Health & Social Care

    ITC First
    Vocational

    Specification: 610/3098/3

    The ITC-FIRST Vocational Health & Social Care specification covers 22 topics with 65 learning objectives (610/3098/3). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.

    This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.

    22

    Units

    65

    Learning Outcomes

    128

    Assessment Guidance

    155

    Key Skills

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    Key Features

    • Master key concepts
    • Develop exam technique
    • Apply knowledge effectively

    Common Exam Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exams

    • •Forgetting to check for danger before approaching the casualty, endangering themselves and others.
    • •Not calling for emergency medical help promptly, especially during choking or severe bleeding scenarios.
    • •Incorrect hand placement or insufficient compression depth during CPR.
    • •Failing to reassess the airway after each back blow or abdominal thrust when dealing with choking.
    • •Removing embedded objects from wounds, which can increase bleeding.
    • •Confusing shock with fainting and not elevating the casualty's legs.
    • •Applying a bandage too tightly, leading to circulation blockage.
    • •Neglecting to document or report the incident, omitting important details like time and treatment given.

    Top Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for exam success

    • •In practical assessments, verbalise each step clearly to demonstrate understanding, even if the manikin doesn't respond.
    • •Always follow a structured approach: scene safety, primary survey, summon help, secondary survey, treat, handover.
    • •For multiple-choice questions, pay close attention to the sequence of actions; many options are designed to test order.
    • •When treating an unresponsive casualty, if unsure about breathing, start CPR immediately.
    • •Memorise the chain of survival: early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, post-resuscitation care.
    • •Practice bandaging and slings to ensure you can apply them quickly and correctly under pressure.
    • •In practical assessments, always visibly check for dangers before approaching and narrate your actions to demonstrate understanding.
    • •Memorise the correct ratios and techniques for CPR and choking for different age groups; distinguish between adult, child, and infant protocols.

    Qualification Units

    22 units

    How this qualification is graded

    Vocational qualifications are marked against criteria, not an exam percentage. Each unit is assessed across three bands - build up from Pass by applying your knowledge to realistic workplace scenarios.

    Pass

    Accurately describe and explain the core knowledge for the unit and link it to the given scenario.

    Merit

    Apply and analyse that knowledge in detail, showing why it matters in the workplace context.

    Distinction

    Evaluate and justify decisions, weigh up alternatives and make well-reasoned professional recommendations.

    Emergency First Aid in the Workplace

    This subtopic covers the essential emergency first aid skills required in the workplace, including the legal duties of a first aider, systematic assessment of incidents, and life-saving interventions for unresponsive, choking, bleeding, and shocked casualties. It equips learners with practical competences to manage minor injuries and recognise serious conditions until professional help arrives.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work

    14 learning outcomes25 guidance points2 criteria

    Emergency First Aid in Schools and Colleges

    This subtopic equips learners with the essential principles and practical skills of emergency first aid specifically tailored for educational settings, emphasising rapid assessment and prioritisation of care for common incidents such as unresponsiveness, choking, and severe bleeding in children and adults. It underpins the legal and ethical responsibilities of first aiders in schools, ensuring they can confidently manage emergencies while minimising risks to themselves and others.

    ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid for Schools and Colleges , ITC Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid for Schools and Colleges

    2 learning outcomes17 guidance points2 criteria

    Emergency paediatric first aid

    This subtopic covers the essential knowledge and practical skills required to manage a range of emergency situations involving infants and children, from initial scene assessment to the provision of immediate and appropriate first aid. Learners will explore the legal and ethical responsibilities of a paediatric first aider, alongside practical techniques for dealing with unresponsiveness, choking, external bleeding, shock, and minor injuries. Mastery of these skills is critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of children in emergency settings, and for meeting the requirements of the ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid , ITC Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid

    2 learning outcomes19 guidance points2 criteria

    Adult Basic Life Support, Automated External Defibrillation and Management of Anaphylaxis

    This subtopic equips learners with essential life-saving skills to safely manage emergency situations involving unresponsive adults, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, and anaphylaxis management. It covers scene assessment, casualty evaluation, recovery position placement, and the administration of adrenaline auto-injectors, ensuring a systematic and confident response. Mastery of these competencies is critical for anyone working in health and social care settings, where timely and correct intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Adult Basic Life support, Automated External Defibrillation and Management of Anaphylaxis

    1 learning outcomes12 guidance points

    Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Young People

    This element equips learners with foundational knowledge on safeguarding principles, types of abuse, neglect, and their indicators, enabling them to recognise and respond appropriately to concerns or disclosures. It emphasises legal frameworks, roles, and responsibilities in protecting children and young people across various settings.

