Health and Social Care

The Curriculum Intention

“The mind and body are not separate. What affects one affects the other.”

As UK Citizens we are privileged to have access to the National Health Service and other supporting services that allow us ensure we live healthy lives. It is imperative students are aware of how the 7 Care Values are transferable skills that they will adhere to throughout their working lives and when working alongside others and within their families. Through reflective practice of their own actions and performance we intend to instil values in students that will encourage them to be well rounded individuals in society with the confidence and buoyancy to empower them to chase their career aspirations and to create, thoughtful and caring individuals who will in turn, pass these values on in the future.

The Lawnswood Health and Social Care Department intends to deliver a curriculum based on the OCR Cambridge National Certificate and government set National Curriculum.

The Cambridge Nationals (KS4) and Cambridge Technicals (KS5) course both aim to provide learners with specialist knowledge and skills for everyday use, i.e. sound communication skills; adopting a hands-on approach to do this. The curriculum is designed to offer challenge and support for all students, with literacy and numeracy being taught through all units. These qualifications are vocationally related, where learners develop knowledge and understanding by applying their learning and skills in a work-related context. Additionally, they are popular and effective because they engage learners to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop skills that are essential for the modern-day workplace. These skills include team working; working from a set assignment; working to deadlines; presenting information effectively; and accurately completing administrative tasks and processes. The OCR syllabus motivates learners and opens doors to progression into further study and responsibility within the workplace.

The Implementation; how the Lawnswood Links are addressed

Confidence

KS4 teaching staff follow the OCR Cambridge National Certificate specification and SOW. The qualification is split into 3 key units, which is content heavy, over 2 years. Two units are internally assessed, and one unit is externally assessed. Each unit counts towards the overall grade achieved in year 11. A summary of content, including specific key terms, and mark scheme is provided for each unit.

KS5 teaching staff follow the OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma specification and SOW. Learners undergoing this qualification will have to complete 7 mandatory units; with further optional units to accumulate to 720GLH.

Teaching staff use data to inform planning and teaching to ensure all students are challenged and able to access learning. Lessons may be completely dedicated to coursework outcomes, where teaching staff will monitor, facilitate and lead dependant on the stage of individual learners. Formal formative and summative assessments include a marked sheet clearly using PINS, the specification criteria and the mark scheme.

Reflective practice is completed at the end of each piece of marked work in line with T&L policies.

Feedback is given using metacognition strategies to help support learners understanding and application of knowledge in exam questions.

The delivery of the CNAT & CTEC are enriched and extended by the use of: case study materials set within health and social care; arranging role plays or simulated activities to illustrate examples of good and bad practice, such as the effective or ineffective application of communication skills within health and social care scenarios (e.g. between staff, or between health and social care workers and service users).

Ambition

Social awareness, and a focus on career opportunities and transferrable life skills are an integral part of most Health and Social Care units.

An important skill students develop is the ability to apply classroom theory into practice in health and social care environments for example, in work placements relating to their future aspirations.

Communication

Focus on both literacy and reading in all lessons. A range of resources involving sophisticated text, extracts, interpretations, articles from legislation, case studies and other sources are used to deliver engaging content. Use of high-level vocabulary is consciously modelled by teaching staff.

Extended writing is developed in line with the exam requirements. This is embedded throughout all key stages at an appropriate and challenging level. Presentation and SPaG are highlighted as important, to develop the confidence of learners, the focus is on the communication of ideas and understanding exam questions and how to answer them through the linking of information together to write fluently. Marking for literacy reflects this with SPaG marking used on assessments to encourage pupil improvement in this area.