What’s the Difference Between Health Care and Social Care?
What’s the Difference Between Health Care and Social Care?
Created:Updated: 06-October-2025
Health care and social care are closely linked, but they focus on different aspects of supporting people’s wellbeing. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right career path — whether you’re drawn to medical support or person-centred care.
What is health care?
Health care focuses on treating and preventing illness, injury, and medical conditions. It’s usually delivered by professionals such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and paramedics within the NHS or private health services.
- Centres on physical and mental health conditions
- Delivered by medically trained professionals
- Often takes place in hospitals, GP surgeries, or clinics
- Focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation
What is social care?
Social care focuses on helping people live independently, safely, and with dignity — especially those who need support due to age, disability, or illness.
- Centres on day-to-day support and quality of life
- Delivered by care assistants, support workers, and social workers
- Often takes place in care homes, people’s homes, or the community
- Focuses on empowerment, wellbeing, and social inclusion
How the two work together
Health care and social care overlap in many areas — particularly when supporting older adults, people with disabilities, or long-term conditions. For example, a nurse may manage medication while a care worker assists with daily activities and emotional support.
These services often coordinate under integrated care systems (ICS) across the UK to provide seamless, person-centred support.
Care roles that bridge both sectors
Many adult care roles involve both health and social elements. Examples include:
- Support Worker — promoting wellbeing while assisting with medication and mobility
- Rehabilitation Assistant — helping individuals recover after illness or injury
- Healthcare Assistant — supporting nurses in hospitals or residential homes
Qualifications like the CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Care (RQF) or the Level 3 Adult Care Certificate prepare you for roles in either setting.
Choosing the right path for you
If you enjoy supporting people emotionally and practically, social care may be your ideal fit. If you’re more interested in medical or clinical work, a healthcare route such as nursing or allied health professions may suit you better.
To explore both, visit the NHS Health Careers website, which details roles across both health and social care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are health care and social care the same?
No — health care focuses on treating illness, while social care supports daily living and independence.
Can I move between health care and social care?
Yes. Many qualifications and skills are transferable, and some roles, like healthcare assistants, bridge both sectors.
Which pays more — health care or social care?
It depends on the role and setting. NHS clinical roles often have structured pay bands, while social care offers flexibility and local opportunities.
Do I need different qualifications for each?
Yes. Health care roles often require medical training, while social care typically involves CACHE or similar qualifications.