Health & Social Care

BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Health & Social Care

 Examining Board: Pearson Edexcel

 Aims of the Course

This course gives learners 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. Students learn how people adapt to these changes as well as the types of support available to help them.

 Students 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. Learners are able to demonstrate these care values practically.

Students develop skills in interpreting data about someone’s state of health in order to design a plan that allows them to improve their health and wellbeing.

Content

• Component 1: Human Lifespan Development
• Component 2: Health and Social Care Services and Values
• Component 3: Health and Wellbeing

Component 1: This unit provides students with the opportunity to explore how we grow and develop throughout our lives and to investigate the factors that affect this growth and development.

Component 2: In this unit students gain an understanding of different health and social care services, barriers to accessing services and how care values are applied in health and social care settings, and their importance to work in the sector.

Component 3: This unit allows students to learn about physiological and lifestyle factors that affect health and wellbeing of individuals.

Method of Assessment

The new BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care contain two forms of assessment:

• Component 1 and 2 are assessed through two x 6 hour-controlled assessments (which are externally moderated by Pearson Edexcel) and make up 60% of the total course.
• Component 3 is a two-hour external exam and makes up the remaining 40% of the course.

This qualification is the same size and level as a GCSE, although it is graded using a pass, merit and distinction system. 

BTEC grading

 Recommended Reading

• The Health Gap by Michael Marmot (higher achievers)
• The Patient Paradox by Margaret McCartney (higher achievers)
• Beautiful by Katie Piper (accessible to all)
• The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink (middle to higher achievers)
• Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (accessible to all)
• Life and Limb: A true Story of Tragedy and Survival
  by Jamie Andrew (middle to high achievers)

 Key Stage 5 Progression / Career Prospects

A BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification is offered in the Sixth Form at Bentley Wood, which is the equivalent to 3 A Levels and is a solid progression route into the health and social care professions. There is a wide range of careers/interests for which Health and Social Care is relevant.

Enrichment

• External speakers who work in Health and Social Care
• Mock interviews with a midwife

 Revision Guides

• KS4: Revise BTEC Tech Award Health and Social Care Revision Guide
• KS4: BTEC Tech Award Health and Social Care Student Book

BTEC Health and Social Care

Is Health and Social Care the subject for you?

This course will appeal to those students who:

• Enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experience.
• Want the opportunity to carry out practical work as well as class work and want to find out more about the subject through personal investigation.
• Are interested in developing an understanding of caring organisations and the clients they serve.
• Want to study a course that is active and enjoyable.
• Want to move onto a related career or higher education course.
• Would like to work in the health care sector, teaching, police force, youth work, social work etc.

Course content

In Year 12 students study – 

1. Working in Health and Social Care – (examination) Roles and responsibilities of different health and social care professionals.
2. Principles of Safe Practice- (coursework) Legislation and laws in different health and social care settings.
3. Psychological perspectives – (coursework) The study of psychology and perspectives on health and illness.

In Year 13 students study – 

1. Current Research in Health and Social Care (examination) – Different methods of research in health and social care and contemporary research examples.
2. Public Health (coursework) – Government initiatives to improve the health of the nation.
3. Policy in Health and Social Care (coursework) – This unit will encourage you to find out how policy making has an impact on health and social care.

Methods of study

You will gain a broad understanding and develop skills required for health and social care environments. You will have an opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way, whilst following a programme of study that enables progression to both higher education and employment in health and social care. The course will help you develop key skills that are highly valued by employers and universities and gain confidence by developing independent learning skills.

The course involves one day of work experience per week for the whole academic year. It is also co-delivered with Whitmore High School. You will have two days a week attending Bentley Wood and two days attending Whitmore High School.

How will it be examined?

This Extended Diploma is equivalent to three A Levels and will be assessed by:

Externally-assessed units. The units developed for external assessment allow learners to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Learners are permitted to resit external assessments during their programme.

Internally-assessed units. Most units in the sector are internally assessed. This means that you are provided with assignments that provide the final summative assessment of each unit.

Learners are given opportunities to:

• write up the findings of their own research
• use case studies to explore complex or unfamiliar situations
• carry out projects for which they have choice over the direction and outcomes
• demonstrate practical and technical skills using appropriate work-based values and practices

Career opportunities

When you have finished the course, you may choose to go into full-time employment or university. Career opportunities could include:

• Care worker.
• Midwife
• Social worker.
• Community support and outreach worker.
• Supervisors and managers.
• Occupational therapist.
• Teacher