Health & Social Care
Double Award
This is a vocational subject providing qualifications for those who are interested in a career in such areas as nursery nursing, a nursery school assistant, being a care assistant or childminder. It can also contribute towards entry requirements for professions such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, working in a pharmacy and many more.
The subject is divided into three areas. One area is assessed through an exam and the other two are assessed through the production of a portfolio for each.
The subject area of the exam work is ‘Understanding personal development and relationships’.
The exam work helps pupils to understand that those who work in a caring profession are helping people of all ages, ethnicity and social backgrounds to develop fully and will therefore study the factors and support available to do so.
One of the portfolios will be concerned with assessing the lifestyle of a subject, determining if there are ways that this can be improved and then suggesting a routine that can be followed to achieve this. In this portfolio there are opportunities for practical work and visits out of school.
In the final portfolio pupils will be able to learn about the areas of care that are provided and the jobs available, which will help prepare them for a career in health, social care and early years work.
This is when it would be really beneficial for pupils, on this course, to apply for work experience in an area associated with the subject. The information that they can obtain would be both useful as an insight into a future profession and also help their portfolio content.
To help the pupils both with this portfolio and their future careers, ‘Connexions’ have been able to provide advice, information and suggestions as to how to achieve a future in this sector.
‘Busy Bees’ Nursery in Lostock Hall, very kindly helped provide information for one of the portfolios. Katie, the deputy manager, spoke to the pupils about the role of the Nursery Nurse and how the children are educated, looked after and their daily routine.
As a comparison the girls also need to look at a different type of job within this service industry. So we were also very grateful to ‘St. Catherine’s’ hospice who sent Pat and Sylvia, two out reach nurses, who gave a presentation and who spoke very openly to the girls regarding the help they were able to offer to cancer patients and their families.
We are very grateful to all of our speakers who have helped make this final portfolio both interesting and well informed.
Additional Experiences
There are occasions when guest speakers are able to come in and share their experience and knowledge in this field such as nursery nurse managers from local nurseries. St Catherine’s Hospice out reach nurses also visit, when they are able and explained their role in the community. Visits to St Catherine’s hospice have been organised and the pupils find this very rewarding and inspire them to want to get involved in their local community and fund raising.
We are always grateful to our guest speakers and would invite any parent who has links to contact us so that the pupils can benefit from a wider variety of experiences.
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Health & Social Care (Double Award) GCSE
Administration | Absence | Exams | Fair Processing | Intake FAQs | Lunchtime Arrangements | Locker Order Form | Parent Support | School Day | Uniform
Departments | Art & Design | Design Technology | English | Geography | Health & Social Care | History | ICT & Business Studies | Life Studies | Mathematics | Media Studies
Modern Foreign Languages | Physical Education | Performing Arts | Religious Education | Science
Pupil Support | Pastoral System | Pupil Rewards | SEN
Company Number 07657427 Lostock Hall Academy Trust
An exempt charitable company registered with the DfE