Health and Social Care BTEC - Diploma

Exam Board: Edexcel

• What skills are required by those who work in Health & Social Care sectors?
• How do we meet a person’s specific care needs?
• How can we apply Psychology to the work of Health & Social Care professionals?

Entry Requirements

Five GCSEs including Maths & English Language: a minimum of three GCSEs at Grade 4 and two GCSEs at Grade 5.

Is this course for me?

• The Extended Diploma is equivalent to two A Level subject option blocks. 
• You want the opportunity to undertake work experience placements where you will be able to apply some of the knowledge gained in lessons, while also adding to your C.V.
• You wish to develop key academic knowledge and practical skills relevant for nursing and other key Health & Social Care professions.
• You want to widen and deepen a variety of skills including research, ICT, evaluative skills, communication skills, problem solving, presentation skills, and learning to work independently as well as in groups. 
• You wish to learn aspects of human Biology, Sociology and Psychology and apply them to real, practical situations.

Where does it lead?

BTEC Level 3 qualifications earn you UCAS points, allowing you to progress to university. Students can go in to careers such as nursing, teaching, midwifery, social work, occupational therapy and many more. The valuable practical experience you will gain will also be useful if you decide to go straight into employment in the Health & Social Care sector.  Skills learnt on this course are transferable to a range of other careers, expanding your future career prospects.

What will I learn?

Over the course of the two years, you will cover eight units, such as:

• Human Life Span Development
• Working in Health & Social Care
• Meeting Individual Care & Support Needs
• Sociological Perspectives
• Psychological perspectives
• Physiological Disorders & their Care
• Anatomy & Physiology for Health & Social Care
• Enquiries into Current Research in Health & Social Care
• Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care
• Promoting Public Health
• Infection Prevention & Control
• Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs

How will I be assessed?

The course is assessed through a mix of examinations, coursework and controlled assessments. The course focuses on the vocational aspects of Health & Social Care so you will find a lot of teaching is based on work experience and placement visits or case studies and role plays.

What activities can I get involved in?

You will have the opportunity of work experience in three different sectors of Health & Social Care (Nursery/Primary Education, organisations with clients with specific learning or physical difficulties or services which support older adults). This will be organised for you and will be monitored by our placement officer. This will help you with assignments, build up valuable experience for your CV and contribute significantly to personal statements for university applications.

What subjects can I study alongside this course?

The BTEC Diploma in Health & Social Care is equivalent to 2 A levels.  College students are required to study the equivalent of 3 A levels.  BTEC Certificates (equivalent to 1 A level) are available in Applied Science and Applied Law. A levels in Sociology and Statistics would also complement Health & Social Care.

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