Being able to communicate with the individuals you are caring for is one of the most important skills you can have. Communication is not just talking but listening as well. Listening to an individual can determine vital information on how they are feeling and can enhance the quality of your communication skills. Good communication will also enable you to speak effectively with relatives and colleagues. Furthermore, you will be able to write concise records.

This unit deals with effective communication, whether it is talking, listening, body language or the written word. It shows you how each form of communication is used in a health and social care environment . The unit ultimately shows you how to adapt various forms of communication to the understanding and ease of the people you are caring for. For instance, the way you communicate with a visually impaired person may be totally different to the way you interact with a person with mental health problems.

This unit also deals with good record keeping. It tells you why records need to be kept, your involvement in this process, and how to keep precise records. It will also show you where to record your notes pertaining to an individual , when you should record and any issues relating to obtaining data.

Good question. Both Health and Social Care NVQ qualifications are assessed in the workplace. Therefore, you must be working in a caring role. You can be full time or part time or even voluntary.

Your skills and knowledge will be assessed by your tutor where you work.

So, once you have completed your health and social care NVQ 2 course and hopefully with commendations. I reckon it would be rude not to further your knowledge by taking the Health and Social Care NVQ 3 qualification.

This qualification is for carers delivering care and support, usually without supervision. You may even be responsible for supporting and developing other care workers. You will have some responsibility. People like Senior care workers, home based care workers would be interested in this qualification.

The Health and Social Care NVQ 3 is a level 3 qualification and is split into two areas of study and you have to choose which route to go down. You can either study:

Health and Social Care NVQ 3 – caring for adults
Or
Health and Social Care NVQ 3 – Caring for Children and young people

Whichever route you take you have to take four compulsary units and then a further four units which you can choose.
According to City and Guilds the compulsary units are as follows:

Promote effective communication for and about individuals
Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the working environment
Reflect on and develop your practice

If you are studying the adult pathway then you have to study:
Promote choice, well being and the protection of all individuals (adults)

If you are studying the Children and Young People pathway then you have to study:
Promote the well being and protection of children and young people ( Children and Young People)

For your optional units, the choice is even wider. You have to choose four options and you have 105 topics to choose from. Again, not all establishments will offer all of them, but it will be topics like Youth justice, Mental Health, Drug and alcohol misuse, Protection of individuals from abuse and harm, support individuals to live at home. Again in future chapters I will try and list all of them.

If you are going to study on a Health and Social care NVQ course you will probably want to know which course to choose and what you might be learning. I have split topics up into Health and Social care NVQ 2 and Health and Social care NVQ 3.

Health and Social Care NVQ 2

Health and Social Care NVQ 2 is primarily a level 2 qualification.

This qualification is relevant for carers who aid and help people with their physical and emotional needs. For example, things that need doing on a day to day basis so that individuals maintain and enhance their independence. Health and Social care NVQ 2 is usually for people who are supervised in their position.

Therefore , the Health and Social Care NVQ 2 is relevant for care assistants in the home, residential care assistants, care assistants in the community.

According to City and Guilds there are four topics that you will have to learn but don’t worry you can choose two additional topics which you are interested in.

Firstly, the four topics which you have to do.

These are:

Communicate with and complete records for individuals.
Support the Health and Safety of yourself and individuals.
Develop your knowledge and practice.
Ensure your own actions support the care, protection and well being of individuals.

If you are not sure what these units might entail then don’t worry as I will give some examples in the pages to come.

As stated above, you can choose an additional 2 units which you are interested in, and guess what? You have 28 to choose from. However, some establishments may not offer all of the units on the Health and Social care NVQ. I will list just a few topics for you:

Help address the physical-comfort needs of individuals.
Aid Individuals to access and participate in recreational activities..
Help individuals to eat and drink.
Support individuals in their daily living.