The health and social care sector is a growing area of national importance and career opportunities. Do you want to make a difference to peoples’ lives? This course enables you to develop the knowledge and skills required for working in a range of settings within the health or social care sector. If you have an approachable, trustworthy, enthusiastic and compassionate nature, this course may be for you! You will have the opportunity to apply for the Futures Academy in the first year – a course designed to boost academic and career prospects, including a placement at a private hospital.

Students will be expected to have five GCSEs at grade 9-4, or a Merit in a relevant vocational Level 2 Diploma (or equivalent). In addition, students will be expected to have GCSE grade 4 in English Language and a minimum of grade 3 in Mathematics.

Topics you will study include:

Human lifespan development: 
Human growth and development through the life stages 
Factors affecting human growth and development 
Effects of ageing 

Working in health and social care: 
The roles of organisations in the health and social care sector 
Working with people with specific needs in the health and social care sector 
The roles and responsibilities of people who work in the health and social care sector 

Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs:
Principles, values and skills which underpin meeting the care and support needs of individuals 
Ethical issues involved when providing care and support to meet individual needs 
The principles behind enabling individuals with care and support needs to overcome challenges 
The roles of professionals and how they work together to provide the care and support necessary to meet individual needs 

Enquiries into current research:
Types of issues where research is carried out in the health and social care sector
Research methods in health and social care
Carrying out and reviewing relevant secondary research into a contemporary health and social care issue

Work experience:
The benefits of work experience in health and social care for own learning and development 
Develop a work experience plan to support own learning and development
Carry out work experience tasks to meet set objectives
Reflect on how work experience influences own personal and professional development

Principles of safe practice and promoting public health:
Examine how a duty of care contributes to safe practice in health and social care settings
Understand how to recognise and respond to concerns about abuse and neglect in health and social care settings
Investigate the influence of health and safety legislation and policies in health and social care settings 
Explore procedures and responsibilities to maintain health and safety and respond to accidents and emergencies in health and social care settings

Anatomy and physiology 
The structure and organisation of the human body
The structure, function and disorders of body systems
Medical research

This qualification has been designed to be a full-time, two year study programme; it is an in-depth study of the health and social care sector and is equivalent to three A Levels and supports progression to health and social care related degrees. The content of the qualification incorporates topics relevant across the health and social care sector including:

• Human lifespan development

• Working in health and social care

• Anatomy and physiology

• Enquiries into current research

• Meeting individual care and support needs

• Work experience

• Principles of safe practice and promoting public health

Assessment consists of a mixture of internally assessed units (coursework), work placement practice and four externally assessed units (examination and controlled assessments).

Exam Board: Pearson Edexcel

Work placement will support your coursework and by the end of the second year, you will have achieved a minimum of 100 hours in a variety of health and social care settings.

As part of enrichment, you will have the opportunity to participate with Medical Mavericks, visit a range of universities and have guest speakers that work in the health and social care sector.

Students benefit from a wide range of classroom activities and an engaging curriculum. Your teacher will guide you through your assessments and will provide thorough feedback to help you improve your work. You will also have the opportunity to develop experience as a student mentor and complete additional qualifications such as first aid. For some selected students, there is also an opportunity to join The Sixth Form’s Futures Academy to develop and enhance skills and qualifications even further.

Students have progressed onto higher education and into careers including nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and social work and many more.

Essential additional costs for the course:

DBS - approximately £58
A visit to Edge Hill University as part of the enrichment programme to gain an insight to the campus and attend subject specific presentations - approximately £10
First Aid Certificate - approximately £30