About 3 million people work in health or social care. Health care roles include doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and health care assistants, while social care roles include care assistants, occupational therapists, counsellors and administrative roles. Together they account for nearly one in ten of all paid jobs in the UK. Demand for both health and social care is likely to rise so they will continue to play a key role in UK society, and the demand for people to fill these vital jobs will increase.

Study of this sector at Key Stage 4 will complement GCSE study through providing an opportunity for practical application alongside conceptual study. There are also strong opportunities for post-16 progression in this important sector.

“A modern health care system has to be completely focused on the needs of its users.”

Patricia Hewitt

Course description

On this course you will study 3 units:

1. Unit 1 – Human Lifespan and Development – In this component, you will study how people grow and develop over the course of their life, from infancy to old age, this includes physical, intellectual, emotional and social development and the different factors that may affect them.
2. Unit 2 – Health and Social Care Services and Values – This component will give you an understanding of health and social care services and will help you develop skills in applying care values which are common across the sector (some of which are transferable to other sectors that involve interactions with clients or customers).
3. Unit 3 Health and Well Being- In this component, you look at the factors that can have a positive or negative influence on a person’s health and wellbeing. You will learn to interpret physiological and lifestyle indicators and what they mean for someone’s state of health.

The Level 2 in Health and Social Care provides an excellent foundation for study in Sixth Form or to entry-level job roles within any health and social care industry. Achievement at Level 2 provides a solid grounding for the Level 3 BTEC National in Health and Social Care.

The course is 75% coursework with only Unit 3 being assessed by an examination.

Exam board

Edexcel BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Health and Social Care

Assessment

• You will be assessed through internally assessed coursework (75%) – using a range of diverse activities including assignment and project work, case studies, role play and presentations.
• External assessment (25%) – Component  3: Health and Wellbeing requires learners to assess an individual’s health and wellbeing and use this to create a health and wellbeing improvement plan. The design of this external assessment ensures that there is sufficient stretch and challenge, enabling the assessment of knowledge and understanding at the end of the learning period.
• The BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care is a Level 2 qualification, graded at Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction*.

Ways to help my child succeed

You will need the ability to think for yourself. You will also have to be self-motivated, organised, complete work thoroughly and have an excellent attendance record.  Other than the usual equipment, a memory stick to back-up your coursework would be useful.  To further your vocational experience, you will have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities such as visits from Guest Speakers and a day spent at York Hospital.

Useful resources

BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care Student Book (ISBN: 9781292200927)