OCR Level 3 National Certificate in Health, Social Care and Early Years

OCR Level 3 National Certificate in Health, Social Care and Early Years

Entry Requirements
Four GCSEs at Grade C or above or OCR National Level 2 in Health & Social Care or any equivalent qualification eg Intermediate GNVQ in Health & Social Care.

About the Course

These vocational courses are designed to provide you with a high quality, industry-recognised qualification. In addition they will give the opportunity to develop relevant skills and knowledge for a career in fields such as health-care, social care or early years and education.

In Year 1 you will study 6 different modules to gain the National Certificate in Health, Social Care and Early Years at level 3. All of these modules are coursework based, so there are no exams. The National Certificate qualification is broadly equivalent to 1 A level.

In Year 2 you will do six more modules to allow you to upgrade your qualification to the National Diploma in Health, Social Care and Early Years at level 3. All of these modules are also coursework based, so there are again no exams in Year 2 of the course. The National Diploma qualification is broadly equivalent to 2 A levels.

All OCR National qualifications in Health and Social Care at level 3 involve studying a mix of compulsory and optional units, including such topics as: practical care; first aid; counselling skills; mental health; working with children; working with people with disabilities; child development. You will gain a certificate from the OCR exam board for each unit you successfully complete, as well as for the full National Certificate and National Diploma qualifications.

You will also be actively encouraged to take part in relevant work placements as part of your study programme. Students do a minimum of a half-day a week placement in health, social care or early-years organisations for about 2 terms in both Year 1 and Year 2 of the course e.g. in a Care home, in a nursery, in a day-centre. This will give you an opportunity to collect information for your coursework as well as providing you with practical experience of working in a Care setting.

OCR National qualifications in Health and Social Care at level 3 can be used to: enter employment and undertake a related NVQ, e.g. NVQ in Care; enter employment at trainee level, e.g. trainee healthcare assistant; undertake additional level 3 qualifications, e.g. A levels; undertake higher level qualifications in further or higher education e.g. HNC, HND, degree courses such as nursing.

As well as providing you with a recognised qualification this course will allow you to develop vocational and study skills; to work independently and as part of a group; be able to specialise in particular areas of health, social care or early years if you wish.