Health and Social Care (single award)
Voc Lvl 3

* Please note that the Department for Education is conducting a national review of curriculum and assessment which includes this course within its scope.  It is possible that there may be minor changes to the weighting and/or assessment of course modules from September 2025, but please be reassured that the course will still be offered as a Level 3 vocational course, whatever the outcome of the review. This page will be updated once the findings of the review are published (expected January 2025).*
 
An interesting and challenging course which will help you develop the skills, knowledge and understanding you need for Higher Education or employment.  It is equivalent to one A level.

On completion of this two year course, you will achieve an Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care.

During the course you will learn about values of care in relation to physical, intellectual, emotional and social aspects of health and social care.  Individual units will include:

  • Building positive relationships in health and social care (Mandatory internal examination 60 Guided Learning Hours)
  • Equality, diversity and rights in health and social care (Mandatory external examination 60 Guided Learning Hours)
  • Health, safety and security in health and social care (Mandatory external examination 60 Guided Learning Hours)
  • Anatomy and physiology for health and social care (Mandatory external examination 90 Guided Learning Hours)
  • Nutrition for health and social care (Optional Internal Coursework 30 Guided Learning Hours)
  • The impact of long-term physiological conditions (Optional Internal Coursework 60 Guided Learning Hours)

There are external examinations and assessed pieces of coursework based on the number of guided learning hours chosen for each individual unit.  These units will develop your understanding of the application of psychology, biological sciences, health and social care practice and provision and equality and diversity legislation used in the services.  

Role play, creating posters, visiting exhibitions and services, attending conferences, developing and undertaking research, presenting, reporting, interviewing, group work, using information technology, discussing and problem solving.

You will have subject tutors who will guide you through the course and help you manage your workload. The emphasis will be on research and problem solving through assessed work, which will focus on the world of work.

The individual units will be assessed as a combination of coursework and external examinations. 

  • Visiting speakers with specialist knowledge in the sector from local health, social care and early years providers;
  • Additional Speakers for Schools and UCAS webinars suggested to students focussing around careers in Nursing and Midwifery;
  • Links to news articles and TV documentaries, TED talks, national and international webinars, podcasts and related conferences such as The Tes SEN Show and The Mental Health and Wellbeing Show;
  • Broadcasts from universities relating to health, social care and early years career related courses;
  • Links to the Medical Mavericks Academy which is an online platform showcasing a wide range of careers available in the NHS;
  • Students are signposted to MOOCS related to health, social care and early years;
  • A one week meaningful work experience placement applying theory to practice in the first year of the course at health, social care and early years settings;
  • Extension material on Study Directory going beyond the OCR framework of the course;
  • Screencasts provided of blended learning lessons for consolidation;
  • Students are encouraged to create their own innovative active learning environments using multi-sensory and multi-modal techniques;
  • Encourage students to help in the local community with the Rushmoor Voluntary Services' supported volunteering project 'Blooming Marvellous'.

Health and social care combines well with most other social science subjects such as sociology and psychology.  Also courses such as biology, English language and law link well. If you are thinking of going on to a career in the health or medical sector, we would advise taking medical science or a social sciences subject. 

You could enter employment. You could combine employment with job related training and gain further accreditation for your skills and experience through an NVQ training programme. You could continue your studies in Higher Education on a degree course or HND in related subject areas such as Health Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Physiotherapy, Primary Teaching and Nursing.

Please see below for careers and labour market information for health and social care - use the refresh buttons to find out about different courses and careers, and use the left and right arrows to view more detailed information.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk

Q: How do the grades convert to UCAS points?
A: The grades are pass, merit, distinction and distinction* and these grades have a UCAS Tariff.

Q: Which subjects go well together with health and social care?
A:
The following subjects go well with health and social care: sociology, psychology, criminology, law, business studies, biology and medical science.

Q: How many exams are there for this subject?
A: There are two examinations in the first year, and one in the second year.  

Q: How much coursework is there for this subject?
A:
 There is one piece of coursework in the first year, and two in the second. 

Q: What career pathways does the subject lead to?
A:
The subject often leads to a wide variety of vocational career pathways such as primary teaching, nursing and midwifery, social work, counselling and physiotherapy.

 

Exam Board

OCR Learn More

Entry Requirements

  • You should have at least a grade 4 in GCSE maths.
  • You should have 4-4 in GCSE double science or a grade 4 in biology and one other individual science.
  • You should have at least a grade 4 in GCSE English language.

Employability Skills

  • The subject content is applied to the workplace
  • The course can be specific for a future career in health and social care
  • The course provides you with transferable IT, Literacy and Numeracy skills
  • The subject improves Independent study skills as well as Interpersonal skills
  • Students will be encouraged to gain work experience to further develop their care and communication skills

Course Resources

First and Second Year Textbooks

Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Health and Social Care (by Maria Ferreiro Peteiro, Judith Adams, Mary Riley, Pete Wedlake and Sarah Rogers), ISBN: 9781471874655

My Revision Notes: Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Health and Social Care (by Judith Adams), ISBN: 9781510442306