A health and social care practitioner may work directly for a client or be employed by an organization within the health and social care sector. Health and social care is closely associated with the medical profession.
The practitioner works in diverse environments, including the homes of clients, hospitals, community day care and residential and nursing homes. They manage health, physical and psychosocial well-being, support of growth and development, and caring and rehabilitation for the client. The specialized support provided is based on assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating a care programme.
Work organization and self-management, communication and interpersonal skills, problem solving, flexibility and creativity, empathy, and the ability to understand and work with clients to improve the quality of their life are the universal attributes of the outstanding practitioner.