Hereford Sixth Form College

Health & Social Care BTEC National Extended Certificate

Equivalent to one A Level

This BTEC qualification is for those interested in learning about the health and social care sector. It is equivalent to one A Level and typically makes up one third of a full time two year study programme.

Health and Social Care

What will I learn?

By studying this course, you will develop industry specific knowledge and skills that will help you to progress in your future careers including:

• Examining development across the human lifespan, the interaction factors in health and well-being and how health care professionals provide effective care.
• Exploring the functioning of the human body, and the effect on health of common disorders of the body systems.
• Focussing on the principles that underpin meeting the care and support needs of individuals.

Year One

Principles of Health and Social Care Practice

• Pearson Set Assignment (PSA)
• You will focus on the principles that underpin meeting the care and support needs of individuals, which are the foundation of all services within health and social care.

Human Lifespan Development 

• Examined
• You will examine physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan, the interaction between biological and social factors in health and well-being and how health care professionals provide effective care.

Year Two

Human Biology and Health

• Examined
• You will explore the organisation, structure and normal physiological functioning of the human body, and the effect on health of common disorders of the body systems.

Safe Environments in Health and Social Care

• Pearson Set Assignment (PSA)
• You will explore the importance of safe working practices, professional responsibilities and record keeping in maintaining safe environments and quality care in line with national standards in health and social care settings.

Work experience

Although not compulsory, it is useful to arrange relevant work experience in a health and social care setting as this will help you gather evidence for your assignments and will support your understanding of the examined material.

What can you do after the course?

The qualification, when taken alongside other Level 3 programmes such as Psychology, Biology, Sociology, or English, will enable you to progress to a degree programme chosen from the health and social care sector. For example:

• BSC Nursing
• BSC Social Work
• BSC Subjects Allied to Health

Want to know more?

These factsheets provide lots more information about BTECs in general and about the Health & Social Care courses.

BTEC Health & Social Care Factsheet

BTEC Health & Social Care Case Study

Meg talks about the Health and Social Care course at Hereford Sixth Form College