Welcome to Health & Social Care Diploma
Health & Social Care is a popular subject. This qualification can be taken as a Single Award (the BTEC National Extended Certificate, which is equivalent to one A-level), or a Double Award (the BTEC National Diploma, which is equivalent to two A-levels).
If you have a keen interest with working with people, then this course will help you. You may want a medical career
If you have a keen interest in working with people, then this course will help you. You may want a medical career, or a career in the care sector. Some of you may even wish to work with children, people with additional needs or the elderly but are unsure of the roles available to you, this course can support you in finding your ideal career.
As a Single Award student you will discover the core knowledge and principles required for a career in the health sector, social care sector or early year’s sector. The course has a vocational focus, intending to prepare you with the skills required to work within any Health and Social Care occupation.
As a Double Award student you will build upon the core knowledge and principles by applying these to specific areas. These areas could include looking at specific psychological theories and how these can be applied in your work, investigating public health strategies and how to build effective campaigns for health change or focusing on individuals with additional needs and how you could support them
Assessment
This qualification can be taken as a Single Award (the BTEC National Extended Certificate, which is equivalent to one A-level), or a Double Award (the BTEC National Diploma, which is equivalent to two A-levels).
Single Award (1 A-level)
When studying the Single Award, you will complete 3 mandatory units, plus 1 further optional unit.
- Unit 1: Lifespan Development (exam-based)
- Unit 2: Working in Health & Social Care (exam-based)
- Unit 5: Meeting Individual Care & Support Needs (coursework-based)
- Optional unit (coursework based)
Double Award (2 A-levels)
When studying the Double Award, you will complete 6 mandatory units, plus 2 further optional units.
- Unit 1: Lifespan Development (exam-based)
- Unit 2: Working in Health & Social Care (exam-based)
- Unit 4: Enquiries into Current Health & Social Care Research (external assessment)
- Unit 5: Meeting Individual Care & Support Needs (coursework-based)
- Unit 7: Safe Practice (coursework-based)
- Unit 8: Public Health (coursework-based)
- 2 further optional units (coursework based)
Career & Progression Opportunities
Obvious career options might include; medical careers e.g. doctor, physiotherapists or paramedics, Nursing or midwifery, social work, early years care and education e.g. nursery nurse, play worker, or the social care sector e.g., home carers, care assistants and support workers.
Some less obvious career routes you may be intrigued to realise this course can lead to are; counselling, mental health work, pharmaceuticals, medical photography, teaching or even occupational therapy.
Entry Requirements
If you’d like to study Health & Social Care (Diploma), then you’ll need at least 5 GCSE qualifications (including GCSE English) at a Grade 4 or above.
While previous study of Health & Social Care or Child Development is advantageous, it is not essential.
If you’d like to, you can download this information as a PDF file. Download the Health & Social Care Diploma course information sheet (opens in a new tab) →