8/3/2019 908095_u1_int

1/2

Unit 1 Government, policies

and the public services

BTEC Level 3 National Public Services

1 Pearson Education Ltd 2010. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.

Unit overview Credits: 10

A major part of the UKs government process is the democratic election of representatives to all levels ofgovernment including local, regional, national and European governments. Learners will examine theresponsibilities that each level of government has to maintain effective public services, and will alsoexplore the different electoral processes available, and those currently used. Learners will then investigate

the main roles of elected representatives within the different government levels, including a briefinvestigation into the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and also theEuropean Parliament, although an in-depth knowledge of these is not required. Learners will also studythe structure of government in the UK to explore the different levels, from central government to localcouncils. This will lead to knowledge of specific responsibilities of government departments and otherorganisations involved in the government structure, including their relationship to the public services. Theunit will explain how government policies are developed, give an understanding of the legislative processand the effects that government policies can have upon the public services, the personnel working withinthem and the provision of services.

PLTS and functional skills are both incorporated into the unit and linked with assessment activitiesproviding learners with the opportunity to generate evidence for additional qualifications.

On completion of this unit, learners should:

LO1 know the different levels of government in the UK

LO2 understand the democratic election process for each level of government in the UK

LO3 understand the impact of UK government policies on the public services

LO4 be able to demonstrate how government policies are developed.

Unit contentsThe scheme of work (page 3) links to the following resources to help you deliver Unit 1.

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Lesson plan LPActivity sheet AS1, AS2, AS3 AS4, AS5 AS6, AS7 AS8, AS9, AS10

Stretch and support E1 E2 E3 E4

PowerPoint PPT

All of these resources can be found on the accompanying CD-ROM, as well as an editable version of thescheme of work, and answers to questions in the Student Book.

Links to other unitsUnit 1 links to other units in this public services qualification as shown below and provides lots ofopportunities to cross-reference and combine assignment work for these units.

BTEC Level 3 National Public Services units

Unit 3 Citizenship and diversity

Unit 7 International institutions and human rights

How to deliver the unitThis unit should be made as practical as possible and should encourage learners to explore their ownviews and opinions through discussion and research opportunities. The unit should be very learnercentred and learners should be encouraged to find information independently or in small groups so thatthey can begin to gain the independence and research skills that are necessary if they are going tosucceed on a level 3 course.

You should make extensive use of visiting speakers from the public services, or from governmentorganisations, and local MPs. The local police service or the local careers officers for the armed services

8/3/2019 908095_u1_int

2/2

2 Pearson Education Ltd 2010. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.

Unit 1 Government, policies and thepublic services

BTEC Level 3 National Public Services

may be willing to come in to your centre and discuss the impact that government policies have on theirservice; your local MP could be your first point of contact when speaking to the learners.

You could also consider a visit to the Houses of Parliament in London, or any of the regional assemblies.This will have to be in negotiation with your local MP, but the visit will have an impact on the learners andwill most certainly apply practice to theory.

The activity sheets will support your delivery and can be adapted to suit individuals, pairs and small

groups. The scheme of work also includes suggestions for delivery.

Further sources of help to learners include accessing newspapers for news websites online, such as BBCnews, to ensure they keep up to date on current issues in communities, public services and politics, whichshould provide lots of opportunities for discussion and debate.

Useful resourcesThere are many different sources of help and resources that are available online. Some of the websitesthat may support learning for this area are listed below. It may also be possible to use websites in classthat will bring up-to-date community and cultural issues into the classroom, such as BBC News orYouTube.

Websites 10 Downing Street www.number10.gov.uk

Direct Gov public services all in one place www.direct.gov.uk

HM Treasurywww.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Information for local government from central government www.info4local.gov.uk

Information on policies and standards for e-government www.govtalk.gov.uk

Tagish independent software development and consultancy firm (provides links to central and local

government websites)www.tagish.co.uk/links

The Home Office www.homeoffice.gov.uk

UK Parliamentwww.publications.parliament.ukBooks

Axford, B. et al. Politics: An Introduction, 2nd edition (Routledge, 1997)

Peele, G. Governing the UK, 4th edition (Blackwell Publishers, 2004)

Articles from journals and magazines

Fire

Police Review

Prison News

Soldier

The Economist

The Spectator

The Week

http://www.number10.gov.uk/http://www.direct.gov.uk/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/http://www.info4local.gov.uk/http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/http://www.tagish.co.uk/linkshttp://www.tagish.co.uk/linkshttp://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/http://www.number10.gov.uk/http://www.direct.gov.uk/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/http://www.info4local.gov.uk/http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/http://www.tagish.co.uk/linkshttp://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/