National 5 Skills for Work Health Sector (SCQF Level 5)
This Skills for Work course is also designed to provide learners with opportunities for developing Core Skills and Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills for Work, with a strong focus on enhancing skills and attitudes for employability.
The health sector includes the National Health Service (NHS) (primary and secondary care), Independent Healthcare, Complementary Therapies, the Life Sciences and Retail Pharmaceutical Industries and the Community and Voluntary Sector.
The health sector is seen as a growth industry across Scotland offering a wide range of employment opportunities at a variety of levels. The National Health Service (NHS) is a major employer in Scotland and currently employs over 160,000 people. The demands placed upon the NHS are increasing, through changes in demographics combined with an ageing workforce. Scotland has one of the largest life sciences industries in Europe, with a worldwide reputation particularly in research and development and manufacturing. The growing life sciences industry currently employs over 30,000 people in a wide variety of job roles.
The National 5 Health Sector Course has been designed to provide learners with opportunities to develop generic employability skills in the context of the health sector. The National 5 Course will introduce learners to a range of knowledge and skills. The course may assist progression into further and higher education and training/employment.
This course consists of five internally assessed units of work:
Working in the Health Sector
This unit introduces learners to the range of provision and the services provided by the health sector in their local area. Learners will participate in an interview for a specific job role which will help to develop knowledge and understanding of the world of work. The unit also focuses on the employability skills and attitudes identified as being those most valued by employers in the health sector. Learners will be given the opportunity to reflect on and evaluate their own employability skills and record their progress throughout the unit.
Life Sciences Industry and the Health Sector
This unit is designed to introduce learners to the contribution of the life sciences industry in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. Learners will investigate the safety of pharmaceutical products made by the life sciences industry and the health and safety responsibilities of employers and employees in the life sciences industry. Learners will also undertake a risk assessment in relation to production, storage or use of products made by the life sciences industry.
Improving Health and Well-being
This unit is designed to introduce learners to the wide range of options available in the health sector that help tackle current health and lifestyle issues. It introduces learners to the health and safety risks to workers in the health sector and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Also, through team working, learners will give advice in relation to the promotion of health.
Physiology of the Cardiovascular System
This unit will provide learners with an introduction to the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Learners will apply this knowledge to investigate the effect of a specific disorder on the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Learners will participate in a practical activity which will help to develop knowledge and skills in taking physiological measurements at different activity levels. Learners will also participate in a practical activity to demonstrate current first aid procedures to provide emergency life support.
Working in Non Clinical Roles
This unit introduces learners to the range and diversity of careers in non clinical roles in the health sector. Learners will undertake an investigation into the roles and responsibilities of non clinical roles and the diversity of career opportunities available. Learners will also participate in a practical activity which will enable them to demonstrate customer care skills in a non clinical role.
This Skills for Work course is internally assessed in a variety of ways, including written tasks, group work, presentations and role-play scenarios.
