What you will learn
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Unit 1 - Introduction to autism
Autism cannot be characterised by a single symptom but differs from person to person, this unit will help you understand the complexity of the disorder, as well as what characteristics that could be presented with someone with ASD. You’ll learn conditions that commonly come hand-in-hand with it and learn misconceptions surrounding it with relating theory.
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Unit 2 - Using a person-centred approach to support individuals with autism
Legislation and guidance have a huge impact on how much support individuals with ASD get, this unit will broaden your knowledge of what legislations exist and how you can support people with autism using a person-centred approach, also covering confidentiality and working in partnerships.
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Unit 3 - Communication and social interaction in individuals with autism
There are a wide variety of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment that individuals with ASD can display, often affecting their communication and social interaction. This unit will allow you to understand communication in autism both verbally and nonverbally, covering echolalia, expressive communication, rules of social communications, and learning the difficulties that they present, as well as how certain factors can aid communication in people with autism.
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Unit 4 - Sensory processing, perception and cognition in individuals with autism
Throughout this unit you’ll look at how sensory, perception and cognition can affect someone with ASD from how they process information, sensory overload and strategies for it. You’ll cover sensory stimulation, activities and therapies, low arousal environment, possible strategies and visual supports for someone with autism, as well as time and sequence materials.
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Unit 5 - Supporting positive behaviour in individuals with autism
Some individuals with autism have ‘challenging’ behaviour which can present differently from person to person. This unit will help you understand how to aid positive behaviour in people with ASD, covering strategies for managing that challenging behaviour, the settings, events and things that could trigger it, and the techniques and strategies for de-escalation, coping and reaction. It will also take you through how to identify emotions and expression, how change and transitions can affect someone with autism, and how to support individuals who are struggling to cope.
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Unit 6 - Supporting individuals with autism to live healthy and fulfilled lives
This unit aims to help you support individuals with ASD to live a healthy and fulfilled life, covering everything from development and puberty to bereavement and support. Although some people with ASD, and their family live their everyday lives with some challenges, this unit will allow you to understand the support you can offer to them. Covering education, employment and life changes, rights of people with autism, positive aspects of living with the disorder and the support to maintain personal safety. Also including safeguarding, bullying and exploitation, positive risk-taking and strategies to protect from harm and abuse. As well as cyber safety and risk assessments and how autism can be affected by life events and transition. You’ll take away a breadth of knowledge in many areas of Autism.
CACHE stands for the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education, and are the leading specialist Awarding Organisation for the Care and Education Sector.
Course Outcome
At the end of this course, successful learners will receive the following qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism. This means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to Level 1 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NCFE CACHE has been developing courses in the childcare, education and healthcare sectors since 1945 and is one of the most reputable awarding bodies for qualifications in the UK and overseas. Practitioners working in these areas are much more employable having gained NCFE CACHE certification and many employers specifically ask for their qualifications when taking on members of staff.
How is this course assessed or examined?
Throughout this course, you may be expected to complete assignments, essays, research projects, presentations, video/audio recordings, and practical learning sessions to meet the requirements of your course. This information will be included in your study pack detailing exactly what you need to do to accomplish your goals as a student.
To be awarded the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism, learners are required to successfully complete six mandatory units as part of a portfolio of evidence.
This is a regulated qualification that is internally assessed and externally quality assured. Staff involved in the assessment and internal quality assurance of this qualification are able to demonstrate that they have the relevant occupational knowledge and competence, at the same level or higher as the units being evaluated.
The completion of an ‘Evidence Record’ form and ‘Record of Assessment Cycle’ form is mandatory. This will be provided and your tutor will detail exactly what is needed.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write English. There is a minimum study age of 16.
