Health and Social Care O'level

The study area SEC Health and Social Care is informed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

Unit 1: Effective Communication, Human Development and Holistic Care

This unit will enable candidates to gain the knowledge, understanding and practical skills they need to be able to communicate successfully within Health and Social Care contexts. Throughout this unit candidates will investigate and learn about different forms of communication, understand barriers to communication and be able to communicate effectively. 

Due to the wide range of care settings available in Malta, the candidate needs to understand human growth and development through the different life stages and the resultant needs. Candidates also need to understand the effect of life factors and events on an individual’s needs, health and wellbeing. For example, during birth and infancy candidates will explore the rapid changes that a baby progresses through. In childhood, candidates will look at the development of physical skills and life changing events such as the birth of a sibling. In adolescence, puberty, self-esteem, peer pressure and risk-taking (e.g. drugs and alcohol) will be taken into account. In adulthood life-changing events (such as marriage and employment) will be considered along with the physical and psychological effects of growing old. The effects of bereavement and the loss of a partner will also be covered. The impact of disability will be examined. Candidates will have the opportunity to learn how to wash and feed babies and persons with mobility problems. 

Knowledge and understanding of the needs of individuals is fundamental to delivering holistic Health and Social Care. An introduction to needs will challenge candidates to consider how these vary at different life stages of human growth and development: birth and infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Additionally, candidates will carry out a basic assessment of an individual’s general health and wellbeing and develop a plan to meet his/her health and wellbeing needs. 

Unit 2: Anatomy, Physiology, Health and Safety in Health & Social Care 

This unit will introduce candidates to the knowledge and understanding of how the body works: the organisation of the human body, the major body systems and the fact that body systems do not function in isolation but work together in maintaining the body as a whole, with the health of the individual depending on this. The unit allows candidates to explore how to take and record basic clinical measurements such as temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure. This knowledge will help them understand the routine procedures that take place in Health and Social Care environments, including the monitoring of body systems. 

Within Health and Social Care environments there are many hazards that need to be identified, communicated and controlled to ensure a safe environment for everyone using the services. The unit enables candidates to explore the knowledge and skills related to Health and Safety issues, including Health and Safety legislation, risk assessment and the actions that are necessary to minimise potential hazards and risks. Furthermore, the unit will give candidates a basic understanding of First Aid: summoning help or taking action to help a person in distress or preventing further damage in the event of an accident or injuries. 

Unit 3: Equality, Diversity and Quality Care

This unit aims to give candidates an understanding of diversity in Health and Social Care. Multi-cultural societies have different values, preferences and beliefs with the consequence that treatments and practices adopted by some groups may be unacceptable to others on the basis of diverse cultural norms and/or religious practices. Diet, physical contact, certain treatments (i.e. blood transfusions) and rituals can be regarded differently by individuals from diverse cultures. Sometimes, these might necessitate alternative treatments. 

Diversity can create obstacles while caring for people. In the Health and Social Care fields it is important to be aware of these differences in order to adjust practice to accommodate individual needs wherever possible. Similarly, different people have different values and norms. It is extremely important that practitioners in the Health and Social Care field are as non-judgmental as possible and are able to demonstrate unconditional positive regard towards each individual service user. 

Individuals accessing Health and Social Care services are vulnerable because they are dependent on others for their care. This means that practitioners’ attitudes and prejudices may have an effect on the care being provided. This unit will explore prejudices and stereotypes and encourage candidates to examine their own values and beliefs. Awareness of how such (conscious or subconscious) prejudices may affect practitioners’ behaviour will improve the quality of care they provide. 

At the end of the programme, the student will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the different contexts of communication
• Demonstrate communication skills in one-to-one and group interactions
• Meet individual needs at different life stages
• Demonstrate an understanding of the factors that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals
• Develop a plan to meet the general health and wellbeing needs of an individual
• Demonstrate an understanding of the organisation of the human body and the interrelationship of major body systems
• Measure vital signs and interpret the results obtained
• Demonstrate an understanding of potential hazards in Health and Social Care and how legislation promotes health, safety and security
• Demonstrate an understanding of the activities of daily living and how their application improves quality of care
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic First Aid skills
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of diversity underpinning Health and Social Care
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of legislation and organisations in promoting antidiscriminatory practice and equality
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rights of individuals accessing Health and Social Care services
• Demonstrate an understanding of the social service principles and the provision of quality care