Activity Provision in Health and Social Care

Understand the importance of activity provision to health and social care service users.

The benefits of activity provision for health and social care service users may include:

• social e.g. make new friends, prevent isolation and loneliness
• emotional e.g. have fun, stress release
• cognitive e.g. stimulate brain, problem solving, encourages memory
• physical e.g. maintains functional capabilities, fun, makes you feel good.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1
  Explain the benefits of engaging health and social care service users in activity.
  

Know about different types of activity within health and social care.

Different types of activities could be categorised under different areas of development. For example:

• social e.g. day care facilities, social clubs, local organisations laying on coffee mornings, visits to local schools, visits from local organisations such as Brownies, outings
• physical e.g. walking groups, Pilates, Yoga, chair-based exercise, craft activities
• cognitive e.g. board and card games, Bingo, singing groups.

All of these suggested activities will promote positive emotional development.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Outline different types of activity used in health and social care, and the purposes for which they are used.

Be able to select and plan appropriate activities for health and social care service users.

Factors to consider when planning activities may include:

• individuals needs and interests
• health and safety e.g. number of helpers required
• transport and equipment required
• costs
• timings.

Plan an activity to include:

• identification of specific needs of a health and social care user
• aim and purpose of activity
• description of the activity
• resources
• risk assessment.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1
  Outline the factors that should be taken into account when
  selecting an activity for an individual.
  
• 3.2
  Identify an activity that meets the specific needs of an individual health and social care service user.
  
• 3.3
  Create a plan for implementing an activity for an individual which includes aims and purpose, description of the activity, resources required and assessment of risk.

Understand the role of the health or social care professional supporting individuals undertaking activities.

Ways to support individuals to engage and benefit from activities may include:

• participating with them
• encouraging and supporting them before and during the activity
• effective communication.

Learners must be able to explain the importance of a person-centred approach. Examples will enhance the explanation e.g. finding out what the person is interested in; understanding their personality e.g. very shy, out-going, like to take the lead; letting the person decide if they want to participate.

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1
  Explain how a health and social care professional can support individuals to engage in and benefit from activities.
  
• 4.2
  Explain the importance of taking a person-centred approach to supporting individuals undertaking activities.