Skip to content ↓

Health & Social Care

A MODERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SYSTEM HAS TO BE COMPLETELY FOCUSSED ON THE NEEDS OF ITS USERS.
 

Patricia Hewitt

Health and Social Care is a vocational course that encompasses understanding the nature of care (covering equality, diversity, safety and security) provided by health, social care and childcare settings. It involves the study and practise of the skills and qualities required by professionals working to provide excellent care and meet the needs of service users. It examines the rights of all service users to high quality care, in any setting, with the reasons why, and teaches how to recognise where individuals’ rights are not met and how this can be addressed.

In recent years, students from Hitchin Girls’ School have pursued degrees and careers in many vocations, including midwifery, social work, adult, paediatric and mental health nursing, youth work, social care, physiotherapy, teaching and art therapy.

Teaching styles

Students benefit from a range of different learning experiences. Lessons consist of practical work, research, presentations, videos, group work and independent coursework. Students are tested regularly on exam units and have access to ICT for research purposes and writing coursework. Each student has access to a course text and a range of revision materials.

Health and Social Care courses at both KS4 and KS5 are modular. They are challenging and require good organisation, motivation and independent study skills to complete coursework to deadlines.

Homework

This is set in line with the school homework policy and may involve completing activities based on course content, revision exercises for exam units or continuing with research and writing the coursework units.

Extracurricular

Students undertake a series of visits to a variety of care settings and meet professionals working in different health, social care and Early Years sectors, most recently Highbury Care Home. Professionals are also invited in to give presentations and speak with students.

Grouping

Health and Social Care is taught in mixed ability groups at both KS4 and KS5. Work in the exam units is differentiated for the needs of the individuals, and students complete their own coursework units with guidance to the best of their ability.

Key Stage 4

Students complete the OCR Cambridge National Certificate Level 1/2 (This qualification is equivalent to a GCSE)

Staff member: Mrs Julie Miller

Modules include:

UNITS ASSESSMENT METHOD
RO21: Essential Values of Care for Use with Individuals in Care Settings Written paper
1 hour
June of Year 11
RO22: Communicating and Working with Individuals in Health, Social and Early Years Settings Centre-assessed task,
OCR moderated
Jan of Year 11
RO25: Understanding Life Stages Centre-assessed task,
OCR moderated
Jan of year 11
RO23: Understanding Body Systems and Disorders Centre-assessed task,
OCR moderated
June of Year 11

Year 10
Aims and Rationale: Students engage in a comprehensive two-week induction programme. Teaching is varied and empowers students to become skilled independent learners. They are tested regularly and rigorously, and they know from the outset of the course exactly when tests will take place and when coursework deadlines need to be met. The course is enriched by visits to settings and talks from visiting speakers.

RO21: Essential Values of Care for Use with Individuals in Care Settings

RO25: Understanding Life Stages

Year 11
Aims and Rationale: Students will have already completed their coursework, which makes up 50% of their final grade, at the start of Year 11. Teaching continues to utilise a range of methods to enable independent learning, self-reflection and improvement in all facets of the course. Students complete regular internal assessments, and are given course outlines detailing deadlines and assessment dates to empower them in their learning. The course continues to be enriched through visiting speakers and trips to settings.

RO22: Communicating and Working with Individuals in Health, Social and Early Years Settings

RO23: Understanding Body Systems and Disorders
 

RO21: Essential Values of Care for Use with Individuals in Care Settings

The focus of recruitment to the health and social care sector is values. Applicants must demonstrate they can apply values in their professional practice. This unit introduces you to these core values and the rights of individuals accessing health and social care services. It also introduces some of the legislation that you should be aware of and ways in which individuals that use services are protected.

RO25: Understanding Life Stages

You will need to understand the stages of development experienced by individuals in the transition from young person to adult and into old age. You will learn about some medical conditions and the effects these have on health and well-being. As part of the assessment, you will create support plans for individuals.

RO22: Communicating and Working with Individuals in Health, Social and Early Years Settings

Communication is an essential skill for all individuals working in health, social care or childcare/early years settings. Developing communication skills will enable you to understand how to work effectively with individuals in these settings. Students will be introduced to a range of different communication methods and factors that affect communication. You will also explore the impact of personal qualities that contribute to the delivery of effective care, such as patience, empathy and respect.

RO23: Understanding Body Systems and Disorders

This unit builds on the student’s knowledge of human biology and develops their understanding of three major systems. They will understand how body systems work, the disorders which affect them and the measurements which are taken and how this data can be interpreted. This unit is assessed through an assignment where students explain how these systems function and also take measurements and interpret the data.

Link to OCR Cambridge National Level 1/2 Health and Social Care specification
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/82369-specification.pdf

Curriculum map for Year 10 Health and Social Care
Curriculum map for Year 11 Health and Social Care

Key Stage 5

Students complete the OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

(This qualification is equivalent to an A Level)

Staff member: Mrs Julie Miller / Mrs Sally Mills

Modules include:

Year 12
Mandatory units

Unit 1: Building Positive Relationships in Health and Social Care
Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care
Unit 3: Health, Safety and Security in Health and Social Care

Assessment

Unit 1
Building Positive Relationships in Health and Social Care
Assignment
Unit 2

Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care

1 hour 30 minutes written paper
60 marks

Multiple choice

Short answer questions

Questions requiring more extended responses

Unit 3
Health, Safety and Security in Health and Social Care
1 hour 30 minutes written paper
60 marks

Short answer questions

Questions requiring more extended responses

Unit 1: Building Positive Relationships in Health and Social Care

No work in the health and social care sector is completed in isolation. Professional relationships are paramount to the delivery of safe and effective care and support. An understanding of these relationships and how they are formed is essential if you are considering pursuing a career in the health and social care sector.

