/ HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
01
In GCE Health and Social Care, students learn about health and well-being, child development and human behaviour. Students study care services including traditional and holistic therapies. They examine the rights and responsibilities of both patients and service providers. Students also look at the importance of communication in care settings and how positive care can be promoted.
Through practical activities, students apply their knowledge and understanding to work-related contexts and develop research, evaluation and problem-solving skills.
Miss E McAleese
Mr G Pollock
Mrs M Irwin
Ms D McCusker
Aims of Department
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Develop pupils interest in health, social care and early years
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Develop higher order thinking skills, creative thinking and problem solving
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Apply their skills to work related scenarios
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Carry out research and present their findings in different formats
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Develop advanced study skills that help them prepare for third level education
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Develop knowledge and understanding relevant to degrees in nursing, allied health professionals, social sciences, social policy, social work and early years
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Develop skills, aptitudes and values for employment in the health, social care and early years sectors
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Provide extended responses and evidence of quality of written communication
Organisation of the Curriculum
AS
The AS specification has Units
Units 1 and Unit 2 - coursework based, internally assessed Units
Unit 3 - 2hr examination
AS Unit 1
Promoting Positive Care, students must produce a written report based on a health, social care or early years setting that they have experienced. This will involve relevant work experience.
AS Unit 2
Communication in Care Settings, students must produce a report examining communication skills within a health, social care or early years setting. Students need to produce records showing their communication skills in a one-to-one and in a group interaction. Again, work experience will be a key aspect of this Unit.
AS Unit 3
Health and Well Being- students will learn about: Concepts of health and well-being, factors affecting health and well-being, health promotion and the approaches used, organisations responsible for health and well-being and discrimination and anti-discriminatory practice.
A2
The A2 specification has only one compulsory Unit. This is an externally assessed examination unit and students will have access to pre-release material to prepare for the examination.
There are two further coursework based, internally assessed Units.
A2 Unit 9- Providing Services:
Students will learn about: the effects of legislation and policy on services, the way in which needs are identified and met, the roles of the various practitioners involved in the delivery of service provision; the importance of working in teams and quality assurance processes.
A2 Unit 4- Health Promotion:
Students produce a report on health improvement priorities in NI, undertake a health promotion activity and report their findings.
A2 Unit 5- Supporting the Family:
Students produce a review of changes to family structure, a case study and a report on services for families experiencing issues.