Module 1: Human Lifespan Development

Health and social care practitioners need to develop a knowledge base for working with people in every stage of their lives, and they need to know how their own experiences relate to health and wellbeing. Although it is generally accepted that there may be deterioration in health with age following adulthood, medical intervention means people are living longer and have better life prospects.

This Module will develop your knowledge and understanding of patterns of human growth and development. You will explore the key aspects of growth and development, and the experience of health and wellbeing. You will learn about factors that can influence human growth, development and human health. Some of these are inherited and some are acquired through environmental, social or financial factors during our lifespan. You will learn about a number of theories and models to explain and interpret behaviour through the human lifespan. In this Module, you will explore the impact of both predictable and unpredictable life events, and recognise how they impact on individuals. You will study the interaction between the physical and psychological factors of the ageing process, and how this affects confidence and self-esteem, which in turn may determine how individuals will view their remaining years.

This Module is externally assessed. It covers aspects of human growth and development through the different life stages. This content will serve as an introduction to health and social care needs and so will sit at the heart of the qualification.

Module 2: Working in Health and Social Care

This Module will help you to understand what it is like to work in the health and social care sector. When working for an organisation in this sector, you will have important responsibilities that you need to understand and carry out. These include maintaining the safety of and safeguarding individuals with health and social care needs, making sure that you properly handle their personal information and preventing discrimination towards them. You will need to understand how you will be accountable both to these individuals and the regulatory bodies that represent people who work in the health and social care sector. It is necessary for you to understand how your work will be monitored when you carry out a specific role such as nurse or social worker.

You will begin by looking at the range of roles and general responsibilities of people who work in health and social care settings. You will learn about the organisations that provide services in this sector, and the different settings in which these services are delivered according to the needs of the service user. You will learn about the ways these services are provided and about the barriers that can prevent people from getting the services they need.

As an employee of an organisation that provides services in the health and social care sector, you will have responsibilities towards people who seek information and advice, those who are being assessed and people who use services provided by or on behalf of your employer. You will also have responsibilities towards your employers, both as an employee and when you are undertaking specific duties on behalf of your employer. These organisations are regulated and inspected so you will also need to understand how inspectors and regulators monitor the work that you do. You will learn about working with people with specific needs, including ill health, learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, and the needs of people who occupy different age categories. This Module will cover the skills you need to work in these areas of health and social care.

Module 3: Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care

A clear understanding of anatomy and physiology is essential for most health care professions and this Module lays the groundwork for your studies in careers such as nursing, midwifery or the allied health professions. Equally, if you are looking to enter the workforce, knowledge of anatomy and physiology is beneficial to those working in supportive roles in the health and social care sector. This Module focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the human body. You will learn the core knowledge of cellular structure and function and the organisation of the body as a whole. You will then build on this to develop a more detailed knowledge of the fine anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems and those systems involved in energy metabolism. You will examine energy and the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems and the functioning of body systems associated with energy metabolism. You will consider some common disorders and how homeostatic mechanisms operate in the maintenance of an internal environment. You will investigate the processes relating to natural conception and prenatal development from the point of fertilisation through to birth. You will examine factors that affect prenatal development, including genetic and chromosome disorders.

This Module is externally assessed, as it covers the structure, organisation and function of the human body, and anatomical and physiological systems. This content will serve as an introduction to most health care professions and so will sit at the heart of the qualification.

Module 4: Enquiries into Current Research in Health and Social Care

There are many reasons why research is carried out into contemporary health and social care issues, for example to explore the effect of diet on health and wellbeing or the provision and impact of addiction centres in the local community. As a health and social care professional you will need to understand the purpose of research, how it is carried out and the importance of research for improving the wellbeing of those using health and social care services. In this Module, you will find out about the different research methods that can be used to gather information and the ethical issues that need to be considered. You will review research carried out into a contemporary issue in the sector, and will develop skills that will enable you to carry out your own secondary research into the issue. You will then consider how the research findings may benefit service users or improve practice, and make recommendations for further research. To complete the assessment task within this Module, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme.

Effective research skills will help you to progress to employment in the health and social care sector and to a variety of higher education programmes, where research often forms part of the programme. To complete the assessment task for within this Module, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme.

Module 5: Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs

For you to be able to provide the care and support that individual need, it is important that you have a good understanding of the principles behind providing quality care and support. This Module introduces you to the values and issues that need to be considered when planning care and support that meet the needs of an individual in a health and social care environment.

