Nationals specification in Health and Social Care

Aim and purpose

This unit aims to give learners an understanding of the range of technologies used in health and social care and the subsequent implications for people using services. It will encourage the development of learners’ own skills in preparation for work in the health and social care sectors.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 Understand information and communication technology applications for health and social care

2 Be able to use computer software to produce documents

3 Understand the uses of medical and assistive technologies in health and social care

4 Understand the implications of technologies for people using health and social care services.

Assessment

In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria for a pass grade describe the level of achievement required to pass this unit.

To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to:

Explain the use of information and communication technology in health and social care

Produce two types of complex documents to meet a specified need

Explain the use of medical technologies in health and social care

Explain the use of assistive technologies in health and social care

Discuss the implications of technologies for people using health and social care services

To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to:

Discuss the use of information and communication technology in health and social care

Assess the use of medical and assistive technologies in health and social care

Assess the implications of information and other technologies for patients and people using health and social care services.

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to:

Analyse the skills required by health and social care workers to use and manage information and communication technology

Evaluate the use of information and other technologies in health and social care.

Assessment

Evidence for this unit is likely to be a combination of that gained during work experience placements, and centre-based work with technology, projects and discussion.

Evidence for P1 should include a range of national and local electronic systems used for storing and sharing information in health and social care settings. P2 can be assessed through the evidence presented for assessment of another unit, for example Unit 22: Research Methodology for Health and Social Care. The documents produced need to be complex, and include the use of software for word processing and spreadsheets, with examples of graphics, tables, graphs or data. Documents should relate to health or social care and their purpose/audience should be specified. This could be in relation to learners’ own ideas, case studies/scenarios provided by the tutor or ‘real’ work related documents in negotiation with work-placement managers.

Learners should draw on their observations and research from their work placements, from guest speakers or own research to achieve P3 and P4. Examples should be included relating to work in health and social care. Evidence is likely to be in the form of a word processed document and could also provide evidence of learners skills’ for one document produced for P2. To achieve P5, learners should discuss in detail the range of benefits and implications technology has for patients and people using services, including the issues relating to ethics. Information should relate to information and communication technology, medical and assistive technologies. They will refer to how each type promotes individual health, wellbeing, safety and security. Learners should demonstrate a good understanding of ethical issues and relate these to current policy, data protection legislation and the principles and values of the sectors.

For M1, learners will need to draw on their understanding of the range and use of information technologies, discussing how and why electronic systems and other software are used in different contexts across both the health and the social care sectors. Learners will consider carefully a range of technologies used in health and social care, assessing the impact and/or importance of each example in to achieve M2. Learners should draw on information generated for P5 when assessing the implications for patients and people using services for M3. They should consider both the benefits and possible problems which may arise when new technologies are used. Learners will demonstrate that they understand the principles of the sectors, including reference to ethics.

Distinction grade learners will work with autonomy to research the range of information and other technologies. They will use evidence from P1 and M1 to achieve D1, analysing the skills health and social care workers use to produce documents and to use and manage IT applications safely and effectively. In doing so, learners will reflect on their own skills and those of their peers, assessing knowledge and strengths, and recognising areas where they could improve their skills.

Learners will draw conclusions about the range of skills required by health and social care workers, demonstrating divergent and lateral thinking. They will make clear links to both sectors. Learners will synthesise their knowledge, skills and understanding from all pass and merit criteria, showing confidence in their evaluation of the uses of a range of technologies for D2. They will demonstrate understanding of these
complex issues, considering a range of viewpoints about the benefits and ethics. For example, learners will consider issues relating to the collection, storing and sharing of sensitive information, or issues relating to the ethics of using technology for life support. Evidence will be closely linked to health and social care contexts.

Attachment:- Technology in Health.rar