Why study BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care?

About 3 million people in the UK work in health and social care. In healthcare, this includes jobs such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and administrators, while social care roles include care assistants, social workers, occupational therapists and counsellors.

Demand for both health and social care is likely to continue to rise, so it is sure to continue to play a key role in UK society, and the demand for people to fill these vital jobs will increase.

How will I be assessed?

The BTEC Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care (Equivalent to 1 A Level) is assessed using a combination of internal assessments, which are set and marked by your teacher and external assessments that are marked by the exam board.

You will complete the following mandatory units:

Human Lifespan Development | External Assessment – Exam 1½ hours
Working in Health and Social Care |External Assessment – – Exam 1½ hours
Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs | Internal Assessment – Coursework

You will also complete one of the following optional coursework units. Optional units include:

Sociological perspectives
Psychological perspective
Additional needs
Physiological disorders.

Prerequisites

Learners need five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above and/or BTEC Level 2 qualification. Achievement in English and Mathematics at GCSE level.

What skills will I gain from studying Health and Social Care?

There are opportunities during this course for you to develop the following employability skills:

cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology
intrapersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation
interpersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development.

Where can Health and Social Care lead?

This course is taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two-year programme of learning. This will enable you to progress to a degree programme chosen from a range of programmes in the health and social care sector.

In the past, students have taken courses leading to professional qualifications in Primary Teaching, Nursing and Occupational Therapy, Midwifery, Speech Therapy, Social Work and Physiotherapy.

Some students have opted to take a subject oriented degree course at university, such as Criminology, Social Policy, Early Years Studies and Health Studies.

Other students have immediately entered employment where they have taken up places in nurseries, nursing and residential homes where they have pursued further training. Apprenticeships may also be available in these key areas.

Additional Comment

The format of the lessons will vary, and you will have the opportunity to learn through a mixture of activities – whether working individually or in groups. You will participate in role plays, discussions and presentations.

The results in the past have been outstanding and exceed in most cases, the expected target grades of the students.