In this Module, you will learn about the values and principles of meeting care and support needs and look at some of the ethical issues that arise when personalising care. You will examine factors that can impact the professionals who provide the care and support, and the challenges that must be overcome to allow access to good quality care and health services. You will explore the different methods used by professionals across all care services. You will reflect on these methods when you consider the importance of multi-agency working in providing a package of care and support that meets all the needs of individuals. To complete the assessment task within this Module, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme.

This Module will be useful if you are intending to pursue a career in social care or healthcare, for instance as a social worker or health visitors, practice nurse or occupational therapist. The Module will also be invaluable if you wish to progress to higher education, to degrees in areas such as health and social care management, social work and nursing.

Module 6: Work Experience in Health and Social Care

If you are thinking about a career in health and social care, then work experience is a good way of making you aware of the tasks and activities you may be required to carry out. This Module will help you reflect on and develop your personal attributes and skills required for work in this sector, and extend your knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of health and social care professionals.

In this Module, you will learn about the benefits of work experience in health and social care. You will examine how work experience can help you to develop personal and professional skills, such as communication and teamwork, and to understand more about the expectations of different professional roles. You will develop a plan to support your learning in placement and you will monitor your progress with a reflective journal. This is a practical Module which will support your work experience placement in health and social care and provide a foundation for you to develop, apply and reflect on knowledge and skills in a realistic situation.

A work experience placement will prepare you for further study in a variety of higher education programmes. It is often a requirement for progression to higher education, and is a component of degree courses in the sector such as social work or nursing.

Module 7: Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care

When working in health and social care settings, you must have a clear understanding of the duty of care and safe working practices and procedures, and how to promote the safety and wellbeing of service users. Safe working practice is a priority in health and social care. This Module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the key principles relating to safeguarding vulnerable individuals, promoting health and safety, and responding to different situations and emergency incidents in health and social care settings.

You will learn about the professional responsibilities for maintaining safe practice. You will explore the legal duty of care and the importance of legislation, policies and procedures in protecting individuals from harm, upholding their rights and promoting their welfare. You will examine the types of abuse and neglect that service users can experience and learn how to recognise and respond to concerns about abuse and neglect in health and social care settings. This Module will support you in carrying out practical procedures to maintain health and safety and respond to accidents and emergencies in health and social care settings, such as infection control procedures and fire and evacuation drills.

This Module provides essential knowledge and understanding and forms a good basis for aspects of higher education study in health and social work courses and nursing qualifications. It will also prepare you for work in the health and social work sector in a variety of roles.

Module 8: Sociological Perspectives

Sociology will lead you to question many of the attitudes you hold and the assumptions you make about society and individuals who have care and support needs. To work effectively in health and social care you need to be familiar with sociologists’ research findings, and be able to apply a sociological understanding to your practice.

You will gain an understanding of the different sociological perspectives and concepts, and consider how these can be applied to health and social care. You will examine what is meant by health, and how the definitions and models used by health and social care professionals affect people. By examining inequalities in society, you will be better equipped to understand and support people who come from different social groups. You will explore recent changes in health and social care. These activities will help you gain the skills necessary for progression to higher education in many subject areas, including social work, health and social care and nursing.

Module 9: Psychological Perspectives

An important aspect of working in the health and social care sector is to have a good understanding of the ways in which psychological development occurs in order to effectively meet the individual needs of service users. Having knowledge of the key concepts and ideas enables you to understand the ways in which development and behaviours occur.

In this Module, you will learn about the different psychological perspectives that have been put forward and how these approaches have influenced thinking and practices in meeting and supporting service user needs. You will explore some key ideas that will give you a good understanding of how the mind develops, and the factors that influence development and behaviours. This knowledge is useful in developing your understanding of how these perspectives have formed the basis of different techniques to manage behaviours, and the therapeutic and other interventions used in the health and social care sector.

These activities will help you gain the skills necessary for progression to higher education in many subject areas including psychology, health and social care, nursing and medical practice.

Module 10: Supporting Individuals with Additional

While working in health and social care, you may care for a full range of individuals who have additional needs. Individuals with these additional needs have a right to receive the best quality care and support. This Module aims to give you specialist knowledge that can be crucial to ensuring that those with additional needs meet their full potential.

