Health and Social Care - OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Unit 1 – Building positive relationships in Health and Social Care 

• Understand relationships in health, social care or child care environments  
• Types of relationship
• Relationship contexts
• How context can impact relationships

Understand the factors that influence the building of relationships 

• communication factors 
• verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• written 
• special methods and adaptations 
• theories of communication and application to health and social care contexts
• cultural factors 
• environmental factors
• physical factors 

Understand how a person-centred approach builds positive relationships in health, social care or child care environments 

• strategies to ensure a person centred approach 
• understand individual’s needs and preferences 
• enabling and supporting an individual 
• staff training 
• demonstrate professional behaviour  

How a person-centred approach supports positive relationships,  

• empowers individual 
• builds trust 
• develops mutual respect 
• recognises diversity 
• develops confidence 
• develops teamwork 
• leads to additional 

Be able to use communication skills effectively to build positive relationships in a health, social care or child care environment   

• communication skills 
• verbal and non-verbal communication skills 
• written 
• apply theories of communication to health and social care contexts 

Effectiveness of interactions 

• self-awareness and reflection 
• use of strategies, support and aids to overcome barriers  

Aspects of reflective practice 

• evaluating specific incidents or activities
• identifying what might be done better next time 
• identifying what went well  
• exploring training and development needs

 

Unit 2  

 Understand concepts of equality, diversity and rights and how these are applied in the context of health, social care and child care environments 

• Equality
• Diversity
• Rights 

Application of concepts 

• The values of care in health and social care
• The values of care in child care settings 

Support Networks 

Understand the impact of discriminatory practices on individuals in health, social care and child care environments 

• Discriminatory practices
• Individuals affected
• Impact on individuals 

Understand how current legislation and national initiatives promote anti discriminatory practice in health, social care and child care environments 

• Key aspects of legislation
• Overview of national initiatives
• Impact of legislation and national initiatives. 

Understand how equality, diversity and rights in health, social care and child care environments are promoted. 

• Applying best practice
• Explaining discriminatory practice
• Choosing appropriate action/response to promote equality, diversity and rights.

 

Unit 3

Understand potential hazards in health, social care and child care environments 

• Types of hazards
• Potential impacts of hazards
• Protection from abuse and harm
• Types of settings 

 

Understand how legislation, policies and procedures promote health, safety and security in health, social care and child care environments 

• Legislation
• Safeguarding
• Influences of legislation
• Implementation of policies and procedures
• Review of policies and procedures 

Understand the roles and responsibilities involved in health, safety and security in health, social care and child care environments 

• Roles
• Responsibilities
• Consequences 

Know how to respond to incidents and emergencies in a health, social care or child care environment 

• Incidents and emergencies
• Responding to incidents and emergencies
• Responsibilities of a first aider

 

Unit 4 

Understand the cardiovascular system, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• composition of blood
• function of blood
• structure of the heart
• function of the heart
• control and regulation of the cardiac cycle
• type, structure and function of blood vessels
• formation of tissue fluid and lymph
• cardiovascular malfunctions
• monitoring, treatment and care of vascular malfunctions 

Understand the respiratory system, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• structure of the respiratory system
• inspiration and expiration
• gaseous exchange
• cellular respiration
• respiratory malfunctions
• monitoring, treatment and care for respiratory malfunctions 

Understand the digestive system, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• structure of digestive system
• chemical and mechanical digestion
• digestive role of liver and pancreas
• assimilation and absorption
• digestive malfunctions
• monitoring, treatment and care of digestive malfunctions 

Understand the musculoskeletal system, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• structure of bone
• types of joints
• components of a synovial joint
• muscle action around joints
• musculoskeletal malfunctions
• monitoring, treatment and care of musculoskeletal malfunctions 

Understand the control and regulatory systems, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• components of the nerve system
• structure and function of the brain
• nerve action
• organisation and function of the endocrine system
• structure of the kidney
• function of the kidney
• breakdown functions of the liver
• homeostasis
• malfunctions of control and regulatory systems
• monitoring, treatment and care of malfunctions of control and regulatory systems 

Understand the sensory systems, malfunctions and their impact on individuals 

• structure of the eye and ear
• malfunctions of the eye and ear
• monitoring, treatment and care of malfunctions of the eye and ear.

 

Unit 5 

Understand infection control in health and social care 

• definition of infection control
• common terms and meanings of infection control
• health and social care setting where infection control is needed
• risks associated with poor infection control
• legislation relating to infection control  

Know the chain of infection 

Be able to control the spread of infection 

• Eradicate source of infection
• Controlling the method of spread
• Protection by immunisation
• Protective clothing
• Use of aseptic technique and sterile dressings
• Importance of maintaining standard precautions
• Last offices of the deceased 

Understand the role of the health and social care worker in controlling infection.

