What does this course offer me?

1. Depending on the units you choose, you can specialise in adults, or children and young people.
2. If you’re working in a managerial role in health or social care, this work based qualification is ideal for you.
3. You’ll develop the knowledge, understanding and management skills you need to carry out good practice and review of organisational procedures in your workplace.
4. It’s a flexible course with lots of support from your tutor, on a one to one basis or by using an e-portfolio.

Tell me about the course in general

1. Before you start this course, you’ll need to be already working in a managerial role in health and social care, with responsibility for decision making and supervising and supporting others. You’ll also need to be working collaboratively with other agencies.
2. During this course, you’ll apply your knowledge and skills to a variety of work based activities, most of which are challenging and non routine.
3. You’ll build up a portfolio of evidence with the help of your tutor. And you’ll be assessed throughout the course in your workplace in several ways, including direct observations, professional discussions and witness testimony. You may also be able to use experience you’ve already built up, as evidence.

Tell me about the course in general

For NVQs at Level 4 in Health and Social Care you must be a specialist practitioner with extended skills and be responsible for the support of other workers.

How is it structured and what will I study?

You have to take these units:

HSC41 – use and develop methods and systems to communicate, record and report
HSC42 – contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy and safe practices in the working environment
HSC43 – take responsibility for the continuing professional development of self and others
HSC44 - develop practice which promotes the involvement, well-being and protection of children and young people (if you want to specialise in children and young people), or
HSC45 - develop practices which promote choice, well-being and protection of all individuals (if you want to specialise in adults).

You then choose four of these optional modules:

HSC413 - manage requests for health and care services
HSC414 - assess individual needs and preferences
HSC415 - produce, evaluate and amend service delivery plans to meet individual needs and preferences
HSC416 - develop, implement and review care plans with individuals
HSC417 - assess individuals’ mental health and related needs
HSC418 - work with individuals with mental health needs to negotiate and agree plans for addressing those needs
HSC419 - provide advice and information to those who enquire about mental health needs and related services
HSC420 - promote leisure opportunities and activities for individuals
HSC421 - promote employment, training and education opportunities for individuals
HSC422 - promote housing opportunities for individuals
HSC423 - assist individuals at formal hearings
HSC424 - supervise methadone consumption
HSC425 - support people who are providing homes for individuals and/or children and young people
HSC426 - empower families, carers and others to support individuals
HSC427 - assess the needs of carers and families
HSC428 - develop, implement and review programmes of support for carers and families
HSC429 - work with groups to promote individual growth, development and independence
HSC430 - support the protection of individuals, key people and others
HSC431 - support individuals where abuse has been disclosed
HSC432 - enable families to address issues with individuals’ behaviour
HSC433 - develop joint working agreements and practices and review their effectiveness
HSC434 - maintain and manage records and reports
HSC435 - manage the development and direction of the provision
HSC436 - promote and manage a quality provision
HSC437 - promote your organisation and its services to stakeholders
HSC438 - develop and disseminate information and advice about health and social well-being
HSC439 - contribute to the development of organisational policy and practice
HSC440 - support effective governance
HSC441 - invite tenders and award contracts
HSC442 - monitor and evaluate the quality, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of substance misuse services
HSC443 - procure services for individuals
HSC444 - contribute to the selection, recruitment and retention of staff to develop a quality service
HSC445 - recruit and place volunteers
HSC446 - manage a dispersed workforce to meet the needs and preferences of individuals at home
HSC447 - represent the agency in courts and formal hearings
HSC448 - provide and obtain information at courts and formal hearings
HSC449 - represent one’s own agency at other agencies’ meetings
HSC450 - develop risk management plans to support individual’s independence and daily living within their home
HSC451 - lead teams to support a quality provision.

If you want to specialise in children and young people, you can also choose from these modules:

HSC46 - independently represent and advocate with, and on behalf of, children and young people
HSC47 - help parents and carers to acquire and use skills to protect and take care of children and young people
HSC48 - demonstrate a style of leadership that ensures an organisational culture of open and participatory management and practice
HSC49 - develop and maintain an environment which safeguards and protects children and young people

If you want to specialise in adults, you can also choose from these modules:

HSC410 - advocate with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities
HSC411 - manage a service which achieves the best possible outcomes for the individual
HSC412 - ensure individuals and groups are supported appropriately when experiencing significant life events and transitions.

What can I go on to next?

If you want to carry on studying, you could go on to a level 5 qualification or a foundation degree in health and social care.

Length

Start date: Commencing on June 2009.