GCSE Health and Social Care is an introduction to the world of working in Health and Social Care: that means jobs in hospitals, health centres, social work, nurseries, working with the frail and elderly, care homes, day centres, with disabled children and adults.

 

It is a useful introduction for students considering a career as a nurse, midwife, social worker, youth or play worker, nursery nurse, care assistant, fitness instructor, counsellor, health adviser and many others.

 

It is for students who are interested in a career where they can support   vulnerable people who may have illnesses, problems, issues, tragedies in their lives; people who are mentally ill; people who are on the margins of society, whose families cannot cope anymore, as well as the happier occasions like childbirth and childcare.

 

Health and Social Care is very topical and relevant to all our lives.  We learn through discussion of real-life case studies; items in the news; TV dramas and documentaries and personal experience. We make extensive use of the internet to view websites.

 

The ethics and values of Health and Social Care are very important in the workplace and in the classroom.  Students are taught the importance of respect, dignity and inclusivity. We look at the negative effects of prejudice, discrimination and abuse.

 

Written coursework is very important, making up 60% of the course.  This is in the form of 2 projects or ‘portfolios’.  This written work must be completed in controlled conditions (like an exam) in lesson time and may not be taken home. Students may do research and preparation for homework.

 

Key Stage 4

 

We follow the Edexcel double award GCSE. 

There are 4 units to study. 

 

In Unit 1 (20% - exam in January of Y10) you will learn about human growth and development – what to expect at the different stages of life and what help is available to people when they have a problem or crisis in their lives. 

 

In Unit 2 (30% - coursework in Y10) you will learn about the job roles of people who work in health and social care, the kind of skills and qualities they need and how they should behave in their jobs. You will learn about how services are organized and provided by the NHS and social services.  We visit a real health and social care setting and your coursework assignment is a report about this setting.

 

In Unit 3 (30% - coursework in Y11) you will learn about good health – what makes for a healthy lifestyle, how you can measure health and how you can achieve it. In your coursework assignment you will take on the role of a health promotion advisor and design a health plan for a person.

 

In Unit 4 (20% - exam in January of Y11) you will be examined on all of your learning from the 3 previous units

 

Study at Home for KS4

 

When preparing for the Unit 1 and Unit 4 exam, students will be given past exam papers and revision packs to work on at home.

For Units 2 and 3 which are coursework, background reading and research may be done at home (but you may not do written coursework at home – it can only be completed in controlled conditions at school).  Your teacher will direct you to websites in lessons which you can look into at home.  For example, The NHS, BBC Health. 

 

Recent Events

 

Unit 3 is based on a real health and social care setting which is directed by the exam board.  Recently we have based our reports on a nursery and a young persons’ sexual health centre.