Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 23: COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREEssential guidance for tutorsDeliveryThe emphasis throughout this unit should be on the use of complementary therapiesin the support of orthodox medical treatments and health care.An appropriately qualified and experienced practitioner is required for the deliveryof the unit. It should ideally be delivered in as practical a way as possible, andlearners will benefit by work experience placements that use some form ofcomplementary therapies, if possible. The use in class of guest speakers, and visits tocomplementary therapy centres, will also allow learners to gain essential experienceand encourage them to apply theory to practice. Local health and social care servicesthat use some form of complementary therapies could also be useful resources.The unit could be introduced in a practical manner by, for example, some form ofbreathing, relaxation or other self-help exercises, or head massage. Other suitableactivities, if appropriately qualified practitioners are available, could include pilatesexercises, yoga or dowsing. Feng Shui architecture could also be introduced, as couldnutritional therapy and art therapy. Learners could also experiment, for example, bytasting a range of herbal teas and researching their potential uses.Following a practical and varied introduction to the unit, learners would benefit froma visit to a complementary therapy centre, or a local health and social care servicethat uses some form of complementary therapy. Guest speakers could be invited in toincrease the range of exposure of the learners to different therapies. For example, atalk and demonstration from a homeopathist, a relaxation session with a Reikipractitioner, an aromatherapy session, a Shiatsu session, or insight into crystalhealing would greatly advantage the learners. Local, specialist practitioners mayprovide further variation.Learners could divide into small groups to fully investigate the range ofcomplementary therapies available within their locality, this potentially beingfollowed up by a class display or small group presentations. This research shouldinclude complementary therapies available privately, and those that may be utilisedby local health and social care services, such as GP practices or hospitals.The holistic approach to illnesses such as cancer could be used as a focus here. Forexample, there could be some tutor input to introduce ideas about the role ofcomplementary therapies in the treatment and management of cancer, this beingfollowed up by individual or small group research by learners using both the internetand the services available locally/regionally. If available, a local homeopathichospital, for example, would be an interesting place to visit. Learners should beencouraged to broaden the local knowledge they have gained to a regional ornational level.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007313