels, Health and Science T Levels offer students the opportunity to gain sector experience through Industry Work Placements (IWP). Where students are expected to complete a minimum of 315 hours in the sector. The IWP allows opportunity for students to leave education better prepared for success in the workplace. It is extremely important for employers to explore and consider hosting a T Level student as part of an IWP. Hosting a student will support our future workforce and encourage consideration to enter the Health and Science Sector. If you are an employer and would like to know more about hosting a T Level student, then please check out T Levels Employers.
[1] National Audit Office (2018) Delivering STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills for the economy.
[2] The Health Foundation, The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust (2018) The Healthcare workforce in England.