As a practitioner in a health or social care environment, you will be responsible for ensuring that everyone in your care has the same opportunities. Additional needs are essentially about each person’s uniqueness and wellbeing rather than about discrimination, and it will be your job to ensure that you treat people equally, respect diversity and foster an environment with high expectations. In this Module, you will explore the range of additional needs that are faced by individuals, considering the effects these needs have on their wellbeing, rights and access. Individuals with additional needs may need provision from a number of services, meaning that organisations work in partnership to assess needs and provide support. You will investigate the support provided to explain how it is possible to overcome the challenges that these needs pose to daily living. Finally, you will investigate the legislation, frameworks and policies that govern work in the health and social care sector, and support the rights of individuals with additional needs. This Module will help you progress to a range of careers with children and adults with additional needs and also, to higher education to study nursing, social work and therapist careers.

Module 11: Policy in Health and Social Care

Individuals who work in the health and social care sector must follow rules and codes of practice when treating those for whom they care. This Module will encourage you to find out how policy making has an impact on health and social care.

You will consider the role that government plays in making policies that affect the health and social care sector. By doing this you will improve your research skills and understand how data is used by governments when they formulate policies. You will learn about the other factors that can have an impact on the ways that policy is used to bring about change in health and social care. A clear understanding of the background to how policies are made will extend your learning, especially by applying this to a local health and social care organisation. You will do this by investigating the ways that legislation is implemented by organisations such as hospitals and in care settings. The final part of the Module enables you to understand how policies affect individuals who work in the health and social care sector, and those who use the services they provide.

Studying this Module will prepare you for a wide variety of roles in health and social care, including care assistant, social worker, community support and outreach worker, occupational therapist and a range of ancillary roles.

Module 12: Caring for Individuals with Dementia

A diagnosis of dementia can be a challenging experience for individuals and their relatives. So, as a health and social care worker, you need to have a good understanding of the types and symptoms of dementia and how individuals can be supported. In this Module, you will be introduced to some of the illnesses leading to dementia and the more common symptoms that an individual might show.

You will consider some of the effects on the mental and physical health, quality of life and feelings of wellbeing. In this Module, you will examine what is meant by person-centred care for individuals with dementia and will consider what is currently thought to be good practice in the sector. You will explore the support needed to ensure that an individual who has dementia maintains independence, quality of life and wellbeing.

This Module will prepare you for work in both health care and social care when working with people affected by dementia, for example in roles such as care assistants, support workers and healthcare assistants. It will also form a good basis for aspects of higher education courses, such as health and social care and social work degrees and nursing qualifications.

Module 13: Nutritional Health

Good nutrition is important for health and wellbeing. For example, people in hospital depend on getting the right food to help recovery. Also, more people are at risk of obesity and illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes. As a worker in the health and social care sector, you need to understand what good nutrition is and the factors that can influence nutritional health, including lifestyle choices and eating habits. You also need to think about how health can be supported by making good nutritional choices.

In this Module, you will learn about the nutritional value of food and the dietary sources and function of different nutrients in the body. You will also learn about individual dietary needs, dietary recommendations and the factors that can influence nutritional health, such as lifestyle choices, education and culture. You will examine health factors that can affect nutrition, including medical conditions, digestive disorders, and food allergies and intolerances. Finally, you will develop practical skills in promoting nutritional health through the creation of a nutritional health improvement plan.

These activities will prepare you for a variety of careers in the health and social care sector, such as dietitians, nutrition consultants and nutrition educators. This Module will form a good basis for aspects of higher education study in social work courses and nursing qualifications.

Module 14: Complementary Therapies for Health and Social Care

Have you ever been curious about the effectiveness of homeopathy, herbal medicine or chiropractic techniques? The popularity of complementary therapies has grown over recent years as our understanding of their potential benefits has increased. Some of these therapies can help in the treatment of illness where conventional medicine does not offer a complete solution. Many of these therapies are now available under the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

In this Module, you will learn about some complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and reflexology. You will examine some of the potential benefits of these therapies in comparison with more conventional medical treatment for a range of different conditions. You will also investigate some of the controversial issues and current research into complementary therapies, and their role in providing a service within the health and social care sector. This Module will form a good basis for aspects of higher education study in health and social work courses and nursing qualifications. It will also prepare you for work in the health and social care sector in a variety of different roles.

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