Level 1 Public Services BTEC

This subject is broken down into 33 topics in 8 modules:

  1. Investigating Employment Opportunities in the Public Services 4 topics
  2. Personal Skills for Entry into the Uniformed Public Services 5 topics
  3. Health and Safety in the Public Services 4 topics
  4. Career Planning for the Public Services 4 topics
  5. Practical Skills for the Public Services 4 topics
  6. Values and Standards in the Public Services 4 topics
  7. Citizenship and the Public Services 4 topics
  8. Discipline and Routine in the Uniformed Public Services 4 topics
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  • 8
    modules
  • 33
    topics
  • 12,314
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Public Services

Investigating Employment Opportunities in the Public Services

Types of employment in the public services

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Types of employment in the public services

Public Services - A Definition

  • Public services are essential services provided by the government or by charities. They include services like healthcare, education, transport, and the emergency services.

Types of Public Sector Employment

Healthcare

  • NHS roles: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists, health visitors, midwives, radiographers, and myriad support roles.
  • Public Health roles: Epidemiologists, health promotion specialists, environmental health officers, public health nurses.

Education

  • Teaching roles: Teachers, teaching assistants, literacy tutors, headteachers.
  • School Support Staff: School nurses, guidance counsellors, school psychologists.
  • Higher Education roles: University lecturers, research fellows, learning support assistants.

Emergency Services

  • Police roles: Police officers, crime scene investigators, community support officers, firearms officers.
  • Fire and Rescue roles: Firefighters, fire safety officers, control room operatives.
  • Ambulance Services roles: Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers.

Transport

  • Local authority roles: Traffic engineers, public transport coordinators, highway maintenance workers.
  • Rail roles: Train drivers, signal operators, station staff.
  • Aviation roles: Air traffic controllers, airport operations staff, customs officers.

Government and Administration

  • Civil Service roles: Policy advisors, operational delivery officers, statisticians, economists.
  • Local government roles: Social workers, town planners, waste management officers, housing officers.

Contract Types in The Public Services

  • Full-time: Standard type of employment, usually 35-40 hours a week.
  • Part-time: Working less than the standard hours per week.
  • Temporary or contract-based: Employment for a specific period or task, often used in projects or seasonal work.
  • Apprenticeships: A mix of work and training, allowing one to earn while they learn.
  • Volunteering: Non-compulsory and non-paid work, often in a field one has an interest.
  • Graduate schemes: A structured programme for recent graduates, offering direct experience in the field. Often run by larger public service organisations like the NHS or Civil Service.

Transferable Skills

Public sector roles will require varying specific skills, but some are universally useful:

  • Communication: Most public sector roles require good communication skills. These can be written, oral, or non-verbal communication skills.
  • Teamwork: Many roles will involve working in a team, requiring the ability to cooperate, lead, and follow.
  • Leadership: This could involve managing a team, project, or an operational unit.
  • Problem-Solving: Public services roles are often about finding solutions to problems or meeting the needs of the public.
  • Organisational Skills: These are often required to ensure tasks are completed on time and resources managed effectively.

Pathways to a Public Services Career

  • Educational Qualifications: This is often the primary route, with many roles requiring GCSEs, A-levels, or university degrees.
  • Apprenticeships: This offer the chance to gain hands-on experience while studying for a qualification. Sectors like Police, the NHS, and local government offer apprenticeships.
  • Graduate Schemes: These offer structured training and experience to university graduates.
  • In-service Training: Some services, like the military and emergency services, have their own in-service training programmes.
  • Volunteering: Voluntary work can provide useful experience and may allow you to work your way up within an organisation.

Course material for Public Services, module Investigating Employment Opportunities in the Public Services, topic Types of employment in the public services

Public Services

Practical Skills for the Public Services

Map reading and navigational skills

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Map reading and navigational skills

Map Reading Basics

  • Maps are a graphic representation of geographical areas and are essential to navigation.
  • A key or legend on a map shows what various symbols represent, such as roads, rivers, or landmarks.
  • Understand the concept of scale on a map. This determines the ratio of a distance on the map to the corresponding distance on the ground.
  • Grids on maps assist in pinpointing exact locations.

Understanding Directions

  • Familiarise yourself with cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west) and intercardinal directions (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest).
  • Maps are designed with north at the top, south at the bottom, east on the right, and west on the left.
  • Compasses are handy tools that indicate direction in relation to magnetic north.

Reading Contour Lines

  • Contour lines on topographic maps represent the shape and elevation of the terrain.
  • Lines that are close together indicate a steep slope, while lines farther apart suggest a gentle incline.

Navigation Techniques

  • Triangulation involves using three separate points to determine your location.
  • Handrails are physical features, like a road or a stream, that guide your travel.
  • Backstops are features, like large bodies of water or distinctive landmarks, that let you know you've gone too far if you reach them.

Using a Compass

  • Magnetic declination is the difference between magnetic north and geographic north; this must be considered for accurate navigation.
  • To use a compass, hold it flat and turn yourself until the needle aligns with the markers for your desired direction.
  • Always check the compass bearing to ensure that you are moving in the correct direction.

Practice

  • Regular practice is crucial. Begin with small, easy-to-navigate areas before moving onto larger and more complex terrains.
  • Practice estimating distance on a map and how it reflects in the real world.
  • Try various navigation techniques and find what works best for different situations.

Course material for Public Services, module Practical Skills for the Public Services, topic Map reading and navigational skills

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