Unit 2 (A1) - Working in Health and Social Care

Doctors

- provide medical care for patients

- work in surgeries and local communities

- diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent illness

- provide prescriptions for treatment and arrange preventative care

- refer patients to other health professionals, such as specialist doctors and therapists

Specialist doctors

- have expert training in particular areas

- work mainly in hospitals and clinics

- diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent illness in specialist areas, e.g; cardiology (heart), oncology (cancer), paediatrics (children) and geriatics (elderly)

- liaise with other professionals, such as nurses to carry out treatment

- contribute to teams for ongoing patient care

Nurses

- trained to carry out medical duties at their level of seniorotis and specialism, mainly in hospitals, surgeries, clinics and homes 

- speculations include hospital critical care nursing, cardiac nursing, surgical care and oncology nursing

- monitor and care for the daily chronic and acute medical needs of patients

- support doctors giving treatment and prescribed drugs

- work to restore health and wellbeing

Midwives

- work mainly in hospital maternity units, clinics and homes

- monitor the prenatal development and health of mothers and babies

- help deliver babies

- provide postnatal care and supporting mothers, babies and families after birth

Healthcare assistants

- trained to help with daily personal care and to support wellbeing 

- work mainly in hospitals, clinics, residential care and homes

- work under the guidance of qualified professionals, such as nurses or doctors

- monitor health by taking temperatures, pulse, respiration rate and weight

Social workers

- trained to help a wide range of people of all ages to find solutions to their problems

- work mainly in social care centres, homes and clinics

- protect vulnerable people from harm or abuse

- help people to live independtly 

- support children who live apart from their families, and support their foster carers and adopters

- help people with mental health problems, learning disbailities or physical disabilities

- support refugees and asylum seekers

- help people with alcohol, drug or substance misuse probelms, and young offenders

Occupational therapists

- facilitate recovery and overcome practical barriers

- work mainly in hospitals, clinics, residential care and homes

- identifying issues people may have in everyday life, such as dressing, shopping or working

Youth workers

- help the personal, social and educational growth of people aged 11-25, to help them reach their full potential in society 

- work in youth centres, schools and colleges

- manage and administer youth and community projects and resources

- monitor and review the quality of local youth work provision, and work with families and carers

- support individuals in other settings, includiing outreach work relating to drinking, drugs, smoking, violence and relationships

Care managers/assistants

managers:

- responsible for day-to-day operations within the care setting, including recruiting and managing staff teams (and managing budgets)

- ensure the quality of service meets the demands of the National Care Standards

- there's different types of managers; care home managers, supported housing managers, children's home mangers and hospice care managers

assistants:

- help clients wiht their immediate needs (washing, dressing, maintaining hygiene, day-to-day tasks etc.)

- must get to know clients personally, and provide them with emotional support and company, contributing to their wellbeing positively

Support workers

- provide range of support to a range of service users in homes, centres and residential care, supporting other social workers

- duties vary depending on needs and wishes of the individual

- support individuals' overall comfort and wellbeing, under supervision of professionals

- help those who need care and support to live as indepently as possible, also working with their families