Design Technology Department @ Key Stage 5 - 'Health & Social Care' Double Award

This a modular course and provides the students with an opportunity to gain 2 A levels.

Course entry requirements

C or above in English Language and Science

Why study Health & Social Care?

If youwish to work within Social Care settings, you will find that this course offers you the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the broad aspects of health and social care, its organisation and related services. It will provide you with the relevant qualifications and knowledge to move forward in the wide range of careers opportunities available within Health and Social Care.

What will you study?

Students studying for a Double Award (the equivalent qualification to two A2 level subjects) will study 12 units, some of which are compulsory. Four units will be assessed by external examination and the remaining eight assessed by the assignments produced for a portfolio.

AS - Year 12

Unit 1 - Promoting quality care

• Attitudes and prejudices
• Rights and responsibilities of people who use services and providers
• Facilitation of access to services
• Values of care
• How organisations promote quality care

Unit 2 - Communication in care settings

• Types of communication
• Factors that support and inhibit communication
• Communication skills
• Theories relating to communication
• Interaction with the person who uses services(s)/practitioner(s)

Unit 3 - Promoting good health

• Principles of health and well-being
• Preventative measures and job roles
• Planning a health promotion campaign
• Carry out a health promotion campaign

Unit 4 - Health and safety in care settings

• The influence of current legislation on safe practice in care settings
• Safety and security
• Safe moving and handling techniques
• Contribution to infection control

Unit 5 - Caring for people with additional needs

• Common causes of additional needs
• Care-management process
• Production of a profile of a person who uses services with additional needs
• Models and approaches
• Barriers to access, support, aids and equipment available

Unit 7 - Health as a lifestyle choice

• Positive effects of exercise
• Nutritional value of food and the dietary function of nutrients
• Exploring dietary health
• Designing an exercise programme
• How diet and exercise affect health

A2 - Year 13

Unit 10 - Care Practice and Provision

• Planning and provision of services
• Effects of national policy and legislation on care practice and provision
• How quality assurance is promoted by services
• Conducting a survey relating to quality assurance
• How services and practitioners meet individual needs
• Ways in which practitioners within services work in partnerships

Unit 11 - Understanding human behaviour and development

• Factors influencing human development
• Theories of human development
• The application of theories to aid the understanding of human behaviour and development

Unit 12 - Anatomy and physiology in practice

• Respiratory system
• Cardio-vascular system
• Digestive system
• Reproductive system
• Renal system
• Musculo-skeletal and neural systems
• Effects of lifestyle choices on body systems and health and well-being

Unit 13 - Child development

• Development and monitoring
• Factors that influence development and norms of development
• The role of play in development
• How to plan and make a learning aid/activity for a child (0-8)

Unit 14 - Mental-Health issues

• The concept of mental health
• Types of mental illness
• Causes of mental illness
• Effects of mental illness
• Preventative and coping strategies
• Support for people with mental-health needs

Unit 15 - Research methods in health and social care

• Purposes and methods of research
• Ethical issues, sources of error and bias in research
• Planning, presenting and analysing findings from research
• Evaluating findings from research

Method of Assessment

In both years students will be assessed by two external written papers and four coursework portfolios.

Future prospects

This course will prepare you for further training for jobs in the Health and Social Care profession, such as nursing, social work and nursery teaching.
GCE Health and Social Care is a well regarded route into university for the study of a wide range of courses including Nursing, Social Work and Counselling.
You will also be able to use this qualification to help you get a job in Health and Social Care; you will often be able to take additional qualifications as you work through ‘day release’ courses.