Qualification aims and objectives

BTEC Health and Social Care has been developed specifically by the health and social care sector to provide:

• Transferable knowledge and skills through applied learning to prepare learners for a range of higher education courses and job roles in the sector.
• The opportunity for full time learners to enter employment in the health and social care sector or to progress to vocational qualifications such as the Edexcel BTEC Higher Nationals in Health & Social Care.
• A range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

This qualification provides learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for employment, an understanding of how the sector operates and will have knowledge of the routes into the large variety of job roles.

Course outline

The qualification has three mandatory units covering the following topics:

Human Lifespan and Development – PIES and factors affecting growth and development, interventions and the different professionals providing care and treatment

Human Biology and Health – Human body structure and systems, normal physiological functioning and the impact of common disorders

Health and Social Care Practice – Core principles, values and legislation that underpin and influence health and social care, and the effect of social determinants on an individual health status

There is then 1 optional unit that needs to be completed, which will be one of the following:

Health, Social Policy and Wellbeing – Public health policy and its influences, including health-related organisations/groups and a range of strategic factors.

Promoting Health Education – Health education, its purpose and use of different approaches and models to achieve positive health outcomes.

Safe Environments in Health and Social Care – Appropriate provisions in services relevant to different needs; governance relating to safe environments.

Health Science – Types of infections and their potential impact on a local, national and international scale.

Year 12:

• Unit 1 Human Lifespan Development (exam)

• Unit 3 Principles of Health and Social Care Practice (coursework)

Year 13:

• Unit 2 Human Biology and Health (exam)

• Optional unit TBC (coursework)

What could I do with this course & possible careers?

This course is an engaging programme, suited to anyone who is keen to develop a career within the health and social care sector. It provides robust opportunities for learners to gain knowledge and understanding of a wide range of subject areas relating health and social care. As well as working in traditional care settings like hospitals, residential homes, sheltered accommodation, hospices and day care centres, there are career opportunities in areas such as health education and promotion, welfare, community development and health research.

• Hospitals
• Residential Homes
• Nursing Homes
• Health Research
• Social Work
• Probation Services