Why study Care?

This course helps you to develop the knowledge and skills to understand people who use care services. You will learn why people need care, and how to support their health and wellbeing. The course helps you to develop important skills such as problem-solving, communication, planning and managing tasks, and applying knowledge and understanding to care issues and scenarios.

These skills are valuable in a wide range of career sectors, including health care, social care and childcare.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

Health and Medicine

Social, Caring and Advisory

What do I need to get in?

Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved:

•  National 3 Literacy Unit

What will I study?

You will learn about the social, physical, emotional, cognitive and cultural needs of people who use care services. And, you will learn the skills involved in understanding and explaining influences on human development and behaviour. You will also find out how social influences can affect people and the relevance of this for care practice.

The course has three compulsory units, plus an added value unit that assesses your practical skills.

Care: Values and Principles (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• investigate a range of health and social care services
• explore the skills, qualities, values and principles required by care workers
• learn what it means to work as a professional in the care sector.

Care: Human Development and Behaviour (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• develop an understanding of factors influencing human development and behaviour
• apply your knowledge and understanding of human development and behaviour to people using care services
• learn how care workers can use psychological concepts to understand the behaviour of people using care services.

Care: Social Influences (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• learn how sociological concepts can describe social influences and how these might affect people’s life chances
• describe how social influences are relevant for care practice
• describe actions taken in society to improve the life chances of people using care services.

Added Value Unit: Care: Investigating Services Assignment (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• investigate the needs of individuals requiring care and the services available to meet those needs
• apply your knowledge and understanding of psychology and sociology to meet the needs of the individuals
• present you findings in a relevant format, showing the skills, knowledge and understanding you have learned.

How will I be assessed?

Your work will be assessed by your teacher on an ongoing basis throughout the course. Items of work might include:

• written work - reports, case studies and research
• projects
• class-based exams.

You must pass all the units including the Added Value Unit to gain the course qualification.

What can I go on to next?

If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:

• National 5 Care

Further study, training or employment in:

• Health and Medicine
• Social, Caring and Advisory Services

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Care - Related Careers

Where can my parents find out more?

Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.

They can also read the information leaflet(s):

Nationals in a Nutshell - Care (National 4)