Attendance/Duration
Short full-time, 18 weeksOverview
If you are interested in the health and wellbeing of yourself and others this course could be for you. It would be a great start to your career in health and social care.
Entry requirements
- A real interest in working with people.
- SCQF level 4 qualifications or an ability to perform at this level.
- You may be asked to attend an informal interview and complete a short written activity.
- If you don’t have formal qualifications but have life experience, we’ll also consider you for a place, so please call us for a chat.
ESOL entry requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 4
You should be aware that you will be asked to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and be occupationally fit for practice on all care courses at level 6 or above.
Please be aware that you will be asked to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and be occupationally fit for practice on all care courses at level 6 or above.
Course content
This course gives you a basic introduction to working in care. You’ll learn why people need care services and how you can support their health and wellbeing.
What you may learn:
- How the health and social care system works in Scotland, and what jobs in care involve.
- Basic health knowledge, including how the body works and how to check things like pulse and blood pressure.
- What is meant by good mental health and how to support this.
- Methods that prevent accidents and how to respond to emergencies.
- How to provide high quality care and support to individuals
- Key life and work skills, like communication, teamwork, problem solving, and using technology.
- How to build your confidence, independence, and people skills through personal projects.
How you may learn:
- Practical activities to enhance your knowledge and skills.
- Guest speakers, such as staff from the NHS and local care services will bring your learning alive with real life examples of how they make a difference to the quality of life for the people they support.
- Team working on projects will build your confidence and independence.
- Discussions in pairs and small groups will build your communication skills.
Careers and Further Study
Before successfully achieving this course you will have the opportunity to discuss your next steps with your tutor. The most common progression routes are:
- Health and Social Care: An Introduction 2
- Other college courses at SCQF level 4, including Early Education and Childcare
You may wish to explore employment opportunities in the care sector.
Skills
You will develop important care skills such as communication and teamworking.
Employer and Industry Links
Ayrshire College has strong partnerships with different care providers supporting people with a number of different needs related to:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Homelessness
- Addiction
- Children
- Older adults
- Learning disabilities
- Additional Support Needs
Testimonial
"I have been a student at Ayrshire College for three years studying Health and Social Care, now in my fourth studying HNC Healthcare Practice. I struggled in school and left with no qualifications at the end of S4 and then started at Ayrshire College when I was 17. The difference I have recognised between school and college is huge. There is so much support within the college for every aspect possible. There is learning support for those with difficulties such as dyslexia, there is mental health support and academic support for help with assessments, CV writing and UCAS applications. I have grown so much as a person within my time at Ayrshire college in so many different ways and I am continuing to achieve my goal of becoming a midwife with help from Ayrshire college." Emily Ayre