Health & Social Care (BTEC)
Health and Social Care as a subject aims to provide students with an understanding of the knowledge and skills that underpin the health and social care sector. This includes health work, working with children, social work, education, mental health services, medical studies; in fact, any profession which involves working with, and understanding, people.
Students develop both individual study and team working skills and have plenty of opportunity to think creatively about how they present ideas and solutions. The course also aims to develop skills of empathy and tolerance, which provide a foundation for working in any health and social care context.
Examination Board: EDEXCEL – BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care
Course Description
BTEC Health & Social Care is made up of four units of work which cover aspects of health and social care from birth to the end of life. The course covers physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan, and the effects of ageing.
Students will explore what it is like to work in the health and social care sector, looking at the range of roles and general responsibilities of workers, and learn about the organisations that provide services in this sector. We will consider the ways these services are provided, inspection and regulation, and the barriers that can prevent people from getting key services. The course also focuses on the principles and practicalities that underpin meeting individuals’ care needs – the foundation of all the care disciplines.
Students are able to develop a sound knowledge base of highly relevant and dynamic topics, as well as key transferable skills for independent learning, effective communication, analysis, problem-solving, writing and teamwork. Students are encouraged to be curious and questioning, to develop resilience and to better understand themselves, their peers and the world around them.
Assessment
Two core units are externally assessed by written examination and the remaining two units are internally assessed by coursework submission.
Entry Requirements
Previous study in Health and Social Care is not required. Where students have studied the Level 2 BTEC Tech Award, a Merit or higher is required.
Where might it lead?
BTEC Health and Social Care can help open doors to careers in:
- Advice Worker
- Care Manager
- Community Development
- Community Education Officer
- Counsellor
- Education
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
- Family Support Worker
- Health Improvement Practitioner
- Health Service Manager
- Human Resources
- Mental Health Practitioner
- Nurse
- Social Worker
- Youth Worker
Student Destinations
Lola Cooke
2024 Offers from:
- University of East Anglia UEA – Speech and Language Therapy
- University of Greenwich – Speech and Language Therapy
- University of Reading – Speech and Language Therapy
Lucy Dean
2024 Offers from:
- University of Chester – Mental Health Nursing (including Foundation Year)
- London South Bank University – Mental Health Nursing (including Foundation Year)
- University of Salford – Mental Health Nursing with a Health Care Foundation Year
