Health Sector

Department

Health is of importance to everyone. The health sector is the biggest employer in Scotland, with over 350 different jobs available in the NHS alone. Studying the Health Sector course will give learners an insight into the daily workings of the health sector, how to measure health using a variety of medical devices, basic CPR and how the heart works. Learners will also gain valuable employability skills and will get to practise CV writing and take part in mock interviews related to working in the health service.

Assessment

There is no external exam for this course. The candidate must pass all of the five units which comprise the course. The assessment of each unit involves open-book assessments and practical activities. Below is a list of the units covered:

Working in Health Sector Settings
Employability Skills in the Health Sector
Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals
Improving Health and Wellbeing
Physiology of the Cardiovascular System

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate would be a young person who is interested in pursuing a career in the health sector, whether that be a job in the NHS or a job in a care home or helping those in the community. The young person should have gained at least National 4 Biology to study this course.

This course is only available for those in S5/6.

What you will learn

The course gives learners a broad experiential introduction to clinical and non-clinical roles in the health sector and the teamwork and fundamental practical skills involved. Learners produce a CV and take part in a mock interview. They investigate different job roles available in the health sector, taking part in supervised role plays and considering health, safety, and risk. They look at how technology and pharmaceuticals are used in diagnosis and treatment. They learn how the cardiovascular system works and practise taking measurements and providing basic practical life support. Learners look at health and lifestyle issues and how they could apply and provide help and advice in a health sector role. The course allows learners to develop employability skills and attitudes valued by employers in the health sector and beyond. Learners review employability skills and seek feedback from their peers and teaching staff as appropriate. They evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses, personal skills, qualifications and experience against career options.

Future Pathways

Demonstrated attainment in the Health Sector will allow pupils to progress their education further via various pathways such as apprenticeships, college, university or straight into the world of work. Employment could be in hospitals, health centres or care homes.