Level 3 in Health and Social Care (Cambridge Technical Diploma)

Studying Health and Social Care provides a more vocational perspective and offers students the chance to obtain a qualification that meets both their individual aptitudes and interests. Prior study at GCSE Health and Social Care will be useful to students but not essential. This course prepares students to enter a variety of courses in Health and Social Care and related subjects. It also provides a progression for further training whilst in employment.

This course is equivalent to 2 A levels

Diploma in Health and Social Care

Students study 12 modules in Health and social care - 45% of the final grade is based on Exam units and 55% is based on coursework units.

Unit 1 - Building positive relationships in Health and social care - Coursework.

Students look at effective communication techniques and different strategies used in Health and social care to involve people in their care. They also study the process of reflective practice.

Unit 2 - Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and social care - Exam

Students study how individual needs of people are met in Early years, health care and social care. Looking at the rights of people, the support given to different groups of people and the impact of discrimination on the care of individuals.

Unit 3 - Health, Safety and security in Health and Social Care - Exam

Students look at how service users and employees are kept safe in Health, social care and early year education. Including adaptions to care needed for the very young, the elderly and people with disabilities. Health and Safety laws are also studied.

Unit 4 - Anatomy and Physiology - Exam

Students study the structure, function and common malfunctions of the heart, liver, digestive system, brain, kidneys, nervous system, eye, ear respiratory system, skeleton and endocrine system

Unit 5 - Infection Control - Coursework

Students look at methods of infection control, including PPE, isolating individuals, cleaning techniques and the impact of immunisation on infection control

Unit 6 - Personalisation and a person centred approach to care - Exam

Students look at how to involve people in decisions made about their care and treatments. How to treat an individual rather than a condition, making sure all of the emotional and social needs are met. The finance of care is also studied.

Unit 7 - Safeguarding - Exam

Students study how to keep people safe from abuse and harm in health, social care and early years education. Thy look at the reporting process and the laws around safeguarding vulnerable people.

Unit 9 - Supporting people with learning difficulties - Coursework

Using case studies students study the support available for different learning difficulties, the services involved in this and the impact of personalised care.

Unit 14 - The impact of long term physiological conditions - Coursework

Using case studies, students look at common illnesses and conditions, their symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. They also study the services involved in the care and the impact on people's emotional and social wellbeing. Moral and ethical conflicts surrounding end of life care are discussed.

Unit 24 - Public health - Coursework

Students look at the history of health and social care in the UK, including workhouses, the development of the NHS and the impact of more recent legislation and campaigns, for example the success of the MMR vaccine and the impact of the drink aware campaign.

Unit 13 - Sexual Health, reproduction and early development stages - coursework

Students study Pregnancy and birth, the development of the baby in the uterus and after birth for the first year. Students look at services to support pregnancy, birth and the early stages of development. Students also study sexual health.

Unit 22 - Psychology for Health and Social Care - Coursework

Students study behaviour theories in psychology, the psychological impact of ill-health and care on individuals. Students also study why people may fail to comply with prescribed treatments for long term care.

Through externally assessed examinations and coursework.

5 GCSEs at 4 or above including English Language Maths and Science.

Course availability is at the discretion of the Sixth Form Team.

Students who have taken Applied Health and Social Care go on to study Social Studies at University. A wide range of career opportunities including: Nursing, Health Care Management and Counselling.

- BA (Hons) Integrative-Relational Counselling

- FdSc (Hons) Care Studies

- BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing

- BA (Hons) Social Work