Why choose Level 3 health and social care?
The health and social care course has been designed to prepare you for the next stage of your education or working life. It provides a solid foundation in understanding how to work in the health and social care sector and highlights the importance of key policies, procedures and legislation in practice.
You are introduced to the complexities of supporting individuals with diverse needs and will explore how care values are applied across a range of contexts. Units are sequenced to develop knowledge and practical skills in a way that supports progression and promotes employability.
This qualification is ideal if you are interested in a career in healthcare, education, or social services and want a practical, real-world approach to learning.
Course type: Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National Extended Certificate
Board: Pearson
Entry requirements: Five grade 4s or above at GCSE including English language and/or maths
How will Level 3 health and social care be delivered?
Health and social care is delivered through a combination of:
- Direct teaching and guided learning
- Hands-on activities and role play
- Independent research and written tasks
- Exploration of different care settings through videos, guest speakers and educational visits
The optional unit is selected based on student interests and cohort needs.
| Unit | Content |
| 1: Human Lifespan Development | Understand physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across life stages and the factors that affect it |
| 2: Working in health and social care | Explore roles and responsibilities of professionals and how they work together to meet individuals’ needs |
| 3: Anatomy and physiology for health and social care | Develop knowledge of the structure, function and disorders of the human body systems |
| 4: Health, policy and wellbeing (optional) | Explore how historical public health policy has shaped current frameworks. Examine factors influencing public health and how social policy is used to improve outcomes |
| 5: Promoting health education (optional) | Understand the purpose of health education and examine methods used to promote public awareness and support behaviour change |
| 6: Safe environments in health and social care (optional) | Investigate how safe working practices, professional responsibilities and record keeping ensure quality care and compliance |
| 7: Health science (optional) | Study microbiological concepts and explore how microbiology supports the diagnosis and monitoring of disease on local, national and global scales |
Assessment
Health and social care is assessed through a combination of externally assessed exams and internally assessed controlled assessments.
Component 1: Human Lifespan Development – 25%
- External written exam
Component 2: Working in Health and Social Care – 33%
External written exam.
Component 3: Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care – 25%
- Internal controlled assessment (coursework)
Component 4: Optional Unit – 17%
- Internal controlled assessment (coursework)
Progression
Health and social care is an excellent foundation for a wide range of university courses and careers. This qualification can support progression to degrees in:
- Nursing
- Social work
- Midwifery
- Occupational therapy
- Paramedic science
- Public health
- Healthcare science
It also supports routes into employment or further training in the health and social care sector.
