To get a full understanding of what Public services is all about, you need to get to grips with the possible topics you will be studying. The topics vary depending on the level of study you will be completing when you come to Warrington & Vale Royal College.

The BTEC Firsts in Public Services are designed to equip learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for success when moving towards a career in uniformed and non-uniformed services, for example, police, emergency fire services, security, prison services or the armed services. Learners will, through the different specialist units offered, find out about the different public services and how they work individually and interact with each other – inter-agency working. They will also have the opportunity to discover the levels of fitness required for each of the uniformed services and how to improve their health and fitness for entry into these services.

Units are rotated each year depending on the students interests, allowing them to develop knowledge and understanding related to their future aspirations of moving into their choice of career in uniformed non-uniformed services. The range of optional units will support learners in the direction they wish to take in their careers. Some might want to progress further in education onto the BTEC Nationals in Public Services; others might want to apply for entry into one of the public services.

The qualifications will give learners the knowledge needed to make an informed choice when they take their next step. The assessment approach of the BTEC Firsts in Public Services allows learners to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course as they provide evidence towards the grading criteria. Evidence for assessment may be generated through a range of diverse activities including simulation, role play and oral presentation. Delivery strategies reflect the nature of the work within the public services sector. Learners are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and achievement, considering sector standards for behaviour and performance. In addition, these qualifications support the development of key personal learning and thinking skills (PLTS) and functional life skills.

The level of study varies from Level 1 Introductory Diploma up to Level 3 60/90 Credit Diploma in Public Services. Overall, to summarise the course into categories, the course would be split in to the following;

● Leadership and Teamwork (page 3-4)● Discipline within the services● Physical Preparation/fitness● Outdoor and Adventurous Activities● Contributing to your community● Employability within a uniformed /non-uniformed

service

1

This section is “ALL ABOUT YOU”. Answer the following questions to allow the tutor to get an understanding of why you want to move on to a public service course, and, how much you know about the service you wish to move into.

Q1. What service do you wish to move into and what things do you understand about this service (explain 3 things you know)?

1.

2.

3.

Q2. What job role do you want to move into?

Q3. Describe the job role that you have chosen to move into.

Leadership and Teamwork

2

Leadership is one of the main skills used within a public service. It is important to fully understand what a leader is before actually thinking in your head that you are a leader.

For example, answer the simple question “is a leader born or made?”

Explain your answer below:

Name:

Describe why he was classed as a leader and the importance of what he did for the people of the UK (click the hyperlink on Name).

When it comes to leadership there are a number of theories that we look at, to enable learners to develop and discover what type of leader they think they are or will become. These leadership styles are split into 8 different types. Research the leadership styles within the table below, describe each one after completing your research.

3

Leadership Styles Describe

Autocratic

Democratic

Laissez-faire

Bureaucratic

Task-orientated

People-orientated

Transformational

Transactional

4

After researching the different leadership styles, think about what type of leadership style would you link yourself to and explain why you have linked yourself to this style.

“the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience.”

After reading the definition above, use the word wall (using 3 terms from the word wall) to explain what you think discipline is within a public service.

5

Being a soldier is not easy. You are asked to do things not asked of

other people. You have to be aggressive and strong in battle, yet behave

properly and show self-control all the time. You have to:

● fit in and be part of a team.

● trust your teammates and they have to be able to trust you.

To do all of this, the Army has 6 Values that it requires you to live by.

Army values Explain

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

6

Could you (1) play a key role in dealing with manmade, humanitarian and naturally occurring crises? Your missions will be varied, ranging from amphibious assaults and humanitarian aid, to large scale combat operations. Deploy to where you’re needed most, from the coldest climes and the hottest deserts, to the most hostile jungles and the highest mountains. Whatever challenges you face, you’ll need to adapt to get the job done.

You will develop your military skills, before selecting a specialisation to become anything from an Armourer to a Mountain Leader. Travel the

world, protecting your nation’s interests (2) as part of a team renowned for its unity and brotherhood. You’ll form ties – special bonds with your comrades – that will never be broken.

As you can see so far there are a few military services that require discipline. Discipline is a key aspect of any military service because you are required to follow orders from a commanding officer. This is known as a rank structure, each service requires a rank structure to demonstrate a level of authority. This results in discipline being reinforced within military services, creating a more effective team to complete their chosen job correctly.

Q1. Click on link 1 (above) which will take you to a job description of becoming a royal marines commando. Use this link to describe the job role and add to your description whether you think this job role would appeal to you, explaining your reasons.

7

Physical Preparation/Fitness

8

Using the QR code reader, have a look at what you will need to do to move into your selected service.

Service of choice is:

Explain your understanding of the fitness requirements needed to move into the job role/service of your choice.

After explaining the different fitness requirements for your chosen job role/service, explain what you are thinking after finding out all about the requirements which you will need to achieve. Do you think you’ve got a lot of work to do? Any doubts? Can/have you already achieved these results at school/cadets?

9

Outdoor and Adventurous Activities

Part of being in any public service is to be able to navigate from point A to B. This is completed in a number of ways within specific public services. The main aspect of navigation is to be able to demonstrate these skills independently by the end of the course. You will learn all about how to use a map and a compass, completing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

But before we are able to complete the award we have to assess the abilities of each student. Complete each section INDEPENDENTLY to demonstrate your understanding of the skills required to navigate as if you were in a military service.

Q1. What is the 4 figure grid reference for the following?

The castleThe church The bridge

The battlefield The picnic site The TV mast

The youth hostel The windmill

10

Q2.

Name each part of the compass (left hand column), explaining its function within the right hand column.

Name Function 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

11

Contributing to your community

Whilst studying at Warrington & Vale College you will be required to complete both work placement and volunteering hours. This is all part and parcel of the course to help you develop employability skills.

As well as volunteering you will be engaging with several different public services, both statutory (funded by the government) and non-statutory (self supported/funded). This is to enable you as students to understand the importance of being proactive as well as becoming independent.

Throughout the course you will be frequently challenged both physically and mentally with the aim of enabling you to progress through the levels of the course as well as moving straight into a uniformed/non-uniformed public service of your choosing.

The first step is making sure you have the work placement set-up and are proactive, organising yourself, to give yourself the opportunity to start to understand that the choices you make after high school are ones that should not be taken lightly.

In this section you will start to plan what type of work experience you would like to complete whilst at college, making sure that you are ahead of the game when it comes to starting the college in September. Complete the information on the next page to demonstrate your understanding of a work placement and how you can contribute to your community.

Aim of the work placement is to:

I would like to volunteer my own personal time for my work placement at:

These are the skills I would hope to develop by completing my work placement (give 3 examples, explaining each):

12

1.

2.

3.

The work placement links to my future public service because……..

It is important that I set myself an aim for when I complete the public service course I have chosen because……..

13

My overall aim is to:

In order to do this I understand that I need to:

The chosen public service I want to move in to is (add the logo)

The job role I want to move into is……..

The fitness requirements I need to achieve are…………

ARE YOU READY? (please describe why you feel you are/aren’t ready)…………..

14