Course Title: Health Sector

Course Level: N5

The emphasis of this Course is to prepare candidates for working in the health sector and develop employability skills valued by employers. Candidates will develop a range of knowledge and skills required in this vocational area. Candidates will investigate a range of job roles and career opportunities as well as participating in a job interview.

Candidates will also develop a wide range of skills, including research and self-evaluation skills. Emphasis throughout all Units is on the employability skills and attitudes which will help prepare candidates for the workplace.

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.

Purposes and aims of the course

The general aims of the course are to:

• assist learners to develop employability skills
• allow learners to experience vocationally related learning
• encourage learners to develop a good work ethic
• provide opportunities to develop a range of Core Skills through practical experiences in a vocational environment
• encourage learners to take responsibility for their own learning and development.
• facilitate progression to further/higher education, training and/or employment.

In particular, the specific aims of the course are to:

• encourage learners to consider a career in the health sector
• develop learner's understanding of health and safety responsibilities relevant to a range of activities in the health sector
• develop learner's abilities to benefit from further learning opportunities, study and training opportunities for careers in the health sector
• develop learner’s awareness of the opportunities there may be within the health sector in terms of the type and range of career opportunities
• develop learner's awareness of the impact of the health sector in society
• develop learner's awareness of the responsibilities of the health sector in society
• allow learners to apply investigative skills using a variety of research methods
• develop learner's self-evaluation skills and confidence to seek feedback from others
• increase learner's awareness of the factors that impact on the health of individuals
• allow learners to develop the skills values and attitudes required for employment in the health sector