BTEC First Diploma in Public Services
2006 specification
2007 - 08
Unit Two : Public Services Skills
“Working in Teams”
Name: ……………………………………………………………..
Assignment Manager: Andrea Barkaway
This assignment has five tasks.
Date handed out: 3 October 2007
The overall deadline for the whole assignment to be completed and handed in is:
12 March 2008
Interim deadlines have been given throughout the assignment and must be met.
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The following guidelines should be used when completing your assignment:
- You must refer to the criteria and the content of the unit throughout the assignment.
- You should make sure you do detailed research and have a good understanding of the subject you are researching. Keep a note of the resources you use as you go along.
- Before handing in you must:
- Check that you have completed all tasks
- Label each task within your work appropriately
- Present tasks in the correct order
- Ensure that your name appears clearly in the header or footer of each page
For further details refer to the ‘Student Guidelines’ that were issued to you at the start of your course.
To achieve this unit you will need to:
- Understand the purpose and importance of teamwork in the public services
- Be able to use a range of interpersonal communication skill
- Understand various methods of instruction
Scenario:
You are working for a Careers Advice Service specialising in providing information on careers in the Public Services. Your task is to produce career materials giving advice and information about working in the Public Services.
Task 1 (P1)
You need to produce an article for a magazine explaining what is teamwork in the public services, and describing the purpose and importance of teamwork, using examples from at least 2 contrasting public services.
To achieve M1 you will need to explain the importance of teamwork in at least two contrasting Public Services. You should take 2 case studies where teamwork has played a key part in the outcome, describe the teamwork and explain the importance.
To achieve D1 you will need to analyse the importance of teamwork in a specified Public Service.
You should include a table of the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork in your chosen Public Service, along with your conclusions on the importance of teamwork.
You can relate this analysis to one particular situation involving the public service you have researched or teamwork in general in that Public Service.
You must consider:
Types of teams in the Public Services eg: crew, shift, watch, regiment, multi-agency teams, specialist teams, emergency services, project teams.
Importance of Teamwork: achieving organisational objectives, camaraderie, teamwork within organisational structures, command and control.
Qualities of effective teamwork: groups and self discipline, leadership, co-operation, communication, combining individual skills, problem solving, achieving aims, working with others.
Teamwork skills: communication, problem solving, co-operation, conflict management
Task 2 (P3)
Produce a handout which could be given to new applicants with a table of information detailing the 5 different methods of interpersonal communication skills, what they are, when the might be used and how they can be effective in the Public Services.
To achieve M2 you will need to analyse the application of interpersonal communication skills in a chosen Public Service. You may choose to a particular case study to base your analysis on.
You should consider which skills were used, when, why and how effective they were.
To achieve D2 you will need to evaluate the effective use of interpersonal communication skills in a given Public Service.
As part of your evaluation you should include a SWOT analysis on each of the 5 skills and a conclusion on the effectiveness of each one.
You must consider:
1. Reading in relationship to Public Services, skimming, scanning and detailed reading of Public Services documents, barriers to effective reading
2. Writing in relationship to Public Services, structure and format of letters to personnel, internal memos, report writing, note taking, email
3. Verbal communication in relationship to Public Services – one way/ two way communication, questioning skills, tone, emphasis, audience awareness, use of jargon, abbreviations, participating in group discussions, verbal presentations of basic information, barriers to verbal communication,
4. Listening in relationship to Public Services, effective listening skills, information collation, receiving orders and direction, taking statements, intelligence gathering, barriers to effective listening
5. Non verbal communication in relationship to Public Services, body language, gesture , facial expressions, eye contact, posture
Task 3 (P4)
Demonstrate the use of interpersonal skills to communicate with personnel in given situations:
You should include a range of evidence including:
- Your power point presentation describing the effectiveness of one of the methods of interpersonal communication in the Public Services and the evaluation of your presentation.
- An email written by you to your assignment manager inviting her to this presentation by your group
- Evidence of your group discussion on a Public Service case study and the evaluation of the exercise
- A letter of application written by yourself
- Other evidence of your interpersonal communication skills from areas outside of these lessons, at work, within a sports team, or club.
You must consider:
a range from Reading, Writing, Verbal communication, Listening and non Verbal communication
Tasks 1- 3 must be completed and handed in by 12 November 2007
Task 4 (P5)
You need to write an advert and job description for an Instructor in a chosen Public Service, giving clear details of the qualities required to complete the Instructor job and how they might be used and the types of instruction the person might be required to deliver.
To achieve M3 you must demonstrate effective instruction skills, ensuring you have a plan for your session that follows the EDIP model.
You must consider:
Instruction: select subject, plan instruction, eg: objective, audience timing methods give instructions, eg: demonstrate, practice instruction- role play case studies, explanations, one to ones.
Qualities of a good instructor: confidence, manner, ways of speaking, moving and appearance during lesson, attitude- firm/fair/ friendly, diligence, enthusiasm and interest in the subject
Facts/ Skills for instruction – time, parts and content, notes, beginnings, preliminary instruction introduction, objective, reason why and incentive, middle teaching points
Explain – demonstrate-imitate- practice (EDIP), end of lesson, summary, handouts
To be completed and handed in by 19 November 2007
Task 5 (P2)
You will need to participate in different team-building activities and provide evidence of these activities and the part you played in the team.
This might include:
- Learning styles – an analysis of personal style and team discussion
- Working in a Team to produce a presentation in class given as evidence in task 3
- An Army team building activity day – on 7 March 2008
- Farmers Challenge to be completed in class
All work, except Army Team building challenge, to be handed in by
You must consider:
Participation in team activities, team building exercises, sporting events and outdoor activities, characteristics within teams
All work, to be completed and handed in by 12 March 2008
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Whilst the above headings have been written in the suggested order for hand-in, it is recommended that you complete tasks in order of Pass, Merit and then Distinction.
If there is anything you do not understand, please ask.
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