Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 19: APPLIED SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREAssessmentEvidence for this unit should be mainly in the form of written assignments, withrecords of presentations and/or class discussions, including audio and video tapes,being used to supplement these. Extracts from work experience diaries could alsoprovide useful evidence, particularly in relation to the concepts relating to theunequal society. For example, learners could be on a work experience placement inwhich they are working alongside adults with learning disabilities. Following informalinterviews with the service users, their families, and also professional carers,learners could interweave concepts such as marginalisation, discrimination, socialexclusion and prejudice. In these circumstances it is crucial for learners to obtainconsent from the individuals concerned, and to respect confidentiality.Fictional case studies extracted from books, textbooks, television programmes orcontemporary literature could be used to generate some of the evidence for this unitin relation to the potential impact of social inequality on health and wellbeing. Thiscould be supported by independent research using relevant sources such asnewspapers, journals and the internet. It is of paramount importance that thesesources are appropriately referenced.Whilst small group work may contribute to some of the research necessary for thisunit, it is important that work submitted for assessment is entirely that of thelearner. It is conceivable that learners may creatively concentrate on particularelements of inequality, and may link this to their potential consequences on healthand wellbeing. This approach should be encouraged and rewarded.It is recommended that this unit is supported by assignment brief/s that include clearinstructions regarding guidance, dates, supporting and generating evidence. The unitcould be assessed either through the vehicle of one large assignment, or through twosmaller ones — the first assessing P1, P2, P3, M1, M2 and M3, and the secondassessing P4, P5, M4 and D1.There could also be links with the assessment for Unit 22: Research Methodology forHealth and Social Care, giving learners opportunities to extend their research projectin areas of interest to them in order to provide evidence for Unit 19.Links to National Occupational Standards, other BTEC units, other BTECqualifications and other relevant units and qualificationsThe knowledge and skills gained through this unit extend those gained in the study ofprevious units, such as Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and SocialCare, and Unit 7: Sociological Perspectives for Health and Social Care. They also linkto all other units in the qualification. There are opportunities to cross-referencesections of the unit, for example to Unit 20: Health Education or Unit 22: ResearchMethodology for Health and Social Care.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007263