Aim of Unit 8: The Sociological Context of Health and Social Care
Unit 8 The Sociological Context of Health and social care throws light on the nature of the contemporary society and with the help of this learners will be able to address society structure in terms of age, ethnicity, social aspects, family relationships, gender and households. It is completely focused upon social inequality. This helps to gain a clear idea and examine important factors which help to contribute in health and wellbeing. It also helps to explore health inequalities. The influence of social factors and provisions has been able to address with the help of this. The e social care factors also addresses in this unit of study.

Learning outcomes
- Understand the contemporary nature of society
- Understand how social inequalities influence the life chances and health status of individual
- Understand sociological concepts and theory in relation to contemporary social and health issues.
LO1 Understand the contemporary nature of society
This part has put emphasis on political and economic construction and the differentiation in the system has been identified through this. The important parts which have been incorporated in this part of the unit are Social constructs and it is based upon family, work and unemployment. Apart from this, societal change has been addressed along with cultural value and belief. Implementation of health and social care ideas also transmitted in this unit.
LO2Understand how social inequalities influence the life chances and health status of individuals
LO3 Understand sociological concepts and theory in relation to contemporary social and health issues

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria
Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit a learner will: | Assessment criteria for pass The learner can: |
LO1 Understand the contemporary nature of society | explain how political, social and economic constructs can be used to categories society reviewcurrenttrendsinsocietalchange,includinghow these might shape socialexpectationsdiscuss the influence of cultural values and beliefsin societyevaluate the implications of societal change forthe health and social caresector |
LO2 Understand how social inequalities influence the life chances and health status of individuals | usedatatoexplaininequalitieswhichexistinhealthand socialcareanalyses social inequalities from asociological perspectiveanalyseshowinequalitieswhichexistinhealthandsocial care can impact on an individual’s health status and life chances |
LO3 Understand sociological concepts and theory in relation to contemporary social and health issues. | applysociologicalconceptsandtheorytodefinitionsof health and wellbeingused atatoexplainhowsocialandhealthissuesare sociallyconstructedexplain the possible implications of social and health issues for health and social care service providers analyze social and health issues in terms of their impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals insociety. |
Links
This unit has links with, for example:
- Unit 2: Principles of Health and Social Care Practice
- Unit 7: Social Policy
- Unit 17: Community Development Work.
This unit also has links with the National Occupational Standards in Health and Social Care. See
Annexe B for mapping.
Unit 8 The Sociological Context of Health and Social Care also has links with the National Occupational Standards in Leadership and Management for Care Services. See Annexe C for mapping.