The intention of the OCR Cambridge National for Health & Social Care is to introduce students to the biggest employment sector in the UK. A variety of settings, including elements of the NHS, local authority adult and child-care services as well as a range of independent providers which provide care for individuals across all age ranges are explored.

By the end of the course, students should be able to understand the qualities of a good practitioner and be able to identify those qualities in themselves.

Students will be encouraged to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of the rights of individuals, person centred values, effective communication and how to protect individuals in health and social care settings.

Longer-term projects will support the assignments being completed by students, such as conducting interviews with friends and/or family members, for the purposes of evidence gathering about different life experiences in different life stages.

The whole qualification is made up of:

Exam (40%)

Coursework 1 (30%)

Coursework 2 (30%)

Coursework 1 will include:

• E-folio
• Interviewing an adult
• Looking at sources of support

Coursework 2 will include:

• Looking at current health campaigns
• E-folio
• Designing and creating a campaign
• Presenting a campaign to a group
• Acting upon feedback

Exam based theory will include:

• Teacher led theory
• Independent tasks
• Exam practice homework
• Small practical tasks

By thinking creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically students will develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the health and social care sector and more widely. They will develop learning and communication skills that can be applied to real-life contexts and work situations, practicing and showing the qualities that made a good practitioner.

Homework has a focus on the RO32 exam content, with a mix of recapping information, revising and independent study on the next topic.

Students receive an exam practice booklet as an additional support for homework with a mixture of worksheets and exam-based questions.

Exam based questions allow students the chance to get used to the wording used in exams to fully understand the way questions are structured and the meaning of key words.

Students will receive homework fortnightly which should take approximately 1 hour. On occasion this may be split into two 30-minute homework’, one per week.

Students will have the opportunity to get involved in community activities during KS4 that we will offer every half term including:

• collections for local charities
• second hand uniform donations/sales
• fundraising activities
• local community visits
• career visits from professionals discussing job roles

Students will learn a range of career-based skills, allowing them to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• communication
• rights
• values
• qualities
• safeguarding
• safety and security
• cleanliness and hygiene

Once completed, this qualification allows students to achieve either a level 1 (equivalent to GCSE grades 1-3) or a level 2 (equivalent to GCSE grads 4-9) depending on the outcome of both coursework and exam assessments.

The qualification is called an OCR Cambridge National L1/2 award and can be further studied at A level at level 2 or 3 depending on outcome at the end of Year 11. Those students achieving a level 2 in Year 11 will be able to apply for level 3 at college.

Health and social care can also be studied further via vocational, A level, an apprenticeship and/or university degrees.

Jobs directly relevant to Health and Social care include:

• Care management
• Community development
• Community education
• Family support
• Health improvement
• Health service

Jobs where Health and Social care would be useful include:

• Adult nursing
• Counselling
• Early years teaching
• Education mental health
• Midwifery
• Nutrition
• Occupational therapy
• Psychological wellbeing
• Social work