The Level 1/Level 2 Technical Award in Health and Social Care will prepare students to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge through vocational contexts by studying human lifespan development, health and social care services and values, and health and wellbeing as part of their Key Stage 4 learning.

The intent of the Health and Social Care curriculum at New Road Academy is to:

• Provide students with a solid grounding in health and social care principles.
• Cultivate key skills like empathy, communication, and problem-solving.
• Ready students for further studies in the health and social care field.
• Enhance awareness of diverse individual needs and the significance of promoting health and well-being

The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden students’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

There are 3 components to the qualification that students must complete, these are: Human lifespan development; Health and Social Care Services and Values; Health and Wellbeing. The three components focus on the assessment of applied knowledge and practice. They are all essential to developing a basis for progression and therefore students need to achieve all components in order to achieve the qualification.

The components are interrelated and are best seen as part of an integrated whole rather than as totally distinct study areas. This means that students are given the opportunity to build their confidence in understanding the sector, vocational contexts and vocational attributes over a long period of time.

Students will be given the opportunity to apply knowledge to case studies and different scenarios to ensure that they understand the holistic impact of topics covered in lessons. This will be done through role play, scenarios, written tasks and research.

The curriculum will be delivered through:

• Engaging Lessons: Combining theoretical and practical sessions to explore topics like human growth and development, health and social care services, and care values.
• Real-World Applications: Integrating case studies, guest speakers, and work experience to offer students practical insights and experiences.
• Collaborative Learning: Promoting group work and discussions to boost understanding and teamwork skills.
• Assessment Methods: Employing diverse assessment techniques, including practical demonstrations, written assignments, and exams, to gauge student progress and comprehension.

Upon completing this course, students will gain a robust foundation in health and social care, prepared to continue their studies within a range of vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Health and Social Care.

Students will acquire the skills and knowledge to improve their ability to provide support and care throughout life. They will also gain an understanding of the services available to assist them and their families in the future, as well as the core care values that foster a supportive community

Home learning tasks, such as retrieval practice and research projects will strengthen knowledge and understanding of the key components of the Health and Social Care course and identify gaps in their knowledge. Home learning will be set based upon students needs in lessons and projects half termly.

Outside of the classroom, the Health and Social Care department will strive to give students the opportunity to see real workplaces and to take part in mini-work experiences forming the basis of their coursework.

About 3 million people work in health or social care, the healthcare industry offers a wide range of career paths, catering to various interests and skill sets including:

Clinical Roles:

• Doctors, Nurses, Midwives

Health and Social Care Support Roles:

• Healthcare Assistants, Phlebotomists, occupational therapists, counsellors

Technical and Scientific Roles:

• Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists

Administrative and Management Roles:

• Healthcare Administrators, Health Information Managers

Public Health and Community Roles:

• Public Health Officers, Health Educators

Specialised Roles:

• Pharmacists, Dentists

 Together they account for nearly one in ten of all paid jobs in the UK. Demand for people to fill these vital jobs will increase. Therefore, all students on this course are actively encouraged to choose a Health and Social Care related work experience placements where possible.