Shortlist
ReciteRecite

Health And Social Services: SVQ2

Care students practice using a patient hoist with a seated classmate in a simulated care setting.
Qualification Qualifications Explained
SVQ
Study Mode
Full Time, Part Time
Duration

1 or 2  Years - 2.5 Days p/w
Start date
Aug 2026
Campus
Easterhouse
Apply now

Course overview

Begin your professional journey in care with a nationally recognised qualification.

The SVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Services is designed for individuals who want to start or develop a career in the health and social care sector. This qualification is employment-based, giving you the opportunity to gain essential knowledge, practical experience, and professional skills while preparing for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

You’ll learn in a supportive, hands-on environment with a strong focus on workplace readiness. The course runs full time (2.5 days per week) but can also be studied on a part-time basis, offering flexibility to suit your circumstances.

This course is ideal for:

  • Learners aiming to begin a career in health or social care, either in community or residential settings.
  • Individuals already working or volunteering in the sector who want to gain a recognised qualification.
  • School leavers or adult returners looking to enter employment with practical experience and confidence.
  • Those with a genuine interest in helping others and understanding how care services support people across all ages and backgrounds.

What you will learn

You’ll develop the knowledge, values, and hands-on skills needed to work safely and effectively within a care environment.

Key areas of study include:  

  • Health, Safety and Protection – understand safe working practices and duty of care.
  • Moving and Handling – learn correct techniques to support service users safely.
  • First Aid – develop confidence in responding to emergencies.
  • Communication in Care Settings – improve how you interact with individuals, families, and teams.
  • Equality, Diversity, and Rights – explore inclusive approaches to supporting others.
  • Core Skills – enhance Communication, ICT, and Numeracy to strengthen workplace competence.

Assessment is ongoing and includes written assignments, class-based assessments, presentations, and workplace observations and assessments , ensuring your learning connects directly to real-world practice.

Courtney and Jodie, Health & Social Care students at Glasgow Kelvin College, sit side by side in a library setting, speaking into a microphone about their course experience.

Health & Social Care at Kelvin | Courtney & Jodie’s Story 💙🌍

We caught up with Health & Social Care students Courtney and Jodie to hear about their visit to Holland.

During their trip, they attended college classes, experienced student life abroad and gained valuable insight into healthcare education in another country.

Watch to find out what they got up to and how the experience supported their learning and personal development.

Opportunities that go beyond the classroom.

View on YouTube

Entry requirements

✅ A minimum of two National 5 passes, including English / Communication OR

✅ Relevant work or life experience in a care environment OR

✅ A strong interest and motivation to work in the care profession

Additional requirements:

  • You must complete a PVG check through Disclosure Scotland.
  • You must demonstrate values such as empathy, responsibility, and respect — essential qualities for a successful care career.

Your personal statement should include:

  • Why you wish to study the SVQ Level 2 in Social Services and Healthcare.
  • An example of a time when you used effective communication.
  • Your understanding of equality, diversity, and rights in care practice.
  • What you would do if you witnessed discrimination in a care environment.

Applicants will be assessed through their personal statement and may be invited for interview as part of the recruitment process.

ℹ️ You must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

  • If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment  here at the College.

Career Opportunities

This qualification allows you to apply for a variety of roles within the Health and Social Care sector, including:

🏥 Support Worker

🏠 Care Assistant

💬 Community Care Worker

🌈 Residential Support Worker

It also provides a solid foundation for career progression and further qualifications.

Future prospects

On successful completion, you may progress to:

  • HNC Social Services (Care)
  • HNC Healthcare Practice
  • Higher-level study with additional qualifications such as Higher Communication

This qualification supports your development as a confident, capable, and compassionate care professional — ready to make a difference in people’s lives.

Other Courses You Might Consider

Lecturer and student examining virtual reality equipment during a lesson at Glasgow Kelvin College.

Education and Social Services: Diploma/BA (Level 8)

Read more
Find out about our Health & Social Care Department

Read What Our Student Said

Video Transcript – Courtney & Jodie: SVQ2 Health and Social Services

Courtney: Hi, my name is Courtney Anderson. 

Jodie: And my name is Jodie Stark.

Courtney: We're doing the SVQ2 Health and Social Care. 

Jodie: We've just recently been part of an exchange programme from Glasgow Kelvin to Talland College in Holland. Went over to take some classes with them. We visited some of our placements and we got to work with different service users and we got to see loads of different environments, how it was different from Glasgow and Scotland.

Courtney: Also went to a care home. 

Jodie: An old hospital had been like renovated, kind of created a new space. They built shops and hairdressers and pubs for their service users. 

Courtney: We went to one of the facilities and were doing this practical stuff about what to do if people like turn violent. 

Jodie: We called it Rock and Water and it was like building conflict kind of resolution skills.

My favourite part of the Holland exchange experience was probably more getting to see different culture, how different they learn over there and how different their curriculum is for our courses.

I really enjoyed going on days out with some of the exchange students and also going to class in a different country in a different environment. It was hard but it was really, really, really interesting.

Courtney: What I also really loved was the buildings. The buildings are... 

Jodie: The scenery was beautiful. 

Courtney: I also went to that museum.

Jodie: A body works museum where they preserve people and put them in the museum. It's mostly for healthcare students to go and learn more about it. 

Courtney: Also had before and after what would happen if you had like a stroke? 

Jodie: Yeah, it's like your brain before and after a stroke, your brain before and after Alzheimer's. They were really good.

`