BTEC Health and Social Care

Course Entry Requirements:

Four GCSEs at grade 4 and above

General Course Description:

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care aims to provide an introduction to the sector.

This course is designed to provide a more vocational perspective and offers students the chance to obtain a qualification that meets both their individual aptitudes and interests. The course is equivalent in size to one A Level. It is an ideal course for those looking into a career in health care or social work, for example:

·        Nursing

·        Social work

·        Allied health professions

o   Therapists

o   Dietitians

o   Paramedics

o   Radiographers

o   Speech and Language Therapists

Students will develop skills that will enable them to make an effective contribution to the care sector including skills of research, evaluation and problem-solving in a work related context. It also aims to prepare them for further study and training. The two-year course consists of three mandatory units and one optional unit. Two of the units are externally assessed as written examinations and the other two units are internally assessed assignment tasks.

Year 12 Units:

Unit 1 – Human Lifespan and Development (External)

Unit 7 – Health Science (Internal)

Year 13 Units:

Unit 3 – Principles of Health and Social Care Practice (Internal)

Unit 2 – Human Biology and Health (External)

Unit 1 and 2 end in external exams that last 1 hour and 30 minutes for a total of 80 marks. The exam will be made up of short and long answers and some multiple choice.

Unit 1 will focus on the understanding of human growth and development through the life stages and the factors that affect growth and development.

Unit 2 will focus on understanding of the structure, organisation and function of the human body and common disorders that affect it; application of knowledge on the structure and function of body systems to the primary and secondary effects of common disorders on those body systems; and connections between the primary and secondary effects of common disorders and how they affect interlinked body systems. This will heavily connect to the Biology A-Level content.

Unit 3 is internally assessed and then verified externally. This is broken down into three assignment covering:
A - Understand the principles of health and social care practice which underpin meeting the care and support needs of individuals
B - Examine how organisation, legislation and guidance inform practice in health and social care
C - Examine how social determinants affect the health status of individuals and the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in practice.

Unit 7 is internally assessed and then verified externally. This is broken down into three assignment covering:
A -  Understand the concepts of microbiology relevant to health science

B - Examine the role of microorganisms in human health and disease

C - Understand the factors that can influence the development of diseases and infections

D - Investigate the impact of diseases and their treatment in a global context.

The AAQ course will be completed over two years and will hold the equivalence of one A-level. The outcomes of the course are Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction* which are equivalent to E, C, A and A* for the extended certificate.

Board: Pearson Edexcel

Career Pathways:

The credits gained from this course are recognised by Higher Education Institutes and Universities. Students may like to embark on vocational based courses leading to becoming a social worker, nurse, occupational therapists, orthoptists, osteopaths, physiotherapists and prosthetists + orthotists.

Linked Subjects:

·        Psychology

·        Biology

·        English