Health Care Professionals

Overview

Lesson 7 of 20 – Understanding Human Development
Duration: 60 minutes
Class size: 10 students
Age group: Year 11 (15-16 years)

National Curriculum Links

This lesson supports the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) statutory framework for England (2020), specifically:

• Key Stage 4 PSHE Association Programme of Study – Health and Wellbeing strand
• Developing knowledge of the roles of professionals in health care, understanding services available, and how to access them.
• Promoting understanding of how individuals and communities are supported in their health needs.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify a range of health care professionals working within the NHS and community settings (e.g., doctors, nurses, midwives, health visitors, paramedics, allied health professionals).
2. Explain the roles and responsibilities of different health care professionals in supporting individual and community health.
3. Appreciate the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in delivering effective health care.
4. Reflect on how health care professionals contribute to physical, mental, and social well-being.

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Resources Needed

• Large printed cards with names, photos, and brief job descriptions of various health care professionals
• Whiteboard and markers
• Sticky notes
• Projector or smart board
• Worksheets for group activity (role analysis grid)
• Scenario cards describing individual or community health situations
• ‘Reflection Journal’ template (paper or digital format)

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes)

Activity: Guess Who? – Health Professional Edition

• Display cards of 5-6 different health care professional images and titles.
• Students call out what they know about each role. Teacher writes key words on the board.
• Quick discussion on first impressions and any personal experiences with these professionals.

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and engage curiosity about health care roles.

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2. Main Activity 1: Role Exploration (20 minutes)

Activity: Role Analysis Grid

• Divide students into pairs. Each pair receives 3 different health care professional cards.
• Worksheet task: For each role, students identify:
  • Primary responsibilities
  • Settings where they work
  • How they contribute to individual health
  • Impact on community health
• After 15 minutes, pairs present one chosen role to the class.

Learning Check: Teacher circulates, questioning pairs to deepen understanding and clarify misconceptions.

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3. Main Activity 2: Multidisciplinary Team Scenario (15 minutes)

Activity: Working Together for Health

• Present a community health scenario (e.g., an elderly person recovering from surgery needing support).
• Groups discuss which health care professionals would be involved, what each would contribute, and how they collaborate.
• Groups then share their multidisciplinary team approach with the class.

Skills Developed: Critical thinking, collaboration, application of knowledge to real-life contexts.

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4. Plenary: Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)

Activity: Reflection Journal + Whole-Class Share

• Students complete a brief reflection answering:
  • Which health care role surprised you the most and why?
  • How might understanding these roles help you or your community in the future?
• Selected students share reflections aloud.
• Teacher summarises key points, emphasising the NHS values and the importance of teamwork.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of paired and group discussions and presentations.
• Teacher notes understanding during Q&A and scenario discussions.
• Reflection journals collected for a brief review to assess individual comprehension and personal connection to the topic.

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Differentiation

• Provide role cards with varying complexity (simpler descriptions for SEND students, more detailed ones for higher ability).
• Allow paired work so students can support each other.
• Use visual and verbal instructions to support diverse learning styles.

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Wider Curriculum Links and SMSC

• Promote understanding of social responsibility by exploring health professionals’ community roles.
• Encourage empathy by recognising the range of needs health care professionals address.
• Demonstrates responsible citizenship linked to NHS values: respect, compassion, and commitment to quality care.

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Extension Opportunities

• Students could research a lesser-known health care profession and create a short video or poster for peer teaching in subsequent lessons.
• Invite a local health care professional for a Q&A session or virtual talk later in the unit.

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This lesson not only develops essential knowledge about health care professionals but also fosters skills vital for lifelong health literacy and community engagement in line with the National Curriculum expectations for PSHE at Key Stage 4.