 

Unit 6 

Understand personalisation in health and social care 

• Definition of personalisation
• Key features of personalisation
• Benefits of personalisation
• Impacts of personalisation
• Legislation underpinning personalisation
• Role of the local authority 

Understand what is meant by a person-centred approach to care 

• Person centred approach
• Principals of a person centred approach
• Context of a person centred approach
• Historic overview
• Challenges to adopting a person centred approach
• Methods for overcoming challenges 

Understand methods used to implement a person centred approach 

• Tools to find out what is important to/for the person
• Tools to enable a voice
• Tools to develop roles and responsibilities
• How to draw up person centred plans and records 

Know how to plan and conduct review meetings using a person-centred approach 

• Review meetings
• Planning and preparing for review meetings
• Conducting review meetings 

 

Unit 7 

Understand types and signs of abuse 

• types of abuse
• signs of abuse 

Understand factors which may lead to abusive situations 

• Adults, young people and children most at risk of abuse
• Environments that increase the risk of abuse
• Other factors that make abuse more likely 

Understand legislation, regulatory requirements and guidance which govern the safeguarding of adults, young people and children 

• Current legislation 

Understand how to deal with suspected abuse and disclosures of abuse 

• People who are likely to be told about abuse
• How to deal with disclosures 

Understand working strategies and procedures for the safeguarding and protection of adults, young people and children 

• The policies and procedures health and social care settings should have in place to safeguard vulnerable vulnerable adults
• The policies and procedures health and social care settings should have in place to safeguard vulnerable children 

 Understand how workers within health, social care and child care environments can minimise the risk of abuse 

• Minimising the risk of abuse
• Developing confidence and resilience in individuals who are vulnerable. 

 

Unit 9  

Know the types and causes of learning disabilities 

• definition of learning disabilities
• types of learning disabilities and associated conditions
• causes of learning disabilities
• difference between learning disabilities and specific learning difficulties 

Understand the difficulties that may be experienced by individuals with learning disabilities 

• difficulties and their impact
• ways of overcoming potential difficulties

Be able to support individuals with learning disabilities to plan their care and support 

• support services
• practitioners
• methods of care
• legislation
• guidance 

 

Unit 13 

Understand sexual health and contraception 

• Sexual consent
• Sexual Health
• Methods of contraception 

Understand the importance of prenatal health and the process of conception 

• Factors affecting conception 
• Process of conception 

Know the factors which could affect health in pregnancy and the success of the birth 

• conditions in utero
• factors that can affect the health of a foetus 

Understand the stages of pregnancy and birth and the post natal care of the mother 

• Gestation
• Birth
• Types of care
• Post natal support 

Understand the care and development of the baby in the first year of life 

• Development stages
• Care and nutrition of new born to 1 year
• Health and social care early years services. 

Unit 14  

Know what long term physiological conditions are; their causes and symptoms 

• Types
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Biological explanation 

Understand effects of long-term physiological conditions 

• Daily effects
• Ways of monitoring
• Treatment
• Barriers to treatment 

Be able to support individuals with long-term physiological conditions to plan their care and support 

• Current frameworks
• Local service provisions
• Practitioners
• Third sector
• Best practice to support individuals 

Know about end of life care 

• End of life strategies and interventions
• Regulatory frameworks
• Ethics 

Morals

 

Unit 22 

Be able to apply psychological theories and approaches to health, social care and child care 

• Psychological perspectives and approaches
• Application of theory into practice
• Application of person centred care and how it links to psychological theories 

Understand health psychology 

• Role of psychology
• Factors that impact on psychology
• Theories of behaviour change 

Understand the impact of chronic illness and long-term health conditions on individuals 

• Chronic illness and long term health conditions
• Psychological impact of ill health
• Prescribed treatments
• Impact of treatments 

Know the psychological impacts of requiring care 

• Positive and negative psychological impacts of requiring care 

 

Unit 24 

Understand systems for the protection and promotion of public health 

• Legislation
• Organisations
• Current targets and health issues
• Practitioners involved in promoting public health 

Understand public health strategies 

• Current public health strategies.

In Health and Social Care we teach both theory and practical elements of study.  Students will learn about the theories and legislations of Health and social care and will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills.  The OCR course offered is:

OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma in Health and social care (720 GLH) 

This is made up of 5 exam units and 7 coursework units; 

Unit 1 – Building positive relationships in Health and Social Care (coursework) 

Unit 2 – Equality, diversity and rights in health and social care (exam unit) 

Unit 3 – Health, safety and security in health and social care (exam unit) 

Unit 4 – Anatomy and physiology (exam unit) 

Unit 5 – Infection Control (Coursework) 

Unit 6 – Personalisation and person centred care (exam Unit) 

Unit 7 – Safeguarding (exam unit) 

Unit 9 – Supporting people with learning difficulties (Coursework) 

Unit 13 – Sexual health, reproduction and early development stages (Coursework unit) 

Unit 14 – Impact of long term physiological disorders (Coursework) 

Unit 22 – Psychology for Health and social care (coursework) 

Unit 24 Public Health (coursework) 

 

Students taking the Diploma qualification then have 10 hours of study in Health and Social Care each week.   

 

Students are supported as individuals with support put in place for students as needed.  Students are all provided with revision guides for the examined units.  Teaching groups are small allowing students to benefit from more individualised support.   

 

Health and Social Care is useful in any caring role.  Common careers leading from Health and Social Care include, nursing, teaching, care work, nursery nurse, paramedic, midwife, physiotherapist, disability carer. 

 

Students usually move on from this course to attend university courses in adult nursing, mental health nursing, midwifery, early years childhood studies, education, physiotherapy, paramedic science, biomedical sciences. 

 

Students also move on from this course to apprenticeships in Education, paramedics and nursing.

Biology 

Psychology 

Sociology 

Sport 

Law 

Criminology

‘Health and Social Care has given me the skills I need to cope with academic or vocational courses in the future.  I have developed skills and knowledge important for many careers, and I have developed confidence in effective communication and essay writing skills.  I have especially enjoyed the practice parts of each unit.’