One student using stethoscope on other student

Health & Social Care

If you want to make a real difference in people’s lives, train for a career in health and social care at Willerby Grove Campus, Peterlee.

Choose your course

Whether you're a school leaver or an adult looking to retrain, develop the practical skills, knowledge and confidence you need for a meaningful career or to progress to university.

Health & Social Care overview

Health and social care is one of the largest and most rewarding sectors in the UK. It opens doors to a range of career routes where you can support, care for and empower people at different stages of their lives.

With 16% of all jobs in the North East linked to the health sector and the social care workforce predicted to grow by over 500,000 roles by 2035, there’s never been a better time to start your journey.

Choose from full-time Health & Social Care programmes for 16–18s including T Levels or Access to HE and flexible learning courses for adults.

View all Health & Social Care courses by visiting the course finder.

What you'll study

Your programme will help you build a strong understanding of care practice and health settings. Depending on your level, you'll explore topics such as:

human development and wellbeing
safeguarding, equality and inclusion
communication and professional relationships
supporting people with physical or emotional needs
health science, anatomy and physiology
person-centred care
infection prevention and safe working practices

Our health & social care facilities

You'll learn in spaces designed to mirror real clinical environments, including:

a fully equipped care simulation ward
hospital-grade beds, hoists and moving-and-handling equipment
high-tech, responsive training mannequins
anatomy resources and human organ models
access to specialist teaching environments for childcare and SEN

Our facilities are designed to help you build confidence and practise skills safely before using them in real placement settings.

Learning beyond the classroom

You'll grow your skills through a wide range of experiences, including:

industry placements in health and social care settings
talks and workshops with visiting practitioners
educational trips to hospitals, universities and specialist services
enrichment activities and hands-on scenario-based learning
personalised tutor support and specialist careers advice

These opportunities help you understand the realities of care work and explore different career pathways within the sector.

Where it could lead

In a broad and fast-growing sector, students can choose to move into employment, apprenticeships or higher education.

From Level 3, you can go on to study nursing, midwifery or an allied health profession at university. You can also continue your studies at EDC through our part-time Level 4/5 Foundation Degrees in Health & Social Care or Counselling.

Fees & funding

Course fees vary by level. Full-time courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds. Adult students may also be eligible for funding depending on circumstances.

To find out more, check our Course Fees & Funding page.