SHD is a new qualification for 14 to 19 year olds that gives an understanding of four popular occupational sectors. It offers an opportunity for learners to gain practical understanding and experience that they can apply to their next stage of development, whether that's at university, college or work.
SHD has been developed by employers, schools, colleges and universities to help young people realise their potential and gain knowledge and skills in a ‘real world' environment.
What work sectors does it cover?
SHD will give a strong grounding in the children's services, health, community justice and adult social care work sectors, but will also ensure young people have wider skills and knowledge to prepare them for work in any field.
What about other qualifications?
SHD will be in three levels and aims to complement the existing system of GCSEs, A levels and learning programmes like apprenticeships. You'll be able to switch between different types of qualifications - you may choose to take a Diploma from ages 14 to 16, and then do A levels; or you might do GCSEs, and then start a Diploma at 16.
What work experience is included?
Work experience will be a key feature of all Diplomas. SHD will require a minimum amount of time in the workplace of 10 days across the programme and 20 days at Level 3. Wherever possible, this work experience will be directly related to the children and young people's workforce, health, community justice and adult social care work sectors.
When can I start SHD?
SHD will be offered in some areas from September 2008 and will be nationally available from 2013.
What subjects will I study?
The SHD Diploma will cover at each level
- English, maths and ICT
- Personal, learning and thinking skills
- A period of work placement/experience
- A project
- Principal learning
- Additional learning
At Level 3, you'll be able to choose from a range of specialist topics:
- Infection prevention and control
- Health, wellbeing and lifestyle
- Addressing needs
- Supporting adults through transitions
- Causes of and responses to offending behaviour
- Impact of offending behaviour on individuals and communities
- Supporting children and young people's development
- Play and learning
- Supporting children and young people through transitional processes
- Health conditions and treatments
- Nutrition and health
- Specialist study area in adult social care
- Group work
- Leadership and management
- Ethical dilemmas, judgements and decision-making in social care practice.
What jobs could SHD lead to?
Too many to list, but here are just a few of them...
- Adult care worker
- Art therapist
- Children's nurse
- Children's social worker
- Counsellor
- Community safety warden
- Dietician
- Educational psychologist
- Healthcare assistant
- Nurse
- Nursery nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Pharmacy technician
- Playworker
- Police Community Support Officer
- Probation officer
- Prosthetics designer
- Speech therapist
- Victim support worker
- Youth offending team worker
- Youth worker
Can SHD help me go on to higher education?
Definitely. SHD has been designed with help from universities to ensure it offers a high academic level of achievement. Research shows that young people who can prove that they are motivated learners are more likely to make the most of their higher education opportunities.
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