BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care (Extended Certificate)

: BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care (Extended Certificate)

Exam Board: Pearson

Course requirements: Grade 4 in GCSE Combined Science or in the separate GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses and a grade 4 in Maths and English.

Health and social care is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK with demand for both health and social care professionals continuing to be high. In 2019/20, the health and social care sector contributed £41 billion to the UK economy.

The BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care is designed to provide you with an introduction to the sector and an understanding of areas such as human growth and development and principles of care. It includes both internally assessed and externally examined units and is worth the equivalent of one A Level. It offers the opportunity to apply theories and approaches to real life cases. If you wish to go to university, you will be well prepared with study skills that you can transfer to higher education and throughout your career.

Course Outline and assessment

You will complete four units of study across the two-year course. Two of these are internally assessed and externally moderated (via assignments) and two are externally examined.

Unit 1: Human Lifespan Development (External): Learners cover physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan, and the factors affecting development and the effects of ageing.
Unit 2: Working in Health and Social Care (External): Learners focus on the principles and practicalities that underpin meeting individuals’ care and support needs, which are the foundation of all the care disciplines.
Unit 5: Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs (Internal): Learners explore what it is like to work in the health and social care sector, including the roles and responsibilities of workers and organisations.
Unit 10: Sociological perspectives (Internal) Learners study the application of sociological approaches to health and social care, and explore social inequalities, demographic change, and patterns and trends in social groups.

(*This is an optional unit and could be subject to change)

Where can Health and Social Care lead?

This course provides transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression onto degree level programmes, including the ability to think independently, conduct research and work collaboratively. A qualification in Health and Social Care can also provide knowledge and skills relevant to further study in areas such as social work, nursing, midwifery, paramedic science, occupational therapy and youth work.