Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care Level 2 Certificate

What is this course about?

This is a QCF qualification which covers:
Principles of communication in adult social care settings
This unit introduces the importance of communication in adult social care settings, and ways to overcome barriers to meet individual needs and preferences in communication.

Principles of personal development in adult social care settings
This unit introduces the concepts of personal development and reflective practice, which are fundamental to adult social care roles.

Principles of diversity, equality and inclusion in adult social care settings
This unit introduces the concept of inclusion, which is fundamental to working in adult social care settings.

Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care
This unit introduces the important area of safeguarding individuals from abuse. It identifies different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms that might indicate abuse is occurring. It considers when individuals might be particularly vulnerable to abuse and what a learner must do if abuse is suspected or alleged.

Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
This unit introduces the concept of duty of care and awareness of dilemmas or complaints that may arise where there is a duty of care.

Understand the role of the social care worker
This unit provides the knowledge required to understand the nature of working relationships, working in ways that are agreed with the employer, and working in partnership with others.

Understand person-centred approaches in adult social care settings
This unit introduces the concept of person-centred support as a fundamental principle of social care.

Understand health and safety in social care settings
This unit introduces knowledge and understanding of areas of health and safety required to working in a social care setting.

Understand how to handle information in social care settings
This unit introduces knowledge required for good practice in recording, storing and sharing information in a social care setting.

How is it taught

As you work through the learning materials you will have the support of a knowledgeable assessor/tutor who will give you support, advice and guidance on the course content as well as providing robust feedback on the work you complete. Upon successful completion of the course you will be awarded the NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care.

What could I do next?

Other related courses

Careers

---

Medical practitioners

Medical practitioners diagnose mental and physical injuries, disorders and diseases, prescribe and give treatment, recommend preventative action, and conduct medical education and research activities. They may specialise in particular areas of modern medicine or work in general practice and, where necessary, refer the patient to a specialist.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervises the implementation of care and treatment plans by other healthcare providers.
• Prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials.
• Refers patient to specialist where necessary and liaises with specialist.
• Supervises patient.
• Administers medical tests and inoculations against communicable diseases.
• Diagnoses condition and prescribes and/or administers appropriate treatment/surgery.
• Examines patient, arranges for any necessary x-rays or other tests and interprets results.

---

Nurses

Nurses provide general and/or specialised nursing care for the sick, injured and others in need of such care, assist medical doctors with their tasks and work with other healthcare professionals and within teams of healthcare workers. They advise on and teach nursing practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivers lectures and other forms of formal training relating to nursing practice.
• Plans, manages, provides and evaluates nursing care services for patients, supervises the implementation of nursing care plans.
• Advises on nursing care, disease prevention, nutrition, etc. and liaises with hospital board/ management on issues concerning nursing policy.
• Plans duty rotas and organises and directs the work and training of ward and theatre nursing staff.
• Participates in the preparation for physical and psychological treatment of mentally ill patients.
• Monitors patient.
• Manages own case load.
• Assists medical doctors and works with other healthcare professionals to deal with emergencies and pre-planned treatment of patients.

---

Social workers

Social workers provide information, advice and support to those who are socially excluded or are experiencing crisis; they protect the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people, people with disabilities, elderly people and people who are mentally or physically ill, and they may specialise in specific areas of work.

Key Responsibilities

• Participates in training and supervision.
• Gives evidence in court.
• Keeps case records, prepares reports and participates in team meetings.
• Organises support and develops care plans to address service users.
• Arranges for further counselling or assistance in the form of financial or material help.
• Undertakes and writes up assessments to specified standards.
• Interviews individuals and groups to assess and review the nature and extent of difficulties.
• Liaises with other health and social care professionals and agencies to identify those in need and at risk within the local community.

---

Paramedics

Paramedics provide first aid and life support treatment in emergency situations and transport sick and injured people who require skilled treatment.

