Health and Social Care Department

 

Members of Department

 

HOD: Mrs Sinead Magee

 

Health & Social Care is a vibrant, enjoyable and very rewarding subject that will open many doors of opportunity for students in the future!  As it is a subject the girls have never studied before, it will require concentration and dedication right from the very beginning.  Students will encounter many challenges throughout two years of study, but the knowledge and understanding they gain will stay with them for life!

 

Background Information on the Course

This course has been designed to form a qualification which provides knowledge and understanding of Health & Social Care.  The AS may be used in one of two ways:-

Progression through Advanced Level will provide a suitable basis for further study in related subjects in Higher Education as well as a valuable preparation for careers in any area of Health & social Care.

The fundamental philosophy of the course is that, in order to understand the nature of Health and Social Care, students’ learning is applied to a range of work-related contexts.  This will be achieved through a variety of approaches, including links with local care organisations, case studies and independent research.

 

A LEVEL SUBJECT CONTENT

 

 

 AS UNITS

Unit 1 - Promoting Positive Care

Assessment of this unit involves producing a written report on a chosen care setting, which will then be assessed internally.

Students will learn about:-

  • Attitudes and prejudices
  • Rights and responsibilities of service users and providers
  • The Care Value Base
  • Facilitating access to services
  • Safe working practices

Unit 2 – Communication in Care Settings

For this unit the student will observe communication skills in a care setting and then you will carry out two interactions.  Your work will be internally assessed.

Students will learn about:-

  • Communication in health, social care and early years settings
  • Types of communication
  • Factors affecting the effectiveness of communication
  • Barriers to communication, communication difficulties and strategies for overcoming these
  • Evaluating communication skills
  • The importance of communication when working in teams.

 Unit 3 – Health and Well Being

For this unit the student will sit a 2 hour external examination.

Students will learn about:-

  • Concepts related to health and well being
  • Factors affecting health and well being
  • Health promotion and the approaches used
  • Organisations which contribute to the promotion of health and well being
  • The importance of recognising and challenging negative attitudes and prejudices

 

 

A2 UNITS

Unit 9 – Providing Services

For this unit the student will sit a 2 hour written examination.  Examination will be based on pre-release material which will be provided 8 weeks prior to the examination date and will focus on one client group.

Students will learn about:

  • Effects of policy and legislation
  • Identifying and meeting needs
  • Practitioner roles
  • Team Working
  • Quality Assurance

Unit 11 – Supporting the Family

This unit is assessed internally.  The students will produce a portfolio containing two reports.

Students will learn about:

  • Family functions
  • Changing family structures
  • Services available to families
  • Family issues

Unit 12 – Understanding Human Behaviour

This unit is assessed externally with a 2 hour written paper.

Students will learn about:

  • Psychological perspectives on behaviour and personality
  • Applying psychological perspectives to understanding the behaviours of different groups of clients and to meeting their needs
  • The influence of socio-economic factors on clients’ behaviours

 

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

AS and A2 Health & Social Care is assessed by means of a combination of external assessment (externally set and marked) and internal assessment (portfolio evidence).

Each unit is assessed by one method only.                                                                                                                  

AS = 50%  of  the total A’ Level

A2 = 50%  of the total A’ Level

 

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

This course readily enables progression to Higher Education in Health, Social Care and Early Years. It provides an excellent foundation for those seeking employment in a wide range of careers such as Nursing / Health Visiting, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Social Administration, Physiotherapy, Teaching.   

ANY OTHER INFORMATION

This course allows students to develop their creative and analytical thinking ability. It allows them to develop skills that will enable them to make an effective contribution to the Health and Social Care sector, including skills of research, evaluation and problem-solving in a work related context.

 

Key Skills

Key skills or aspects of key skills are central to vocational achievement.  There are naturally-occurring opportunities for the development of Key Skills during the teaching, learning and assessment of the units.

 

Contacts with Outside Agencies

To meet the requirements of the course, students will be taken to a variety of care settings in the community, to experience communication with a range of client groups.  We also have previously established links with various agencies from the voluntary sector.  The students have the opportunity to meet with representatives of NSPCC, Age Concern, Victim Support, the Samaritans and Marie Curie.  Every year a number of guest speakers are invited to the school to address the Health & Social Care students on topics relevant to their course.