Practising Social Care

Practising Social Care

Each of the six lessons is in two main parts. The first part (Practice Focus) deals with one of the six clusters of occupational standards. The numbering of the six lessons corresponds with the six clusters of occupational standards. The statements from the occupational standards are reframed so that the students can focus on enhancing their knowledge and understanding. The second part (Knowledge Focus) deals with a related aspect of knowledge and understanding. The practice focus concentrates more upon directly enhancing knowledge and understanding related to the specific key roles in each lesson, while the knowledge focus concentrates more upon developing broader aspects of knowledge and understanding.
 
This course aims to enhance students’ understanding of the key skills comprising the occupational standards.

Modules

Lesson 1: Assessing Needs and Circumstances

This first lesson deals with the ways in which the practitioner prepares for, and works with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to assess their needs and circumstances.

• Prepare for social work contact and involvement (NOS 1.1)
• Work with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities so they can make informed decisions (NOS 1.2)
• Assess needs and options in order to recommend a course of action (NOS 1.3)
• Critically Reflective Practice

Lesson 2: Carrying Out, Reviewing and Evaluating Practice
 
This second Lesson provides material which supports students as they plan, carry out, review and evaluate social work practice with individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and other professionals.

• Identify and respond to crisis situations (NOS 2.1)
• Work with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to achieve change, promote dignity, realise, potential and improve life opportunities (NOS 2.2)
• How to produce, implement and evaluate plans with individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and colleagues (NOS 2.3)
• Develop networks to meet assessed needs and planned outcomes (NOS 2.4)
• Work with groups to promote choice and independent living (NOS 2.5)
• Tackle behaviour which presents a risk to individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and the wider public (NOS 2.6)
• Nature of values and principles embedded in practice.

Lesson 3: Tackling Risk
 
This third Lesson deals with assessing and managing risk to individuals, families, carers, groups, communities, self and colleagues.

• Assess and manage risk to individuals, families, carers, groups, communities (NOS 3.1)
• Assess and manage risk to self and colleagues (NOS 3.2)
• How risk is encountered in practice.

Lesson 4: Demonstrating Competence
 
This fourth section deals with the ways in which the practitioner develops an evidence-based approach.

• How to evaluate and use up-to-date knowledge of, and research into, social work practice (NOS 4.1)
• To work within agreed standards of social work practice (NOS 4.2)
• Understand and manage complex issues, dilemmas and conflicts (NOS 4.3)
• Promote best social work practice, adapting positively to change (NOS 4.4)
• How complexity and uncertainty are embodied in integrative practice.

Lesson 5: Managing Accountable Practice
 
This fifth section deals with the ways in which the practitioner develops an accountable, managed practice

• How to manage my own work in an accountable way (NOS 5.1)
• How to take responsibility for my own continuing professional development (NOS 5.2)
• How to contribute to the management of resources and services (5.3)
• How to manage, present and share records and reports (5.4)
• How to prepare for, and take part in, decision-making forums (5.5)
• How to work effectively with professionals within integrated, multi-disciplinary and other service settings (5.6)
• Understand transformative practice

Lesson 6: Empowering Practice
 
This sixth section deals with the ways in which the practitioner supports individuals to represent and manage their needs, views and circumstances. In other words, the practitioner works with people, so as to empower them to develop personalised services to meet their needs.

• Understand how to represent in partnership with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities  to help them achieve and maintain greater independence (NOS 6.1)
• Understand personalised services
• Understand working in partnership with people.

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

At the end of this course successful learners will be given the option to receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the components the learner has completed as part of the course).

Level 4 Practising Social Care Certificate of Achievement

The course has been endorsed under the Quality Licence Scheme. This means that learndirect has undergone an external quality check to ensure that the organisation and the courses it offers, meet defined quality criteria. The completion of this course alone does not lead to a regulated qualification* but may be used as evidence of knowledge and skills gained. The Learner Unit Summary may be used as evidence towards Recognition of Prior Learning if you wish to progress your studies in this subject. To this end the learning outcomes of the course have been benchmarked at Level 4 against level descriptors published by Ofqual, to indicate the depth of study and level of demand/complexity involved in successful completion by the learner.

The course itself has been designed learndirect to meet specific learners’ and/or employers’ requirements which cannot be satisfied through current regulated qualifications. The Quality Licence Scheme endorsement involves robust and rigorous quality audits by external auditors to ensure quality is continually met. A review of courses is carried out as part of the endorsement process.

The Quality Licence Scheme is part of the Skills and Education Group, a charitable organisation that unites education and skills-orientated organisations that share similar values and objectives. With more than 100 years of collective experience, the Skills and Education Group’s strategic partnerships create opportunities to inform, influence and represent the wider education and skills sector.

The Skills and Education Group also includes two nationally recognised awarding organisations; Skills and Education Group Awards and Skills and Education Group Access. Through our awarding organisations we have developed a reputation for providing high-quality qualifications and assessments for the education and skills sector. We are committed to helping employers, organisations and learners cultivate the relevant skills for learning, skills for employment, and skills for life.

Our knowledge and experience of working within the awarding sector enables us to work with training providers, through the Quality Licence Scheme, to help them develop high-quality courses and/or training programmes for the non-regulated market.

*Regulated qualification refers to those qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual / CCEA / Qualification Wales

To view a sample of the Certificate of Achievement, please click here.