    ITC Level 2 Award in Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Young People

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Basic Life Support and Using an Automated External Defibrillator

    This subtopic focuses on the critical skills of managing unresponsive casualties, both breathing and non-breathing, and the safe application of an automated external defibrillator. Learners must demonstrate competence in assessing danger, checking responsiveness, opening the airway, and performing CPR alongside AED use. The content is essential for first responders in health and social care settings, aligning with UK Resuscitation Council guidelines.

    ITC Level 2 Award in Basic Life Support and Safe Use of an Automated External Defibrillator

    6 learning outcomes11 guidance points

    Food Hygiene for the Outdoors

    This subtopic covers the essential principles of food hygiene specifically tailored to outdoor environments, where controls like refrigeration and running water are limited. It emphasises personal responsibility for monitoring and recording food temperatures, managing contamination risks from wildlife and the elements, and ensuring safe storage, preparation, and cooking practices in the field. Additionally, learners must account for special dietary needs and allergens, adapting their food handling to protect all consumers in adventurous settings.

    ITC Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene for the Outdoors

    1 learning outcomes11 guidance points

    Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation in Adults, Children, and Infants

    This subtopic covers the essential life-saving techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED) across all age groups—adults, children, and infants. It emphasizes safe scene assessment, recognizing cardiac arrest, and delivering high-quality chest compressions and rescue breaths, alongside proper AED use. Mastery of these skills ensures the learner can confidently respond to emergencies, improving survival chances in sudden cardiac arrest situations.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation for Adults, Children and Infants.

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Basic Life Support and Management of Anaphylaxis

    This element covers the essential life-saving skills required to assess and manage an unresponsive casualty, including those who are breathing normally and those in cardiac arrest. It also focuses on promptly identifying the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and administering appropriate emergency treatment, primarily the use of adrenaline auto-injectors. These competencies are vital for anyone working in health and social care to ensure prompt and effective action in life-threatening situations.

    ITC Level 2 Award in Basic Life Support and Management of Anaphylaxis

    5 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Emergency First Aid in the +F Workplace

    This subtopic covers essential emergency first aid skills tailored for high-risk or outdoor workplaces, focusing on the +F environment. Learners gain the competence to assess incidents safely, manage unresponsive casualties, choking, bleeding, shock, crush injuries, minor injuries, and environmental emergencies, ensuring they can act as a capable first aider in remote or challenging settings.

    ITC Level 3 Award in +F First Aid at Work, ITC Level 3 Award in +F Emergency First Aid at Work

    2 learning outcomes20 guidance points2 criteria

    ITC Level 5 End-Point Assessment for ST0945 Outdoor Learning Specialist - Core Content

    This subtopic evaluates the Outdoor Learning Specialist's ability to integrate core principles of experiential learning, risk management, and environmental stewardship into practical session design and delivery. Candidates must demonstrate competence in facilitating safe, high-quality outdoor experiences while adapting to diverse participant needs and dynamic natural settings. The assessment focuses on applied knowledge, where theoretical understanding is evidenced through real-world decision-making and reflective practice.

    ITC Level 5 End-Point Assessment for ST0945 Outdoor Learning Specialist

    3 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Fire fighters first aid

    This subtopic focuses on the provision of emergency first aid tailored to the unique and often hazardous environment of firefighting operations. Learners must apply clinical skills and protocols in contexts involving heat, smoke, structural collapse, and restricted visibility, while simultaneously ensuring personal and scene safety. Mastery involves adapting standard procedures for casualty assessment, life support, haemorrhage control, and burn management using specialised equipment and techniques under extreme pressure.

    ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid for Fire Fighters

    7 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Outdoor Emergency Action

    This element focuses on the systematic approach to managing first aid emergencies in outdoor and remote settings. It covers the initial assessment of incidents, interpretation of vital signs, and the appropriate first aid responses for unresponsive casualties, choking, and severe bleeding, all while adapting to the challenges posed by the outdoor environment such as weather, terrain, and delayed emergency services.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid Emergency Action, ITC Level 3 Award In Outdoor First Aid

    2 learning outcomes16 guidance points2 criteria

    Basic Life Support, Automated External Defibrillation and Management of Anaphylaxis for Adults Children and Infants

    This subtopic equips learners with essential life-saving skills across all age groups, covering safe scene assessment, recognition of cardiac arrest, effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), and the emergency management of anaphylaxis. Practical application requires prompt, structured intervention following current UK Resuscitation Council guidelines, ensuring competency in responding to unresponsive casualties with abnormal, normal, or absent breathing.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Adult Basic Life Support, Automated External Defibrillation and Management of Anaphylaxis for Adults Children and Infants

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Adult Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation

    This subtopic focuses on the practical application of adult basic life support (BLS) and the safe use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in emergency situations. It encompasses the systematic assessment of a casualty, the delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for non-breathing individuals, and the appropriate first aid positioning for breathing but unresponsive casualties. Mastery of this content ensures learners can act confidently and effectively in real-world cardiac arrest and unconsciousness scenarios.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Adult Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Forest School Emergency Action

    This element equips learners with the ability to administer emergency first aid in the unique and unpredictable environment of a forest school, focusing on the rationale for prompt care and the systematic assessment of incidents. It covers vital skills for managing unresponsive casualties, choking, and significant blood loss across age groups, emphasising adaptation to outdoor challenges such as remote locations, environmental hazards, and limited resources.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Forest School First Aid

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Sport, Exercise and Fitness First Aid

    This element covers the essential responsibilities and skills required of a first aider in sport and exercise settings, including understanding legal duty of care, performing basic life support (CPR and AED), making safe return-to-play decisions following injury, and managing sudden medical occurrences such as cardiac arrest, choking, or severe bleeding. Learners develop the competence to assess incidents, prioritize actions, and provide immediate care while ensuring the safety of both themselves and the casualty until professional help arrives. Practical application focuses on realistic scenario-based training to build confidence and decision-making in dynamic sport environments.

    ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid for Sport, Exercise and Fitness

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Outdoor Incident Management

    This element covers the systematic approach to managing first aid incidents in remote or outdoor settings, where access to emergency services may be delayed. It emphasizes scene safety, casualty assessment, and prioritization of care for a range of injuries and illnesses, including limb fractures, spinal injuries, medical emergencies, and environmental conditions like hypothermia or heatstroke. Learners develop the skills to make critical decisions, use limited resources, and adapt protocols to challenging outdoor environments.

    ITC Level 3 Award In Outdoor First Aid

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Forest School Incident Management

    This subtopic covers the systematic approach to managing incidents in forest school settings, from initial scene assessment to treating specific conditions like anaphylaxis, burns, poisoning, and temperature-related illnesses. It emphasizes adapting first aid principles to outdoor, remote environments where emergency services may be delayed, ensuring the safety of both the casualty and the group. Learners will develop the confidence to make critical decisions, prioritize care, and utilize available resources effectively.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Forest School First Aid

    1 learning outcomes17 guidance points

    Recognition and Management of Illness and Injury in the Workplace

    This subtopic covers the systematic approach to conducting a secondary survey to identify and manage a range of workplace injuries and illnesses, including musculoskeletal trauma, head/spinal injuries, chest injuries, burns, eye injuries, poisoning, anaphylaxis, and major medical conditions. Learners must demonstrate competence in assessment, prioritization, and appropriate first aid interventions to preserve life and prevent deterioration until professional help arrives.

    ITC Level 3 Award in +F First Aid at Work, ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work

    10 learning outcomes21 guidance points2 criteria

    Managing paediatric illness, injuries and emergencies

    This element focuses on equipping learners with the essential skills to assess and manage a wide range of paediatric first aid scenarios, from musculoskeletal injuries to life-threatening emergencies such as anaphylaxis and head injuries. It underscores the importance of prompt, evidence-based interventions tailored to the anatomical and physiological differences in infants and children. Mastery of these competencies ensures safe, effective care that minimises harm and promotes recovery in settings where professional medical help may be delayed.

    ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid

    1 learning outcomes14 guidance points

    Managing Illness and Injury in Schools and Colleges

    This subtopic equips learners with the ability to assess and manage a wide spectrum of injuries and illnesses within educational settings, from minor incidents to life-threatening emergencies. It emphasizes systematic casualty assessment, prioritization of care, and the application of age-appropriate first aid techniques for conditions including fractures, head injuries, burns, poisoning, and anaphylaxis, ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff in schools and colleges.

    ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid for Schools and Colleges

    1 learning outcomes16 guidance points

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    Health & Social Care ITC First Vocational Topics & Revision