Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 7: SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREUnit 7:Sociological Perspectives forHealth and Social CareNQF Level 3:Guided learning hours: 30BTEC NationalUnit abstractThe aim of the unit is to introduce the learner to sociology as the study of society,and as a method of enquiry and explanation. Initially learners will gain understandingof sociology as a discipline, and the different sociological approaches to study. Theywill then be introduced to the application of the different sociological approaches tothe understanding of a number of concepts within health and social care. This willinclude the exploration of the social dimension of health and illness.Sociologists argue that health and illness have two aspects to them. The first of theseis biological, and there clearly are distinct states of discomfort, pain and abnormalitythat can be considered to be ill health. The second aspect, however, involves theways in which the concepts of health and illness are themselves considered, andsociologists consider the cultural dimensions of these concepts.Learners will also examine health inequalities among different groups of people insociety, and the range of explanations that sociologists have suggested for theseinequalities.On completion of this unit learners will have been introduced to the sociologicalapproach to health and social care studies. The unit will encourage them to bereflective, and will be valuable to those learners intending to work with people in acaring capacity. It will be useful also to learners who intend to progress to study at ahigher level.The sociological approach is embedded in several other units in the programme and isextended in Unit 19: Applied Sociological Perspectives for Health and Social Care.Learning outcomesOn completion of this unit a learner should:1 Understand sociological approaches to study2 Be able to apply sociological approaches to health and social care.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007113