Welcome to Health & Social Care

Purpose Statement

The purpose of Health and Social Care is to give our students the skills and knowledge necessary to work within the Health, Social Care and Early Years Sector. The curriculum that students follow enables them to immerse themselves in various scenarios and experiences, which are applied across the provision of Health and Social care.

About 3 million people work in health and social care in the UK. Health care roles include doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, while social care roles include care assistants, occupational therapists, counsellors and administrators. Together, they account for nearly one in ten of all paid jobs available in the UK. Demand for both health and social care is likely to rise as people live longer lives. Therefore, Health and Social Care will continue to play a key role in UK society and the demand for people to carry out these vital roles will increase.

We hope that our students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of how people grow and develop over the course of their lives, from infancy to old age. Examining the factors that may affect this, such as major life changing events like marriage, bereavement or parenthood allows our students to learn how people cope and adapt to these changes, as well as giving them an awareness of the types of support available to help them when facing such circumstances.

The course explores a range of different health and social care services. Students learn about the ‘care values’ that underpin health and social care practice and the importance of these in ensuring service users get the care and treatment they need. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate these care values practically.

We aim to nurture an interest in caring skills whilst developing sound communication and presentation skills. Pursuing the ability to empathise and see different viewpoints in relation to key issues in modern society is an important feature of study. Our students will become more confident and mature learners; able to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world

Subject Aims

  • To stimulate awareness, interest and engagement in all matters which have an impact on their growth, development, health and wellbeing.
  • To enable students to be familiar with the knowledge, skills and values connected to health and social care provision in the UK.
  • To develop their confidence and communication skills through role play and extensive discussion of key topics.
  • To give students the opportunity to work as a team, problem solve, manage time and become independent learners.
  • To develop active listening skills.
  • To promote higher level, logical thinking skills, and a genuine sense of enquiry.
  • To write concisely, clearly and accurately.
  • To interpret, use and evaluate health data.
  • To use research skills to find out about an individual’s state of health.
  • To examine issues which affect the nature and quality of human life, including an appreciation of diversity and cultural issues.
  • To seek out and be able to comment on topical issues associated with health and social care in the news and wider media and to develop credible opinions.
  • Develop their awareness of the influences on an individual’s health and well-being and lifestyle choices.
  • • Understand the importance of motivation and support when modifying and improving health behaviours.
  • Recognising the importance of the individual, by taking a ‘patient centred’ approach.
  • Understand the true value of respect, human kindness and compassion within the context of health and social care.
  • To encourage our students to be interested in the holistic health and well-being of their own communities.

Students will be able to present work in a variety of ways, such as:

  • Producing presentations, posters and leaflets
  • Taking part in role plays and writing scripts for professional discussions
  • Listening to and making notes from guest speaker interviews
  • Report writing using a range of health and social care scenarios and case studies
  • Creating displays for different health and social care settings
  • Design a health and wellbeing improvement plan for an individual

Health & Social Care

March 2024

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