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Health & Social Care

Department Aims

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  • develop their interest in health, social care and early years;

  • draw together areas of knowledge, skills and understanding related to the health, social care and early years sectors;

  • increase their understanding of the health, social care and early years sectors to develop as effective and independent learners;

  • understand aspects of personal development and the health, social care and early years sectors by investigating and evaluating a range of services and organisations;

  • develop skills, aptitudes and values for employment in the health, social care and early years sectors; and

  • develop a critical and analytical approach to decision making and problem solving in relation to the specified content.

The Health & Social Care Team

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HOD

Mrs Lisa McGuigan

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Subject Teachers

Mrs Marita McCullagh

Ms Tracey Taggart
Mrs Marie Strawbridge 

GCSE

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Year 11

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Unit 1: Personal Development, Health and Being

 

Assessment: External written exam worth 50% of overall qualification

            

Topics studied

  • Human development

  • Factors affecting health and well-being

  • Relationships

  • Self-concept

  • Major life changes and sources of support

 

Year 12

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Unit 2: Working in Health, Social Care and Early Years Sectors

 

Assessment: Controlled assessment worth 50% of overall qualification

           

Topics studied

  • Identifying and meeting the needs of service users

  • Provision of integrated health, social care and early years services

  • Accessing health, social care and early years services and barriers to access

  • Job roles of practitioners

  • Values of care

  • Safeguarding

Occupational Studies

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Assessment: Internally assessed portfolios worth 100% of qualification
Year 11 (50%)

Unit 1- Working in a Care Environment
Topics studied
•    Health and safety legislation
•    Hazards and risks in a care setting
•    How to prevent cross-infection
•    How to complete an accident report form
•    First Aid
•    Career opportunities within health and social care
•    Planning appropriate activities for chosen client group

Year 12 (50%)
Unit 2- Reminiscence with Individuals in a Care Environment
Topics studied
•    How to promote rights and choices of individuals in a care environment
•    Supporting individuals to participate in reminiscence work
•    How to manage risks in a care environment
•    Use of recycled materials
•    Appropriate communication skills when interacting with the elderly
•    Demonstrating the stages of reminiscence

A Level

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The Health and Social Care A level course comprises of 6 units. Three of these are studied in the first year (AS) and the other three in the second year (A2). 

 

AS

 

AS Unit 1: Promoting Quality Care

Assessment: Internal assessment (portfolio) worth 25% of AS (10% of A level)

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Topics studied

  • Values of care

  • Legislation that promotes quality care

  • Health and safety

  • Policies

  • The impact of poor practice

 

AS Unit 2: Communication in Health, Social Care and Early Years Settings

Assessment: Internal assessment (portfolio) worth 25% of AS (10% of A level)

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Topics studied

  • Communication methods in health, social care and early yeas settings

  • Factors that support effective communication

  • Recognising and overcoming barriers to communication with service users

  • Communication in teams

  • Interacting in a care setting

 

AS Unit 3: Health and Well-Being

Assessment: 2-hour external written examination worth 50% of AS (20% of A level)

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Topics studied

  • Concepts of health and well-being

  • Factors affecting health and well-being

  • Health promotion

  • The role of organisations responsible for health promotion and disease prevention

  • Discrimination and anti-discriminatory practice

 

A2

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A2 Unit 3: Providing Services

Assessment: 2- hour external written examination based on pre-release material worth 30% of A level

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Topics studied

  • Legislation and policy provision

  • Meeting individual needs

  • Roles and responsibilities of practitioners

  • Working effectively in teams

  • Quality Assurance

 

A2 Unit 4: Health Promotion

Assessment: Internal assessment (portfolio) worth 15% of A level

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Topics studied

  • Government health improvement priorities

  • Planning and evaluating a health education activity

 

A2 Unit 5: Supporting the Family

Assessment: Internal assessment (portfolio) worth 15% of A level

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Topics studied

  • Family structures

  • How families meet individual’s needs

  • Support available to families

  • Family issues

Work Experience

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As part of the AS  course, students are required to complete a period of work experience  in a health and social care or early years setting in the local community e.g. Nursing home, nursery school, day centre, primary school.

Careers

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Educational psychologist

Careers in the Ambulance Service

Dietitian

Nurse

Health Visitor

Health and Safety Officer

Midwife

Occupational therapist

Playgroup Assistant

Youth Worker

Careers in complimentary medicine

Social Worker

Teacher

Dentist

Dental Nurse

 

Weblinks

 

http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/hsc/

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