The healthcare and social care sectors rely on dedicated professionals who provide essential services to communities. Yet, career progression opportunities and personal development are often overlooked, particularly for support staff. The Higher Development Award (HDA) for Health and Social Care Staff, delivered online, aims to change this by offering an accessible, structured programme designed to empower individuals with transferable skills such as leadership and teamwork.
A programme with purpose
Developed in partnership between Activate Learning, NHS England and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care System (ICS), the Higher Development Award was created to address the needs of both employees and employers in the healthcare sector. The programme provides a Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Team Leading, accredited by NCFE.
Claire Wardle, Health and Care Support Workforce Education Senior Specialist at NHS England, said: “This programme was initially developed by healthcare support workers and educators to provide a structured pathway following the Care Certificate. It’s a way to help staff enhance their personal and professional development while gaining a qualification they can take forward.”
Who is the HDA for?
The Higher Development Award is designed for both clinical and non-clinical support staff working in a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- Primary care
- Social care
- Acute trusts
- Community services.
The programme enables participants to develop essential skills in leadership, communication and problem-solving. This accessibility and transferable nature of the course ensures that healthcare workers from small SMEs, care homes, GP practices, NHS trusts and mental health services can all benefit from the training.
Why was the programme developed?
The Higher Development Award was created to support career progression and upskilling within the sector. Shilpa Bhatt, Apprenticeships & Widening Participation Lead & Interim Retention Lead for BOB ICS, said: “We wanted to make this programme multi-professional, including both primary and social care staff, not just healthcare support workers. By working with Activate Learning, we developed a programme that is flexible and fully online, making it more accessible for working professionals.”
The course’s online delivery provides flexibility for learners while accommodating the demands of full-time employment. It runs over 16 weeks, with a study time commitment of 2-3 hours per week, which is ideal for those balancing work and other responsibilities with learning.
Benefits to employers and individuals
The Higher Development Award is fully funded, meaning there are no financial barriers for employers or employees. It offers a range of key benefits:
For employers:
- Stronger leadership within teams: Staff gain skills in managing and motivating colleagues, improving efficiency.
- Improved retention: Investing in professional development encourages staff to stay within the organisation.
- Service improvements: Employees learn skills to resolve workplace challenges effectively, contributing to higher quality care and service delivery.
For individuals:
- Nationally recognised Level 2 qualification
- Personal and professional development in leadership and teamwork
- Improved confidence and skills for managing team dynamics
- Opportunities for career progression, including apprenticeships and senior roles
- Transferable skills that enhance job satisfaction and job security.
Success stories and growing impact
Since its launch, the Higher Development Award has already seen strong engagement:
- Cohort 1: 41 learners took part, with a 93% projected achievement rate
- Cohort 2: 50 learners took part, all on track to complete successfully
- The programme has now expanded beyond BOB ICS to include Frimley and Surrey, now offered to over 100,000 staff across 15 large NHS organisations.
One of the key strengths of the programme is how it fosters confidence and capability among learners. Claire Wardle said: “Many participants may have had negative experiences in education previously. This course provides a fresh start with structured support, allowing them to succeed in ways they hadn’t before.”
James Hart, who completed the Higher Development Award in January 2025, said: “Activate Learning were great in helping me achieve my Level 2 Team Leading qualification. I was impressed with the support offered, and all staff were knowledgeable, helpful and encouraging throughout my learning journey which contributed to a successful pass.”
Patrick Miguel, who completed the Higher Development Award in September 2024, said: “The course was really helpful and easy to follow. The content covered everything I needed to learn. I learned a lot of new skills that I can use in the future. I feel more confident in what I’ve learned and would recommend this course to others.”
Sonal Sher, who completed the Higher Development Award in September 2024, said: “The short course provided me an opportunity to learn and feel confident about taking on a longer apprenticeship course.”
Building a stronger future for healthcare
With the challenges facing the NHS and social care sector, investing in staff development has never been more critical. The Higher Development Award bridges the gap between frontline roles and leadership opportunities, empowering staff to grow within their careers while strengthening healthcare teams across the region.
Shilpa Bhatt explained the programme’s long-term impact: “The Higher Development Award creates opportunities for career growth, encourages retention and enables staff to explore new roles across healthcare settings. It’s a win-win for both employees and employers.”
Join the next cohort
Think this may be the route for you? For more information on the next cohort, visit the course webpage.