Health & Social Care
Staff
​
A Braden (Head of Department)
G Dickson
GCE Health and Social Care is an exciting course that allows students to gain knowledge and understanding of the health, social care and early years sectors.
These sectors are major employers in the public, voluntary and private sectors in Northern Ireland. This broad based qualification gives students the opportunity to study an eclectic range of subjects relevant to these sectors, including communication, physiology, social policy and psychology.
Many students with a qualification in GCE Health and Social Care go on to degree-level study in a variety of subjects such as health studies, social policy, social science, social studies, psychology, nursing and/or social work.
A Level
​
CCEA Health & Social Care (Single Award)
Content
Assessment
Weightings
AS 1: Promoting Quality Care
Internal assessment
Students produce a written report based on practice in a health, social care or early years setting that they have experienced.
25% AS
10% of A Level
AS 2: Communication in Health, Social Care and Early Years Settings
Internal assessment
Students produce a written report based on communication in a health, social care or early years setting that they have experienced.
25% AS
10 % of A Level
AS 3: Health and Well-Being
External written examination
2 hours
50% of AS
20% of A Level
A2 3: Providing Services
External written examination based on pre-release material
2 hours
30% of A Level
A2 4: Public Health & Health Promotion
Internal assessment
Students produce a report on health improvement priorities in Northern Ireland, undertake a health promotion activity and report their findings.
15% of A Level
A2 5: Supporting the Family
Internal assessment
Students produce a review of changes to family structure, a case study and a report on services for families experiencing issues.
15% of A Level
Links with the Community
​
The Health and Social Care Department continues to enjoy links with the local community. As part of the AS Level Health and Social Care Course, Omagh Academy pupils carry out work experience to give pupils an insight into the functioning of a nursing home and primary school setting, plus enjoying a visit from a guest speaker, in order to complete coursework. This is a worthwhile and vital experience for the pupils which also builds excellent relationships between our school and the local community.
Extra-Curricular
‘Community Care’
Mrs Braden and Mrs Hempton organise an activity for all Year 13 Health and Social Care pupils to participate in called the ‘Penpal Programme’. For this programme, we work with Granard Residential Home in Omagh who specialise in caring for individuals with dementia, mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Initially, each pupil writes to one resident to introduce themselves and the resident then writes back. This then continues back and forth.
Pupils really enjoy the opportunity to give something back to their local community and to help brighten up a resident’s day. We have received excellent feedback from Granard Residential Home who appreciates the efforts of our pupils, and they said their residents thoroughly enjoyed receiving the letters.
Mrs Braden and Mrs Hempton thanks pupils for participating and Granard Residential Home for working with us on this programme as it is such a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
​
​
