Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 6: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREEssential guidance for tutorsDeliveryIn addition to the guided learning hours, a minimum of 100 hours of experience inhealth and social care settings is required for the successful completion of thisunit. It is recommended that this is divided between at least three differentplacements.There are strong links with Unit 1: Developing Effective Communication in Healthand Social Care, and Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care,and it would be good practice if the same tutor could be responsible for delivering allthree units.The delivery of all aspects of this unit needs to be carefully planned over theduration of the programme.Initially, some class time is required in order to deliver learning outcome 1 and toprepare learners for learning outcomes 2 and 3, which will be ongoing throughout theprogramme. In particular, learners need to develop some research skills inpreparation for other units in the programme and also in order for them to gainevidence for learning outcome 3, while on placement. They will need robustpreparation for their work experience placements, and clear advice and guidanceregarding the compilation of their personal and professional development portfolios.Learners will also require initial individual tutorial sessions to support them in thedevelopment of their action plans.Delivery of some aspects of the unit may be incorporated into routine courseactivities such as diagnostic assessments, study skills support, IT, teaching on otherunits, formal and informal preparation for placements, and may be included ininduction activities. Role plays, presentations, debates and other activities could beused to raise learners’ awareness of the key concepts and expectations of the unit.Some aspects of the unit may benefit from specialist input, for exampleobservational techniques used in health and social care.The work experience placements could either take the form of a day or half day aweek, or block placements at a suitable point in the learners’ programme. Learnerson placement will need monitoring, and should have access to regular tutorialsessions to discuss their personal and professional development. The timing of thesetutorial sessions needs careful consideration and planning in order to support learnerseffectively as they progress through their programmes. Learners will requireconstructive feedback on their progress, and support with the monitoring and reviewof their action plans. A suitable time for review could, for example, be following thecompletion of work experience at one of their settings.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007103