Gateway to Nursing and Health Professions (Schools)
***PLEASE NOTE - only pupils who will be at school during session 2026/27 can apply for this course***
The Gateway to Nursing and Health Professions (SCQF Level 6) course is a fantastic progression route for students interested in healthcare careers, whether you’re drawn to caring for others or pursuing a role in health and wellbeing.
This course gives you a broad introduction to the healthcare field while helping you develop essential skills like empathy, critical thinking, and teamwork - skills that will set you up for success in any healthcare profession.
You will gain key knowledge of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (AHPs), with a strong focus on practical skills development for supporting individuals, understanding of values in healthcare delivery and promoting health and wellbeing.
This course will run on Friday 9.30am - 2.30pm
Please note that the course you are applying for is split across two sessions. When submitting your application, the dates displayed will be for the June Induction in session 2025/26. Once successfully enrolled on this session, you will automatically be transferred to the 2026/27 session, which begins in August, for the remainder of the course.
Content
Throughout this course, you’ll dive into topics that will give you a well-rounded understanding of what it means to work in healthcare. You’ll learn about the different roles in healthcare and the practical skills needed to provide compassionate care, ensuring the safety, dignity, and comfort of patients.
Key topics include:
- Safe, Compassionate Care: Understand how to provide care that is both safe and compassionate for people of all ages.
- Roles in Healthcare: Explore the various roles healthcare professionals play in patient care, from nurses to physiotherapists and beyond.
- Core Principles of Care: Focus on key aspects like safety, dignity, and respect in healthcare settings.
- Practical care skills: Acquire skills and knowledge of aspects of practical care delivery.
- Health Promotion: Explore strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles, including nutrition, exercise, mental health, and more.
- Ethics in Healthcare: Understand the ethical values that guide healthcare practice, including the importance of equality and diversity.
- This course also introduces the social determinants of health—how factors like environment, social support, and lifestyle choices affect our health and wellbeing.
Career Paths
Whether you're interested in Nursing or Allied Health Professions, the Gateway course opens a multiple career possibilities within the healthcare sector.
Nursing:
Nurses are the largest workforce in NHS Scotland and play a critical role in the healthcare system, providing care in hospitals, GP practices, and community settings. Nursing pathways include:
- Adult Nursing: Supporting adults with a range of health conditions.
- Children's Nursing: Focusing on the care of children and young adults
- Learning Disabilities Nursing: Helping individuals with learning disabilities manage their health.
- Mental Health Nursing: Caring for people with mental health conditions in both community and hospital settings.
- Allied Health Professions (AHPs):
AHPs make up the third-largest workforce in NHS Scotland and include roles such as:
- Physiotherapists: Helping people recover from injuries or manage physical disabilities.
- Speech and Language Therapists: Supporting people with communication and swallowing difficulties.Occupational Therapists: Assisting people to live independently, overcoming physical or mental challenges.
- Therapeutic Radiographers: Using radiation to treat cancer and other conditions.
- Podiatrists: Treating foot-related conditions to improve mobility and comfort.
- Dietitians: Offering advice on nutrition and healthy eating.
- Paramedics: Providing emergency care in high-pressure situations.
- AHPs work alongside nurses, doctors, and other professionals to improve patient care and health outcomes.
Progression
Upon completing the Gateway to Nursing and Health Professions course, you can take the next steps toward a healthcare career:
Further Study at College:
- HNC Healthcare Practice
- University Pathways
You may also choose to progress into undergraduate nursing or AHP programs, subject to meeting entry requirements, such as academic performance and recommendations.
Entry requirements
- Pupils should have achieved 4 Nat 5s including English
- A Healthcare or similar qualification at school.
More Info
Further advice for School College Programme and Foundation Apprenticeship applications:
• Please ensure you have an online account before starting your application
• If you created your account prior to March 2025, you will need to register a new account
• Before starting the application process, please ensure you already hold or are working towards the relevant entry qualifications required for the course you are applying for
• Ensure you use your own personal email address when creating your online account
• Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email immediately
• If you do not receive an acknowledgement e-mail immediately, please check your SPAM/Junk folder
• Please include as much detail as possible in your personal statement such as; the reason you are applying, future career plans, relevant experience, hobbies and interests
• Disclosing support needs in your application will not affect your chances of being offered a place on a course at Forth Valley College
• If your application is successful, you will be invited to an information session
• If your application is unsuccessful, you should speak to a guidance teacher or SDS school liaison officer.
• If you are unable to attend the information session or wish to withdraw your application, please email the School Partnership team - school.partnership@forthvalley.ac.uk