What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification provides a wide range of basic, introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to health and social care, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the health and social care sector and across other sectors.
It is anticipated that this qualification will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people interested in a career in the health and social care sector who intend to access level 1 qualifications but will need a fairly extensive learning programme before they are ready to do so
• Young people and adults with little or no prior attainment, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, who wish to work in the health and social care sector but need a fairly extensive grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills, over an extended period of time, before applying for work
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
Mandatory units include:
• Working in Health and Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
• Principles and Values in Health and Social Care, Adults and Children and Young People, Early Years and Childcare
• Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
• Person-Centred Support in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as disability awareness, communication in health and social care, working with children and young people through play, healthy diets) alongside generic employability skills (such as self-management skills, solving work related problems
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
Learners can progress to a Level 1 certificate or diploma in Health and Social Care, including Gateway Qualifications’ Level 1 Certificate and Diploma in Skills for Health and Social Care (Adults and Children).
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Diploma if before progressing to employment (with further training where possible) or to a Level 1 qualification, they need an extended introduction to the sector including the opportunity to build up a range of skills and knowledge, explore a number of potential job roles in the sector, and gain a set of more generic workplace skills. The Diploma will be suitable for learners who would benefit from an extended period of time working at Entry level, up to 2 years, before they are ready for Level 1.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to an entry-level role in health and social care such as care assistant, nursery assistant, mobile meals assistant.
Progression & Entry Requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification. It is available to learners of any age.
