Widening Access to
Health and Social Care Careers
Why is this Important?
At The Mindful Life Group, we believe that careers in health and social care should be open to everyone - not just those who already see themselves reflected in them. Across the UK, there are persistent gaps in who enters health and social care professions. Students from lower-income backgrounds, rural communities, first-generation university applicants, and some ethnic minority groups remain underrepresented across many pathways, including psychology, nursing, and allied health professions.
This matters now more than ever.
The NHS currently carries over 100,000 vacancies across England, with modelling suggesting a workforce shortfall of around 150,000 staff, potentially rising to 260,000-360,000 by 2036 if supply does not keep pace with demand. At the same time, interest among young people is high - but access remains uneven.
A national survey of over 5,000 young people found that 73% have considered a career in healthcare, yet many lack knowledge of the routes available to them or confidence that these careers are achievable. This creates a clear opportunity: aspiration exists - but pathways are not always visible.
Widening participation is therefore not just about fairness - it is essential for building a workforce that understands and reflects the communities it serves.
What We Do
Through structured placements, internships, mentoring, skills sessions, and careers talks, we aim to make career pathways clearer, more relatable, and more inclusive. We want to support students to:
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Understand the wide range of roles within health and social care
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See these careers as realistic and achievable
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Learn about different routes into them - including university, college, and apprenticeships
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Build confidence in their ability to pursue these pathways
Our work focuses particularly on people who may not otherwise see careers in psychology, mental health, and healthcare as being “for them”. This includes:
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Students in rural, coastal, or under-resourced areas
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First-generation university applicants
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Individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds or with limited access to professional networks
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People returning to education later in life or following a career change
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People with caring responsibilities (including young carers and adult carers)
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Neurodivergent individuals (e.g. ADHD, autism, dyslexia and related differences)
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People from ethnic minority backgrounds
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Individuals with lived experience of physical health conditions, disability, or long-term health needs
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Individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges
Grounded in Education & Professional Practice
Our widening participation work is shaped by strong links between education and clinical practice. Adele Pacini, our Clinical Director is also an experienced educator, with national-level expertise in curriculum standards and professional training. Her roles have included:
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Subject Matter Expert for Ofqual
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Subject Matter Expert for the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
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Consultant Lecturer for The Open University
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Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
This dual perspective allows us to support widening access not only through inspiration and outreach, but through a deep understanding of the educational pathways, standards, and competencies required to succeed in health and social care professions.
Find out more: Working With Us
Undergraduate Intern Student
This internship has been great, and Adele has been great. When I first interviewed for this job, I said to her I needed the flexibility because at the time I was caring for my mum. She held open the internship from mid September up until the end of October. This job has been perfect, really.
I think when people are good to you, you're good to them back… I've wanted to do well in this role because I really do appreciate the fact that she was so understanding…I'm extremely grateful.
Clinical Psychology Volunteer
Even though I want to be a psychologist, I find psychologists really scary and there’s a power imbalance. But everyone here is just lovely, they are very approachable and laid back.
Just go for it.
If you need anything just ask. I now know that psychologists are not that scary!
You can tell everyone is passionate about what they do, they do care and they do make a difference.
I have had careers advisor after career advisor and not one of them told me the right information.
The only time I have found out exactly what I need to do to get into the careers I want to be in is from speaking to another assistant psychologist at Mindful Life.