Diploma in Public Services
The Industry
Public services are as much a part of our everyday lives as breathing. And just as important!
Where would we be without law and order, education, central and local government, the health service, social and emergency services, regeneration and development, leisure, and the armed forces?
Public services needn't mean working in government either. Many of the 5.5 million people currently involved in the sector work in private businesses, like Virgin, or the voluntary sector, for charities like Shelter.
If you want to make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities, this could be the area for you.
Build essential skills and experience
The Diploma in Public Services reveals the inner workings of this vibrant, varied and valued sector. You will discover how public service organisations operate and gain an appreciation of the social values that sustain them.
A combination of classroom learning and practical experience will motivate and inspire you, so that you steadily build the skills you will need to work in this or many other sectors.
What will I learn?
The Diploma in Public Services gives you a comprehensive picture of how public services work and how they contribute to the individual, the community and to business. It introduces you to the many different services that are available to the public, and this will help you become familiar with the wide range of career and university options on offer.
How is the Diploma made up?
Principal learning (subject learning you have to do)
At the heart of the Diploma are your core public services subjects. These will teach you the main things you need to know about the sector. You will learn about the issues that helped build it and that are affecting the sector today, how it works and what skills you need to have to work within it.
Activities you might do in your principal learning
These are just some examples of the kind of learning you will be doing:-
At Foundation level, you will be given a broad introduction to the sector. You will learn about the various career opportunities within the sector, and what attributes and skills you will need to deliver public services. You could, for example, plan possible training, development and career pathways. You might investigate local public service delivery and present your findings. You could use role play to show how you would communicate sensitively with colleagues or members of the public.
At Higher level, you will develop a deeper understanding of the role of public services. You will learn how different services are funded and look at how public services initiatives are promoted. You could, for example, carry out a straightforward cost benefit analysis on a service for health and well-being. You might look at areas of conflict between communities for public services and propose solutions. You could use a range of communication methods and media to promote a campaign.
At Advanced level, you will evaluate the principles and practices of public services. You will look at how public finance operates and how political neutrality plays an important role. You will also learn the principles of marketing in public services. You could, for example, measure productivity in a public service using finance management methods. You might scope, plan and implement a project of your own. You could gather together marketing materials from a range of services and analyse their usability for different target audiences.
Additional and specialist learning (choices you can make)
At each level, you can develop your particular interests in public services further by taking more specialist courses relating to your chosen subject and career ambitions.
You could, for example, learn first aid, keyboard skills, administration and ICT at work, or focus on environmental work, volunteering and community work. You could also take courses to improve your fitness and prepare you for work in one of the uniformed services.
Or you might choose a GCSE or A level in subjects like languages, History, Politics or Sociology which would help you get onto a university course.
You can also broaden your course by taking an additional subject that reflects your other interests and career ambitions - like a science, or a creative subject like Music.
Functional skills in English, Maths and ICT
Like all Diploma students, you will develop a good standard of English, Maths and ICT. These subjects are essential to succeed in any business or learning environment, whether you decide to continue in public services or move on to another sector.
Personal, learning and thinking skills
All Diploma students will develop personal, learning and thinking skills, such as team-working, creative thinking and self-management. These are vital skills in both life and work, and will be useful to you in the future, no matter which path you take.
Work experience
Your Diploma will give you the opportunity to do at least 10 days' work experience. This could mean volunteering at Shelter or helping to plan a communications campaign for your local council. Whatever you do, this is a great way to use the knowledge, understanding and skills you have learnt in the classroom, and experience what work is like from the inside.
Student projects
During your Diploma, you will complete a student project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have learnt.
This could be a written piece of work, like a report on the ten most common enquiries and responses at a local tourist information centre or local authority, or it could be a practical piece of work, like carrying out a traffic impact assessment or comparing successful and failed planning applications and explaining the decisions.
What a Diploma will lead to
A Diploma in Public Services will give you the skills you need for further education, university or work, and is a first step towards a career in the sector.
It could lead you to a foundation degree in ecology or policing or an honours degree in business management, law or social policy. Or it could help you begin a career as a firefighter, police officer or community safety officer, in heritage management, in housing or as an environmental health officer.
However, the Diploma in Public Services doesn't mean you have to opt for a career in this sector. Because a Diploma teaches a mix of subjects, it will give you the skills that will be welcomed by colleges, universities and employers in a wide range of areas.
"The Diploma in Public Services provides a real opportunity for young people to develop essential skills that will prepare them for their future careers."
Steve Redhall, Chief Superintendent, South Yorkshire Police.
"As chair of the social policy association I am delighted to support the new Diploma in Public Services. It will provide an excellent route into higher education for those who wish to study for degrees in the social sciences."
Caroline Glendinning, Chair of the Social Policy, Association and Professor in the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York.
Want to find out more?
To find out more about the Diploma in Public Services, speak to your teacher or careers adviser. You can also find more information about Diplomas on these websites:-
www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas
www.connexions-direct.com
www.diplomainpublicservices.co.uk