Health and Social Care

Why Choose this course?

Students taking the Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of this sector. The Extended Certificate is equivalent in size to one full A Level. In this course, students will learn how people develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially through the course of their lives and how specific life events can impact their personal growth. Students will investigate a write about the diagnosis, treatment and impact of physical disorders and learn about how professionals within a variety of health and social care fields support people who use these services.

Students in Health and Social Care will develop problem-solving and research skills, use critical thinking and apply their knowledge creatively to develop care plans for service users with a wide range of needs. Communication, working collaboratively, and presentation skills will also be emphasised over the 2 years. Students will learn to manage their time effectively, develop resilience and connect successfully to outside health and social care organisations.

Prospects

This qualification is an ideal first step to careers within health and social care. The course supports access to a range of related apprenticeships and higher education courses and combines well with other sixth form subjects. For example:

A combination of Health and Social Care along with A Levels in psychology and biology can lead to a BSc (Hons) in nursing.
A combination of Health and Social Care along with A Levels in English and history can lead to a BA (Hons) in primary education.

A qualification in health and social care can also lead to degree courses in social work, youth work, sports studies, and police studies.

Course Content

Year 12
Unit 1:Human Lifespan Development
(External Exam)

Unit 5:Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs. (Coursework)

Year 13
Unit 2: Working in Health and Social Care (External Exam)

Unit 14:Physiological Disorders and their Care. (Coursework)

Each unit has specific learning aims that are addressed throughout the course some of which are synoptic.

Course Opportunities/ Activities

Throughout the 2 year course, Health and Social Care students will have the opportunity to connect with professionals in these fields. Workshops and talks from nurses, social workers, midwives, occupational therapists, youth workers, and care home managers will be offered regularly throughout the course. Students will also learn about how they can volunteer and complete work experience at local hospitals, residential care facilities and other health and social care providers. These experiences are vital for students pursuing a career in health or social care field.

Future opportunities include collaboration with the Broughton Hall Science department in developing an on-site replica hospital ward. On this ward, students interested in health care can experience what it is like to work in a hospital setting whilst developing their health care skills.

Support and Challenge

All health and social care students are given topic booklets, past papers and access to an online textbook. Additional revision and examination activities are provided throughout the course as well as revision and extra coursework sessions and one-to-one support. Every half term, all students are given a calendar of activities, revision and extensions opportunities for each week. This allows them to organise their time, balance their coursework with their revision, and prioritise their focus.

The extension opportunities give students the chance to investigate the role of health and social care further, including the impact the recent pandemic has had on services and the people who provide them. Relevant podcasts, news articles, films, and television programmes are recommended and referred to in every unit. Students have been supported with successful applications to apprenticeships and university courses in nursing, midwifery, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, primary and early years education, sports sciences, and social work.

Student Comment

Health and Social Care really helps me understand the roles of people who work in the health field. I want to become a nurse and this subject is giving me the skills and understanding of what it will be like to work with patients and how I can best help the people in my care.

I really like Health and Social Care because it is really relevant to me. It has given me the knowledge of how we all grow and develop throughout our life and the different events that can affect our health and well being. I have also developed research skills, time management and confidence in taking exams which has helped me in my other subjects.