Health and Social Care students from EKC Folkestone College recently welcomed a range of industry professionals to an inspiring event, discovering the many career opportunities available within the social care sector.
Held in the new Ambition building, the ‘EKC Folkestone College Meets Social Care’ event brought together students from Folkestone and Ashford with professionals from across the industry. Students had the opportunity to hear personal career journeys, explore different roles and gain valuable advice for their futures.
Organised in collaboration with Skills for Care and the Kent Integrated Care Alliance (KICA), the event demonstrated how connecting students directly with employers can build confidence, raise aspirations and open their eyes to opportunities they may not have previously considered.
Bringing careers in social care to life
Throughout the event, students heard from professionals working in a variety of social care settings, including residential care, community support, social work and organisations supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
Rather than simply learning about these roles in the classroom, students were able to hear first-hand what working in the sector involves, the challenges and rewards of different jobs, and how professionals had progressed throughout their careers.
Following the talks, students split into smaller groups and moved between classrooms, spending 10 to 15 minutes speaking directly with different employers before moving on to the next group.
This interactive format gave everyone the opportunity to ask questions, discuss their own interests and ambitions, and receive advice from people already working in the industry.
For Folkestone students, it was a valuable opportunity to build on their studies, develop their confidence in speaking with professionals and gain a clearer understanding of where their qualifications could take them.
Inspiring students to believe in their futures
For Sean, a first-year Level 2 Health and Social Care Extended Diploma student at EKC Folkestone College, hearing about one professional’s journey was particularly inspiring.
Sean related to Lauren, a manager from LDC Care Company, who spoke about her own experiences of education and progression within the sector.
Reflecting on her story, Sean said: “How she found school life was basically like me. I never wanted to come to college, because I felt education was not really for me.
“However, I am very happy that I actually came to college. She also talked about her promotions, that really did inspire me. So, I am actually really happy I’m in college, to see people succeed in life and I hope it happens to me.”
Sean is now looking ahead to completing his Level 3 qualification and potentially progressing to university, with aspirations of becoming a medical therapist.
Fellow Folkestone student Eva, who is studying a Level 2 Health and Social Care Diploma, also found the event incredibly motivating. Having already gained experience in childcare and care-related roles, Eva is passionate about exploring the different opportunities available within the sector.
Speaking about the professionals she met, Eva said: “Everyone has been so passionate about what they’re talking about. There’s not ever been a moment where I’m like, what are they talking about?
“They are so invested in what they do. It shows that Health and Social can lead on to so many beautiful careers with people who are really strongly passionate about what they do.”
Eva’s own journey into Health and Social Care has included working in hospitality, catering and early years education, before discovering her passion for supporting others.
She is now hoping to progress to Level 3 and eventually expand her own care business, with ambitions of becoming a self-employed carer supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Her advice to other young people considering a career in the sector is to follow their interests and not feel pressured to have everything figured out.
“Find something that you’re really passionate about, really interested in and follow that,” she said.
“At the end of the day you want to be doing something that makes you happy and something that you can carry with you forever.
“You can always change your mind, go back to university or go back to college whenever you want and do different qualifications.”
These experiences highlighted how students can take different routes into the sector, with personal interests, determination and a passion for helping others all playing an important role in building a rewarding career.
Discovering opportunities beyond the classroom
Pia Raftier-Burton, Locality Manager covering Kent and Medway at Skills for Care, worked closely with EKC Folkestone College to help bring the event together.
Having worked with colleges across the region for several years, Pia is passionate about ensuring young people understand the breadth of opportunities available within social care.
“My aim is about ensuring that the students understand the many opportunities the social care sector can offer,” she explained.
“I want to make sure that they understand that they can progress, and sometimes very quickly, and that they don’t necessarily need to have the academic qualifications to get into the sector.”
Pia was also delighted with the level of engagement from students throughout the event.
She added: “I’m really pleased with how the event went. I was lucky enough to speak to one of the groups, the students were really engaged, asking lots of questions, I could see the employers were really enjoying talking to the students.”
The opportunity to speak directly with employers helped students explore different career paths, understand the skills valued within the industry and consider how they might progress after completing their studies.
Creating opportunities that make a difference
At EKC Group, which EKC Folkestone College and EKC Ashford College are part of, we believe learning should extend beyond the classroom, with opportunities for students to connect with employers, discover new possibilities and develop skills that will support them in their future careers.
Events like this are an important part of this experience, helping students gain a better understanding of their chosen industry while building the confidence to pursue their ambitions.
Fiona, Industry Liaison Officer at EKC Folkestone College, highlighted the positive impact of bringing students and employers together.
“This event has been a truly collaborative event, with Skills for Care and KICA leading the way and inviting a fantastic group of social care professionals to EKC Folkestone College.
“The Health and Social Care students from Folkestone and Ashford who attended found it incredibly rewarding, hearing directly from the social care professionals about their routes into the industry, and exactly what their jobs entail.
“They provided incredible insights into their own personal journeys, and inspired the students to consider following similar careers.”
For our first-year Ashford students, the event was more than an opportunity to learn about careers. It was a chance to see what could be possible for their own futures, hear from people they could relate to and return to college feeling more confident about their next steps.
Thank you to our industry partners
We would like to thank Skills for Care and KICA for their collaboration in organising the event, along with all the employers and organisations who generously shared their time, knowledge and experiences with our students:
Their involvement helps us provide meaningful opportunities that connect education with employment and inspire the next generation of social care professionals.
Interested in studying Health and Social Care?
Discover how studying Health and Social Care at EKC Folkestone College can help you develop the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to take your next steps towards a rewarding future.
Whether you’re interested in working in social care, supporting people with additional needs or exploring a career in healthcare, our courses can help you build the foundations for your future.
Find out more about studying at EKC Folkestone College and visit our next Open Day to explore your options, meet our tutors and discover where your next step could take you.
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