OCR Cambridge National Level 1/Level 2 Award in Health and Social Care
What is our curriculum intent?
The qualification gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills that can be applied to real-life contexts. It encourages students to think creatively, innovatively, analytically and logically. The main focus is on five big ideas including:
- development of key skills that prove aptitude in health and social care such as interpreting data to assess an individual’s health
- process that underpins effective ways of working in health and social care, such as designing a plan to improve an individual’s health and wellbeing
- attitudes that are considered most important in health and social care, including the care values that are vitally important in the sector, and the opportunity to practise applying them
- knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as human growth and development, health and social care services, and factors affecting people’s health and wellbeing.
This course gives students the opportunity to study how people grow and develop over the course of their lives, from infancy to old age, and the factors that may affect this, such as major life changing events like marriage or parenthood. You will learn how people adapt to these changes as well as the types of support available to help them.
You will also learn about the different health and social care services and develop an understanding of the skills required for the health and social care sector and their importance in making sure that the people who use these services get the care they need.
You will learn about current public health issues, factors that influence health and you will use this knowledge to plan and create a health promotion campaign.
This qualification has the same weighting as a GCSE, and is aimed at anyone who wants to find out more about health and social care. This course will give you the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and techniques that are required for the Health and Social Care sector.
What is the health and social care sector?
About three million people in the UK work in health and social care. In healthcare, this includes jobs such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and administrators, while social care roles include care assistants, social workers, occupational therapists and counsellors. Demand for both health and social care is likely to continue to rise, so it is sure to continue to play a key role in UK society, and the demand for people to fill these vital jobs will increase.
Where will this take me?
When you have completed this qualification, you will have developed a secure understanding of the health and social care sector. Because you will be building useful skills not generally covered in GCSE courses, you will have a better understanding of whether this is an area you want to continue to study. This course will also help you develop transferable skills and knowledge, such as self-evaluation and research skills, which will benefit you wherever you progress to next.
After you have finished this course you may want to go on to further study one of the Cambridge Technical qualifications in Healthcare Science, Maternity and Paediatric support or Health and Social Care. You might want to complete a T Level or A-level in a related field such as Biology or Psychology.
Which option is best for you will depend on; the grades you achieve both in this qualification and other qualifications you have taken, what you enjoy doing and any advice you can access about the further learning and training opportunities available in your area.
How do we measure the impact of the course ?
You will carry out two NEAs during the course:
- R033: Supporting individuals through life events - this is a mandatory unit.
- R034 and R035: Creative and therapeutic activities OR Health promotion campaigns - students choose one of these units.
Towards the end of the course you will complete an examination:
- R032: Principles of care in health and social care settings - all the work you do throughout the two years prepares you for this examination, which is externally marked.
What we teach when
Year 10
Year 11
How are students grouped?
Teaching groups are organised on a mixed-ability basis.
What websites do we recommend?
The current examination board specification can be found at:
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/health-and-social-care-level-1-2-j801-j811/
Contact
Mrs H Hinchliffe, Teacher of Health and Social Care - hhinchliffe@wilmslowhigh.com
Miss N Martin, Team Leader Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing - nmartin@wilmslowhigh.com