Health and Social Care, BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in (Single Award)

Students should ensure that they meet the entry requirements for the courses they are applying for (available on subject pages) as well as the overall entry requirements (5 grades at level 4 or above but must include English and Maths).

Students need to choose a minimum of three subjects to study. Please note that all of our BTEC courses are single BTEC's and equivalent to 1 A Level, you will need to choose two further subjects if choosing a BTEC course.

Please ensure you have put contact details for yourself and a parent should we need to contact you.

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care aims to provide an introduction to working in the Health and Social Care sector and the knowledge, skills and qualities you would need for this. It includes exam units and internally assessed units where students have to apply their knowledge to case studies in written reports.

It will be studied alongside other subjects as part of a balanced study programme. It is equivalent in size to one A-level.

The mandatory content of the qualification incorporates topics relevant across the health and social care sector.

• Human Lifespan Development (externally assessed by an exam): students cover physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan, the factors affecting development and the effects of ageing.
• Working in Health and Social Care (externally assessed by an exam): students explore what it is like to work in the health and social care sector, including the roles and responsibilities of workers and organisations.
• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs (internally assessed): students focus on the principles and practicalities that underpin meeting individuals’ care and support needs, which are the foundation of all the care disciplines.

Students also study one internally assessed optional unit. To helps students progress on to nursing and other Higher Education health related courses, we study the following unit:

• Physiological Disorders and their Care: students explore types of physiological disorders, the procedures for diagnosis, and the development of a treatment plan and provision of support for service users.

4 units of which 3 are mandatory and 1 is optional.

There are two exam units, one taken in May of year 12 and the other in January of year 13.

The other two units are internally assessed – students have to write a number of report based assignments based around the care of different case studies.

Grade 4 or above in GCSE English. If students have studied BTEC Health and Social Care at Level 2 a pass or above would be accepted.

The qualification supports access to a range of higher education courses if taken alongside further Level 3 qualifications. This will enable students to progress to a degree programme chosen from a range of programmes in the health and social care or education sector. The qualification is recognised by higher education institutions as contributing to meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses.

It can be taken alongside, for example:

• A-levels in Biology and Psychology, which could lead to a BSc (Hons) in Nursing.
• A-levels in English and History, which could lead to a BA (Hons) in Primary Education.
• A BTEC National Extended Certificate in Sport, which could lead to a Foundation Degree in Sports Studies and Development.