Key Responsibilities

• Briefs other medical staff when handing over the patient, and completes patient report forms describing the patient.
• Transports and accompanies patients who either require or potentially require skilled treatment whilst travelling.
• Resuscitates and/or stabilises patient using relevant techniques, equipment and drugs.
• Assesses the nature of injuries, provides first aid treatment and ascertains appropriate method of conveying patient.
• Drives ambulance or accompanies driver to respond to calls for assistance at accidents, emergencies and other incidents.

---

Medical and dental technicians

Medical and dental technicians operate, calibrate and maintain cardiographic and encephalographic testing equipment, assist in the conduct of post mortems, give simple dental treatments, fit artificial limbs and hearing aids, and undertake a wide range of related medical and dental tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Takes samples for clinical examination.
• Performs related medical tasks including treating hair and scalp disorders and conducting tests on glaucoma patients.
• Measures patients for, and fits them with, surgical appliances, hearing aids and artificial limbs.
• Makes dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic and other dental appliances according to individual patient requirements.
• Undertakes scaling and polishing of teeth, applies medicaments, carries out post-operative hygiene work and advises on preventative dentistry.
• Operates equipment to diagnose and record or treat hearing, heart, brain, lung and kidney ailments.

---

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants assist doctors, nurses and other health professionals in caring for the sick and injured within hospitals, homes, clinics and the wider community.

Key Responsibilities

• Changes bed linen, makes beds and tidies wards.
• Assists patients in washing, dressing, toiletry activities and general mobility.
• Distributes and serves food, assists patients in feeding and prepares snacks and hot drinks.
• Prepares patient for examination and treatment.
• Performs basic clinical tasks such as taking patients.

---

Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

Ambulance staff transport sick, injured and convalescent persons and give first aid treatment in emergencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Replenishes medical supplies in ambulance as necessary.
• Cleans and disinfects ambulance after use and carries out routine care of ambulance equipment.
• Ascertains nature of injuries and provides first aid treatment.
• Drives ambulance or accompanies driver to transport patients to hospitals or other treatment centres and homes.
• Helps patients into and out of ambulance.

---

Houseparents and residential wardens

Houseparents and residential wardens are responsible for the care and supervision of children, young offenders and the elderly within residential homes and nurseries, schools or institutions for young offenders.

Key Responsibilities

• Keeps records and writes reports.
• Maintains contact and discusses problems/progress with other staff and social workers.
• Establishes and maintains contact with members of the neighbouring community and/or the residents.
• Provides one-to-one counselling or group therapy.
• Ensures that all material needs of residents are provided and endeavours to resolve any problems that they may have.
• Plans and participates in games and leisure activities to encourage emotional, social, physical and intellectual development.
• Creates friendly, secure atmosphere and tries to gain the trust and confidence of those in the home or under supervision.

---

Care workers and home carers

Care workers and home carers attend to the personal needs and comforts of the elderly and the infirm with care and support needs (‘service users’) within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaises with professional staff in carrying out care plans etc.
• Monitors service users.
• Undertakes light cleaning and domestic duties including meal preparation as required.
• Helps with daily activities such as letter writing, paying bills, collecting benefits.
• Provides interest and activities to stimulate and engage the service user.
• Generally assists with service users.
• Serves meals to service users at table or in bed, and assists with feeding if required.
• Assists and enables service users to dress, undress, wash, use the toilet and bathe.

---

Senior care workers

Senior care workers routinely oversee and monitor care workers, care assistants and home carers. They also attend to the personal needs and comforts of the elderly and the infirm with care and support needs (‘service users’) within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaises with professional staff in carrying out care plans etc.
• Monitors service users.
• Undertakes light cleaning and domestic duties including meal preparation as required.
• Helps with daily activities such as letter writing, paying bills, collecting benefits.
• Provides interest and activities to stimulate and engage the service user.
• Generally assists with service users.
• Serves meals to service users at table or in bed, assists with feeding if required.
• Assists and enables service users to dress, undress, wash, use the toilet and bathe.
• Responds to emergencies and provides guidance and support to care workers.
• Takes responsibility for the shift and for the service while on duty.
• Routinely oversees and monitors care workers and home carers.