Health & Social Care
Course Overview
The BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care is a new KS4 qualification designed for 14-16 year olds in schools and is equivalent to one GCSE.
What is the health and social care sector?
About 3 million people in the UK work in health and social care. In healthcare, this includes jobs such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and administrators, while social care roles include care assistants, social workers, occupational therapists and counsellors. Demand for both health and social care is likely to continue to rise, so it is sure to continue to play a key role in UK society, and the demand for people to fill these vital jobs will increase.
Course content
This course gives you the opportunity to study how people grow and develop over the course of their lives, from infancy to old age, and the factors that may affect this, such as major life changing events like marriage or parenthood. You will learn how people adapt to these changes as well as the types of support available to help them. You will also learn about the different health and social care services, and about ‘care values’ and their importance in making sure that the people who use these services get the care they need. You will be able to demonstrate these care values practically. You will develop skills in interpreting data about someone’s state of health in order to design a plan that will allow them to improve their health and wellbeing. This new qualification is the same size and level as a GCSE, and is aimed at everyone who wants to find out more about health and social care. This course will give you the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and techniques, and to review your own performance in demonstrating ‘care values’.
This course builds on and uses the knowledge and skills you learn in your GCSEs. It will complement the more theoretical aspects covered by GCSE Biology by allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills practically.
Assessment
Assessment is made through a combination of Pearson set assignments (PSA) during year 10 and 11, and a final exam. The exam board set assignment tasks will be internally marked by your teacher and form 60% of the qualification's final grade. At the end of the course you will do one exam worth 40% of the qualification, this is externally marked.
The Level 2 award is graded as Pass, Merit and Distinction. These are equivalent to GCSE grades 4-9. The Level 1 award is also graded Pass, Merit or Distinction and equivalent to GCSE grades 1-3 respectively.
Possible post 16 paths
When you have completed this qualification, you will have developed a practical understanding of the health and social care sector. Because you will be building useful skills not generally covered in GCSE courses, you will have a better understanding of whether this is an area you want to continue to study. This course will also help you develop transferable skills and knowledge, such as self-evaluation and research skills, which will benefit you wherever you progress to next. After you have finished this course you may want to go on to further study, such as A levels, BTECs or a mixture of both. Or you might want to find work in the health and social care sector as a trainee or apprentice. Which option is best for you will depend on what you enjoy doing and training opportunities available in your area.
