Health and Social Care

(AVCE in NVQ Level 3)

Duration:2 Years

Fees : £1950

Examination Board : OCR RSA

RATIONALE
These specifications lead to Vocational Certificates of Education (VCEs) in Health and Social Care at Advanced level in the National Qualifications Framework. VCEs were formerly known as Advanced GNVQs. Candidates may enter for a subsidiary (three-unit), single (six-unit) or double (twelve-unit) award.
The specifications build upon the broad educational framework set out in the GNVQ Criteria of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales and the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment. VCEs are broad based vocational qualifications designed to allow students flexible progression routes moving on to higher education or further training for employment. These VCEs in Health and Social Care have been designed to form qualifications which provide knowledge and understanding of this vocational area. They are ideal qualifications for those students who want a broad background in health and social care, which will allow them to progress to further and higher education or employment. They are designed to be delivered in full-time or part-time education. The courses of study prescribed by these specifications can reasonably be undertaken by candidates entering this vocational area for the first time.
Provision is made for progression from three-unit to six-unit and twelve unit awards. The three-unit award provides students with an opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and understanding of the main principles and organisational structures associated with working in the sector. The six-unit award builds upon this and extends the learning through the introduction of theories and concepts associated with human growth and development and physical aspects of health. There is an opportunity for students to pursue particular pathways within the six-unit award, thus enabling progression to the twelve-unit award where pathways become more palpable.

These qualifications are appropriate to the needs of candidates who want to progress to employment, further training or higher education. The qualifications may be taken as a broad vocational introduction to health and social care or units may be selected to provide an introduction to specific vocational areas. These specifications support vocational pathways in health, social care and early years. Students will be able to explore the pathways in the six and twelve-unit awards in order to begin the process of focusing their strengths and interests into a specific area. For the students who are undecided, the units will provide a learning experience covering the range of knowledge, skills and understanding essential to the sector as a whole. The three-unit award offers an introduction to health and social care which could support progression in a wide range of academic or vocational courses. A three-unit VCE enables students taking two or three A levels to complement these with a vocational course equivalent to one AS level.

The six-unit award provides a stronger emphasis on health and social care for those who are seeking a solid grounding in health or social care issues. It provides an opportunity for students studying two A levels to complement this with a vocational course. Alternatively, it will complement other VCEs, such as Science, to give a more precise vocational flavour to the course of study. The twelve-unit award is particularly appropriate for those wishing to progress to employment or to further studies in health or social care within higher education. The fundamental philosophy of these specifications is that, in order to understand the nature of health and social care, students should actively experience the health and social care environments. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches including work experience, links with local employers, case studies and research. The specifications are flexible, with a unit structure designed to allow for a variety of pathways. Assessment is designed to give credit for what candidates can do as well as what they know. It is based both on portfolio evidence from assignments, set and assessed by the Centre and moderated by OCR, and external assessments, which are set and marked by OCR. These specifications have been developed in consultation with a range of professional institutes and higher education institutions.

Syllabus Topics
1 Equal opportunities and clients’ rights
2 Communication in health and social care
3 Physical aspects of health
4 Factors affecting human growth anddevelopment
5 Health, social care and early years services
6 Research perspectives in health and social care
7 Educating for health and well-being
8 International health provision
9 Child development
10 Health and social care provision for disabled people
11 Health and social care provision for older people
12 Early years provision
13 Social policy in health and social care
14 The family and social trends
15 Creative activities in care settings
16 Anatomy and physiology
17 The role of exercise in maintaining health and well-being
18 Biochemical techniques in health and social care
19 Behavioural psychology
20 Mental health awareness
21 Public health
22 Dietetics and nutrition for health and social care
23 Medical physics for health and social care
24 Complementary therapies
25 Health and social care management

Progression

Progression into Employment
These specifications are designed to offer students the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding which will prepare them for entry into employment at trainee level within a wide range of health, social care and early years environments. Many such students would undertake further part-time study with the support of their employer.

Progression to Further Qualifications
Students who achieve these qualifications will be fully prepared to enter a variety of HND or degree level courses in health and social care related subjects. A three-unit Advanced Subsidiary VCE qualification may also be considered as broadly equivalent to an Advanced Subsidiary GCE award for the purposes of admission to a wide range of degree courses.
A six-unit Advanced VCE qualification may also be considered as equivalent to an Advanced GCE award for the purposes of admission to a wide range of degree courses. A twelve-unit Advanced VCE (Double Award) qualification may also be considered as equivalent to two Advanced GCE awards for the purposes of admission to a wide range of degree courses.