Health and Social Care

 

We are an important part of the Business Communication faculty.  Choosing Health and Social Care or Children’s Care, Learning & Development is a great decision for lots of reasons.  It is an area of work that provides unlimited opportunities to make differences to people’s lives.  Students will gain specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are relevant to life, and more importantly, transferrable to the work place.

 

Qualification subjects studied in KS4 in Year 9, 10, 11

 

BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care

Edexcel GCSE in Health and Social Care

 

Qualification studied in KS5 – Year 12 and 13

 

AQA GCE A Level in Health and Social Care

 

 

About the GCSE course in HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

 

The GCSE course gives pupils opportunities to:

∑ Engage in the processes of Health and Social Care in order to develop as effective independent pupils.

∑ Understand aspects of personal development, the health and social care and early years’ sectors through investigation and evaluation of a range of services and organisations. 

∑ Develop a critical and analytical approach to problem solving within health and social care and early years sectors.

∑ Examine issues which affect the nature and quality of human life including an appreciation of diversity and cultural issues.

 

The GCSE course includes 2 compulsory units:-

 

Unit 1:

Understanding personal development and relationships. This is externally assessed through a 1 hour 15 minute written examination.  It helps you understand how people grow and develop, as well as personal relationships people have during their lives.  You will explore how people grow and develop from birth, right through to later adulthood.  This knowledge will help you understand others and help you understand yourself.

 

Unit 2:

Exploring Heath and Social Care and Early Years Provision.  This is internally assessed under controlled conditions.  Pupils will produce one report which will be based on an investigation of the needs of one service user or how these needs are met by service providers and care practitioners.  This unit investigates the needs of one person and how health, social care and early years organisations meets those needs.  Students will select the person they study and conduct their own research.

 

BTEC First Award (Level 2) in Health and Social Care

 

∑ The course is graded at Level 2 Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction*. 

∑ External assessment is up to 25% of the qualification.

∑ It presents knowledge in a work-related context. It gives learners the opportunity to develop and apply skills in English and mathematics.

 

This course includes 2 core units and 2 other units to be confirmed:- (subject to OFQUAL accreditation)

Unit 1:

Human Lifespan Development.  This is externally assessed through a one hour examination.  It provides the students with the opportunity to explore human growth and development throughout our lives and to investigate the factors that affect this.  You will also explore how these factors interrelate across the life stages.  You will gain an understanding of lifespan development which is essential when working in this area. 

Unit 2:

Health and Social Care Values.  This is internally assessed.  This unit will prepare you for a career in any area of health and social care.  The values may be applied to daily life and underpin current practice.  You will investigate ways of empowering individuals who use health and social care services.

 

AQA GCE A Level in Health and Social Care (Single Award)

 

The Health and Social Care course aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the issues within the health, social care and early years’ sector.  It will enable students to progress to higher education, such as university and other specific training courses.  This course will appeal to students who are interested in careers such as: nursing, teaching, child care, paediatrics, midwifery, social work, police work, probation officer, medicine, paramedics, health visitor, mental health and counselling.

 

What does it involve?

The A Level is composed of two parts.  The first part is the AS which is a free standing qualification.  It can also be combined with the second year of A2.

 

Year 12 - AS Level

This is made up of two units:

Unit HSC01: Effective Care and Communication – a report assessed internally worth 80 marks

Unit HSC02: Understanding Health Condition and Patient Care Pathways Effective – assessed externally through an examination worth 60 marks

 

Year 13 - A2 Level

This is made up of two units:

Unit HSC06: Practitioner Roles – a report assessed internally worth 80 marks

Unit HSC05: Learning and Development – assessed externally through an examination worth 80 marks

 

What are the minimum entry requirements?

Five GCSE’s grade A*-C which must include GCSE grade B in English language

No prior knowledge of Health and Social Care is needed, but if it has been studied at GCSE then a grade B is required.