This unit aims to introduce you to the many different relationships that you will encounter within the health and social care sector, whether with colleagues, senior members of staff, other professionals or individuals who require care and support. By undertaking this unit, you will apply communication and relationship-building skills in a practical way, considering how different factors, including context, can impact on the building of positive relationships. You will also be introduced to the concept of the person-centred approach, which will help with your relationship- building skills.

Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care

Everyone is different and everyone has rights. Promoting equality and respecting diversity and rights in health, social care and childcare environments is essential in today’s very diverse society. Whatever role you aspire to in health, social care or childcare, an effective practitioner must be able to provide care that meets the needs of individuals and supports their rights. Many individuals who use health, social care or childcare environments can be vulnerable and dependent on others; this means that practitioners’ attitudes, values and prejudices can significantly affect the quality of care.

This unit will help you to understand the implications of diversity on practice and also the effects of discriminatory practice on individuals who require care or support. You will also gain an appreciation of how legislation and national initiatives can support and promote anti-discriminatory practice. Strategies used to promote equality, respect diversity and support individuals’ rights will be examined. You will develop your ability to recognise both good and discriminatory practice in care situations. You will develop your judgement and decision-making skills to choose appropriate responses to care situations and determine a course of action to promote the equality, diversity and rights of individuals in care settings.

Unit 3 Health, Safety and Security in Health and Social Care

What does it mean to be ‘safe’? Safety and being safe is a basic human need. Consciously or subconsciously we all take practical steps to stay safe. All individuals have the right to work in a safe environment and individuals who require care or support also have a right to be safe in health and social care contexts. As a result, there are responsibilities that practitioners must actively promote in order to provide and maintain a safe environment for colleagues and the individuals who require care and support.

This unit introduces you to health, safety and security in health and social care. You will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to equip you in maintaining a safe working environment for yourself, your colleagues and individuals who require care and support. You will learn how legislation, policies and procedures work to reduce risks in health and social care and the consequences of not following them. You will also learn how to respond to different incidents and emergencies with health and social care settings.

Year 13

Mandatory units

Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care

Optional units

Unit 13: Sexual Health, Reproduction and Early Stage Development

Unit 17: Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions

Assessment

Unit 4
Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
2 hour written paper
100 marks

Short answer questions

Questions requiring more extended responses
Unit 17
Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions
Assignment
Unit 13
Sexual Health, Reproduction and Early Stage Development
 
Assignment

Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care

We eat, we breathe and we control our bodies, as well as responding to the external environment, but why and how? This unit will help you to understand why these essential processes are so important in maintaining life. You will learn not only about the structure and function of some of the cells and tissues involved, but how they form organs and body systems that then have to interact to ensure that the body can provide the conditions necessary for thought, co-ordination, movement and growth.

This unit aims to introduce you to the basic structure and functions of the body systems involved in everyday activities and maintenance of health, including the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems. You will also understand the part played by organs such as the pancreas, liver and kidneys. You will investigate the systems and organs involved in detecting and responding to change, such as the nervous system as well as the eyes and ears. Unfortunately, things do go wrong and each system has well known diseases and disorders. Also, as individuals grow older, they are likely to be affected by malfunctions as a result of degeneration. Some of these will simply be inconvenient; others will be life-changers. You will understand the effects on individuals and what has to be done on a daily basis to enable them to lead as full and independent a life as possible.

Unit 17: Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions

One in four people will have mental health needs at some point in their life. What does mental health mean? There are many types of mental health conditions and causes can be complex. Despite the prevalence of mental health disorders in the population, there remain many barriers to inclusion for individuals who live with a mental illness. What are the effects of a mental health condition? What support is available for individuals? Treatments and services for individuals with mental health conditions, and attitudes towards those individuals, have developed over time.

This unit explores the meaning of mental health and mental health needs, and considers issues closely linked to mental health promotion and support. The unit introduces themes of inclusion, human rights, advocacy, empowerment and active participation. It will teach students about the main types of mental health conditions, how these may affect the life of the individual and the different ways in which they may be supported to promote their mental well-being, develop coping strategies to manage their illness. Students will gain an understanding of possible ways and models of understanding the nature of mental health needs, and how different factors may come together to influence the mental health of an individual.

Unit 13: Sexual Health, Reproduction and Early Stage Development

Health and well-being are not just relevant when you are an adult, it is just as relevant when you are a child and, as this unit demonstrates, they are of vital importance even before you are born. How can you be sexually healthy? What types of contraception are available? These kinds of questions are essential in contributing to an individual’s overall health and well-being. The health and well-being of an individual who is pregnant and the process of birth is impacted by many factors. How do you care for a newborn? What needs does a newborn have, and how do they differ from those of a one-year-old? All these questions will be considered in this unit.

The unit will also look at development from conception to a one-year-old child. On successful completion, students will have a sound understanding of the importance of sexual health and contraception. They will understand pre-natal health and the various stages of pregnancy and the factors that could have an impact.

Health and Social Care specification
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/344850-centre-handbook-certificates.pd

Curriculum map for Year 12 Health and Social Care
Curriculum map for Year 13 Health and Social Care

Teaching staff

Mrs Julie Miller

Mrs Sally Mills