What is a family, what functions does it perform, and how are families supported?
Overview of A2 5 Supporting the Family: the types and functions of the family, the changes and pressures families face, and the services, policies and professionals that support families in health and social care.
An overview of the internally assessed CCEA A2 5 Supporting the Family unit: the types and functions of the family, the changes and pressures families face, and the services, policies and professionals that support families across health, social care and early years.
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What this unit is about
A2 5 Supporting the Family is an internally assessed (portfolio) unit. CCEA wants you to understand what a family is, the types and functions of families, the changes and pressures they face, and the services, policies and professionals that support families across health, social care and early years. Because it is assessed through coursework rather than a written examination, this page is a single concise overview of the unit.
Types and functions of the family
CCEA expects you to know the main functions families perform: primary socialisation (teaching children norms, values, language and behaviour); care and nurture (meeting physical needs and providing security and love); economic support (providing financially and sharing resources); and emotional support and stability (belonging, identity and coping with stress). Each function links directly to health and wellbeing across the physical, intellectual, emotional and social dimensions studied in AS 3.
Changes and pressures on families
When a family is under strain, the consequences are felt across the dimensions of wellbeing for every member, and especially for children and other vulnerable members. This is why supporting families is treated as a route to improving and protecting individual health, and why it connects to safeguarding and partnership working from the other units.
Services, policies and professionals that support families
CCEA expects you to know the services and professionals that support families, across the sectors from A2 3. Statutory services (social services, HSC trusts, family support workers, child protection) assess and support families and protect children. Health professionals (GPs, health visitors, midwives) support family health, especially around pregnancy and early childhood. Education and early years (schools, nurseries, family and early-intervention programmes) support children's development and offer parenting support. Voluntary organisations (charities and support groups for carers, lone parents or families affected by disability) provide information, advice and practical help. Family policy and partnership working aim to strengthen and protect families, linking this unit back to safeguarding, quality care and service provision.
How this unit is assessed
A2 5 is assessed by an internally assessed portfolio (controlled assessment), centre-marked and moderated by CCEA, rather than by a written examination. Strong portfolios analyse family types and functions, examine the pressures a chosen family faces, and explain how a range of services and professionals support that family.
Try this
Q1. Name three types of family. [3 marks]
- Cue. Nuclear, extended, lone-parent, reconstituted (blended) (any three).
Q2. State one function the family performs. [1 mark]
- Cue. Primary socialisation, care and nurture, economic support, or emotional support and stability.
Q3. Give one example of a professional who supports families and explain how. [2 marks]
- Cue. A health visitor advises new parents on child development and feeding, supporting the child's and parents' wellbeing.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA A2 5 portfolio12 marksAnalyse the functions a family performs for its members and explain how these support health and wellbeing.Show worked answer →
A2 5 is internally assessed, so this is the kind of analytical account you build in your portfolio. Strong work names the functions and links each to wellbeing.
Primary socialisation: the family teaches children norms, values, language and behaviour, supporting intellectual and social development.
Care and nurture: the family meets physical needs (food, shelter, warmth) and provides emotional support, security and love, protecting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Economic support: the family provides for its members financially and shares resources, which affects access to good food, housing and opportunities.
Emotional support and stability: the family offers belonging, identity and a place to cope with stress, supporting emotional and social wellbeing across the dimensions.
Markers reward several functions correctly named and analysed, each clearly linked to health and wellbeing.
CCEA A2 5 portfolio10 marksDescribe the services and professionals that support families, giving an example of how each helps.Show worked answer →
Choose a range of services and professionals across the sectors and link each to how it helps a family.
Statutory services: social services and HSC trusts provide family support workers, child protection and assessment; for example a social worker supporting a struggling family or arranging respite care.
Health professionals: GPs, health visitors and midwives support family health, for example a health visitor advising new parents on child development and feeding.
Education and early years: schools, nurseries and Sure Start support children's development and offer parenting support.
Voluntary organisations: charities and support groups (for example for carers, lone parents or families affected by disability) provide information, advice and practical help.
Markers reward a range of services and professionals across the sectors, each with a clear example of how it supports a family.
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCE Health and Social Care specification — CCEA (2016)