Health & Social Care

Health and Social Care

Department staff

Miss P Bradley (Head of Department)

Miss K McCauley

Miss N Davies

Overview

This course offers students the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding that provide a broad educational basis that will advantage them when entering into employment or higher education within the health and social care sector. There is a good balance between externally assessed units (examinations) and internally assessed units (portfolios) which enable students to plan work effectively and monitor their progress on a regular basis.

KS4 Provision

GCSE (Year 11 & 12)

A two year course the exam board is CCEA comprising of two units.

Unit 1: Personal Development, Health and Well-Being

Unit 1 is a 1 hour 30 minutes’ External written examination. Students answer three questions that require short responses and extended writing. It has a 50% weighting of their overall grade. Students investigate human development throughout the life stages and factors affecting health and well-being, including relationships and the impact of major life changes.

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

Unit 2 is the controlled assessment. Students complete 3 tasks. Unit 2 has also a 50% weighting of their overall grade. In this unit, students develop their understanding of the world of work in the health social care and early year’s sectors and how the needs of different service user’s groups are met. Students learn about a range of job roles in health, social care and early year’s services and how practitioners apply the values of care.

KS5 Provision

GCE AS and A2 (year 13 & 14)

Specification / Exam board: CCEA

Single Award includes three assessment units, 2 portfolios and 1 exam at AS and another three assessment units 2 portfolios and 1 exam at A2.

This awards students one A-level.

The following units are taught in year 13

AS Unit 1 portfolio (10% of final mark)

Promoting Quality Care

You will investigate examples of poor practice in a health, social care or early years setting. You will also research the impact of legislation on care settings and how care workers apply the care value base in their daily work.

AS Unit 2 portfolio (10% of final mark)

Communication in Care Settings

You will be given the opportunity to develop your communication skills by carrying out either a one-to-one or group interaction. You will also complete a report on the communication skills you observed in a health, social care or early years setting.

AS Unit 3 exam unit (20% of final mark)

Health and Well-Being

You will learn about a range of concepts related to health and well-being. You will investigate how a range of factors e.g. drugs, income and housing affect health and well-being. Organisations which contribute to health and well-being are investigated and health promotion campaigns are researched.

The following units are taught in year 14

A2 Unit 3 exam (30% of final mark)

Providing Services

You will research the job roles of a range of health, social care and early year’s practitioners. The effect of legislation on service provision is also investigated. You will also research the needs of different client groups and how they access a range of services.

The following units are taught in year 13

A2 Unit 4 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Health Promotion

In this unit you will explore the way health professionals work with clients to improve their health and well-being. You will also have the opportunity to plan and carry out a small scale health promotion campaign that reflects a current government priority within your own school.

A2 Unit 5 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Supporting the Family

This unit gives you the opportunity to investigate the functions of the family and explore how family structures have changed. You will also research how a range of services meet family needs. Issues such as poverty and domestic violence are also addressed and you will research how the government supports families facing problems.

Double Award includes six assessment units at AS, 4 portfolios and two external exams and another six at A2, 4 portfolios and 2 exams. It allows students to develop their subject knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to health, social care and early years work contexts.

This awards students two a-levels.

The following units are taught in year 13

AS Unit 1 portfolio (10% of final mark)

Promoting Quality Care

AS Unit 2 portfolio (10% of final mark)

Communication in Care Settings

You will be given the opportunity to develop your communication skills by carrying out either a one-to-one and group interaction. You will also complete a report on the communication skills you observed in a health, social care or early years setting.

AS Unit 3 exam unit (20% of final mark)

Health and Well-Being

AS Unit 4 portfolio (10%of final mark)

Safeguarding Children

In this unit students produce a written report and an information resource for staff working in an early years setting. You will research psychology theories and developmental norms on a child aged one to eight.

AS Unit 5 exam unit (20% of final mark)

Adult Service Users

This unit allows you to gain an insight into the needs of specific adult client groups e.g. older people or clients with learning disabilities. You will also investigate how a range of services meet these needs. Students will also investigate the potential impact of ‘Transforming Your Care ‘on Service provision based on the future models for integrated health and social care.

AS Unit 6 portfolio (10% of final mark)

Holistic Therapies

You will be given the opportunity to investigate the holistic approach to the treatment of various medical conditions. You will also research a range of holistic therapies and evaluate their effectiveness.

The following units are taught in year 14

A2 Unit 1 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Applied Research

This unit gives you the opportunity to study in depth a health, social care or early years’ topic by carrying out your own individual research. You will learn about the research process and complete a research report.

A2 Unit 2 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Body Systems and Physiological Disorders

You will have the opportunity to monitor the body systems of two individuals and gain an understanding of how the body functions. You will also investigate a physiological disorder, how it is diagnosed, the treatments available and the practitioners involved in their care.

A2 Unit 3 exam (30% of final mark)

Providing Services

A2 Unit 4 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Health Promotion

A2 Unit 5 portfolio (15% of final mark)

Supporting the Family

A2 Unit 7 exam (30% of final mark)

Human Nutrition and Dietetics

In this unit you will study the dietary needs of a wide range of client groups. You will also investigate the link between diet and various diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. Food safety regulations are also investigated.

Progression: You may progress to third level education.

This course provides a sound foundation for degree courses in nursing, social work and other health related qualifications. However, it attracts the same UCAS points as other ‘A’ Level subjects and can be used to gain entry into most third level courses.

Health and Social Care Results 2017 A*-C

GCSE - 75%

A2 Double Award - 96%

A2 Single Award - 92%