Introduction
HNC Healthcare Practice is for those who want a career in the NHS and care services, particularly if you are looking for a Band 3 position in the NHS or if you are going to go on to study nursing. It will help you develop knowledge and skills as a Health Care Support Worker in acute, clinical and community settings.
In an innovative move we expect induction will be delivered in our partnership with the NHS Clinical Educators. This may take place at Dumfries Campus, Mountainhall and DGRI. This will enable you to join the NHS bank, we encourage you to apply for this in any case. Practical sessions are delivered face to face and are mandatory – there is no available second chance.
If you want to go further and study Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, or Learning Disability Nursing, this qualification may enable you to apply to university. A summer programme with UWS, combined with considerable additional placement may enable you to progress to 2nd year of Adult or Mental Health Nursing with UWS.
We will be running two cohorts of this HNC, one cohort is specifically run in partnership with the NHS for their staff although you are often in online lessons as one group. Please state in the first line of your application statement if you are currently a HCSW within the NHS and that you have approval from your line manager. * The other is open to all who meet the entry criteria.
Apart from mandatory practical days, the course is taught online. You should have access to the internet and to an appropriate device. This is a challenging and innovative partnership course and will require considerable independent study. You must be able to cope with the demands of this level of study, and considerable hours of practical placement whilst also supporting people who may be at a vulnerable time in their lives.
The majority of learning is live online lessons; there will be mandatory clinical skills days where you will need to attend in person. There will be two days of lessons and one day of placement each week. Lessons are recorded, some are pre-recorded, this is to allow maximum flexibility for those who are also working or have care responsibilities in the home. Online learning has been very successful in our widespread region, avoiding the need for lengthy journeys to and from college.
Study space is available on campus, and you may bring your own device and headset to a study space.
Practical placement may be within the NHS. Those who already work in the NHS may be able to use their workplace as placement.
We offer a great nurturing environment for this course; we want you to succeed – and we need you to remain motivated and determined to succeed too. Think about how much time you have and can devote to your study alongside your other commitments. It is a substantial qualification which requires dedication to succeed.
You will be given the opportunity to become an Associate Student of UWS during the course. The majority of our learners who go on to become student nurses progress to UWS at Dumfries Campus.
Course code
HHCP
Location
Dumfries Campus
Duration
Attendance and engagement are expected at 100%at both college lessons and placement.
Induction will be 2 days on the 19th and 20th August 2026. This will be mandatory. Failure to attend these days will mean you will be unable to take up your place on the programme if offered.
One day is for college inductionto ensure you can get on to Teams, our learning platform and log in. The second day is with the NHS clinical educators to help prepare you for work placement and work within the NHS. You may be attending prior to the start date for your induction.
Entry Requirements
- A minimum of two relevant Highers at B or above, including English and ideally National 5 Maths.
- Entry is competitive, fill in your application carefully as we score your responses.
- A relevant course at SCQF Level 6 or equivalent such as Health and Social Care Theory @ SCQF6 with a good Tutor reference.
- SVQ 3 will also meet entry requirements.
- You must become a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) member for which you will be expected to pay £59 or less if you already are a member.
- You will be required to purchase a uniform for practical placement; the uniform cost is normally £55. (NHS have own uniform)
- Vaccinations: NHS employees will already be covered. Those who join the nurse bank as a health care support worker will be entitled to free vaccinations through NHS Occupational Health. Some GP practices may also offer these free, but it is not an entitlement, and you could be refused. Private costs vary considerably, and you would be responsible for paying, and ensuring you are covered.
- Consideration will be given to those with extensive experience of working in a formal social or health care setting who do not meet the academic entry requirements.
- Applicants whose first language is not English should have ESOL Higher or equivalent
- Please make sure to answer the Supporting Information Questions on the application form, with as much detail as possible. This will demonstrate your commitment to the course.
- Make sure your application is accurate and detailed as it helps us to decide if you are to be given a place.
- Read the additional entry requirements carefully before making an application.
- You must declare any criminal convictions, charges pending, or relevant police information at the point of application. PVG membership checks reveal both spent and unspent convictions, so it is important that applicants are honest and upfront from the start. If you are currently ‘Barred’ or ‘Under Consideration for Listing’ we cannot legally offer you a place.
*Please note if you are a HCSW within the NHS currently then you must gain the support of your line manager. You must also have regular permanent hours withing the NHS to apply for a place on this cohort. Please also name your supporting line manager in your application.
Information and Interview Session Requirements
We do not hold interview sessions so make the most of your application statement. Entry is competitive, we have very many more applicants than places available. Sell yourself and tell us how prepared you are to succeed on your course. If you are placed on a waiting list these often go down quickly when qualification results are out in August. Do not book a holiday for when the course begins or the week before when mandatory induction takes place– just in case you are offered a place – or your place may be given to the next person on the list who can start on time. No holidays should be booked during term time.
Course Content
Clinical skills, professional standards, therapeutic relationships, mental health, human body, sociology, and health in Scotland
Assessments
There are written essays, individual and group presentations, closed book short answer responses and online tests. You must pass all of these, and your attendance is expected to be 100% both at college and placement. You are assessed in clinical skills on placement by qualified nurses. You will be using NHS TURAS alongside SQA/Qualifications Scotland materials. At this level you will be expected to study and research in a self-directed way, you may be guided to lessons which are online or on a medium such as Teams. You will have learning materials on our college system LearnNet and you will be expected to upload your assessment responses using that system. There may be set dates for workshops which could be hybrid delivery.
Progression
You may want to seek employment in the health and social care sector at Band 2 or 3.
You may apply for the 1st year of a Nursing degree at several universities.
You may want to continue your studies in one of the Allied Health professions at a number of universities.
You may be able to apply to university to study social work or social sciences courses.
You may identify early in the programme that you wish to progress to 2nd year at UWS for adult or mental health nursing.
If your intention is progression to university, it is your responsibility to check with that university if the HNC will meet their entry requirements as progression is not automatic. Progression is subject to meeting the entry requirements of the university and it is your responsibility to check if you need additional qualifications for their courses. This course alone is unlikely to meet entry criteria for midwifery, paediatric nursing, or paramedic sciences.
Career Prospects
Health and Social Care Support Worker
Pre-graduate student in Adult, Mental Health, or Learning Disabilities Nursing.
Additional funding information
SAAS funding may be available.
https://www.saas.gov.uk/
Selling Points
Continuing professional development in a health and social services career improves your employability as well as enhancing your promotion prospects. It may help you on the study path to becoming a Registered Nurse or studying to become a member of one of the other Allied Health Professions.