OCR Nationals

Public Services

The OCR Level 2 National Certificate in Public Services has been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of the range of public service activities, environments and operations.

The learners carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.

It does not certificate competence on the job but is a work-related qualification which will support progression to an NVQ once a candidate is in the workplace.

The qualification is not competency based and achievement of the qualification would not contribute to or be recognised by professional registers.

Specification aims

This qualification specifically aims to:

• develop learner's knowledge and understanding of public services
• Develop learner's skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing employability within the uniformed public services or civilian supporting roles
• develop learner's ability to work effectively in a public services context
• enable learners to develop knowledge, understanding and skills of public services, and the practicalities of working in public services within the wider community
• encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge, understanding and skills that learners will need to access further education opportunities or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis
• promote interaction between employers, centres and learners by relating teaching and assessment to real settings.

List of Unit Titles

Mandatory units

• Unit 1 Investigating public services in the UK
• Unit 2 Current affairs and public services
• Unit 3 Developing physical fitness for entry to the public services
• Unit 4 The importance of health and personal safety at work in public services

Optional units

• Unit 5 Participation in outdoor activities for public services
• Unit 6 The importance of sport and recreation for work in the public services
• Unit 7 Teamwork and problem solving for work in the public services
• Unit 8 Public service communications
• Unit 9 Road safety and public services
• Unit 10 Working with voluntary and community organisations in public services
• Unit 11 Use of technology in public services
• Unit 12 How Government affects the public services
• Unit 13 Relationship between law and the public services
• Unit 14 Introduction to career planning for public services
• Unit 15 Work experience in public services