Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 18: WORKING IN THE HEALTH SECTOREssential guidance for tutorsDeliveryThis unit may not be combined in a learner’s programme with Unit 17: Working in theSocial Care Sector.This unit needs to be delivered by an appropriately qualified tutor, with guestspeakers, visits and learners’ work experience placements being used to enhance thedelivery. It should ideally be delivered in as practical and learner-centred way aspossible.Learning outcome 1 links closely to Unit 6: Personal and Professional Development inHealth and Social Care, in that learners are required to consider potential careerpathways. Delivery here should therefore enhance and develop learning that hasalready been undertaken, allowing opportunities for further exploration of potentialcareers and their requirements. Learners could, for example, talk to health careworkers at their work experience placements and then share their findings in class,or guest speakers could be invited in to talk to the class.Learning outcome 2 also links to Unit 6: Personal and Professional Development inHealth and Social Care, in terms of the provision of services. Again, delivery hereshould significantly extend that previously undertaken. Learners need to gain a morein-depth understanding of overall health service provision for children, young people,adults and older people. This could be achieved by small group research intodifferent aspects of provision, followed by presentations or a class display.The organisation of service provision needs to be considered from a national, regionaland local perspective. National Service Frameworks need to be researched, andlearners could possibly carry out a survey into services available locally, againdividing into groups to research different aspects. This should therefore significantlyenhance the learning they undertook for Unit 6: Personal and ProfessionalDevelopment in Health and Social Care.Learners then need to consider roles and responsibilities in the health sector.Internet research could be used to gain information on the overarching organisations,as well as legislation, standards and codes of practice, though some of the lattercould be explored through their work experience placements. Learners should also beencouraged to use their work experience placements in order to investigate bothworkforce development and the role of multi-disciplinary working in the healthsector. Subsequent sharing of information within the class will broaden learners’experiences and understanding. Case studies could also be useful here to reinforcelearning.250BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007