Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Health and Social Care

Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Health and Social Care

Entry Requirements
Five GCSEs at grade C or above.

About the Course
The Single A level in Health and Social Care is a two year course. In Year 1 you will study three AS (Advanced Subsidiary) units to gain an AS in Health and Social Care. The first two units you will do are coursework based and the final unit is assessed through an exam. In Year 2 you will study three A2 units to gain an A level in Health and Social Care. Again the first two units are coursework based and the final unit is assessed through an exam.

The AS course focuses on the needs of people requiring care and/or support from health, social care or early-years services. Aspects covered in the AS units include: rights and responsibilities; communication in care settings; factors affecting health and well-being. The A2 course focuses on the organisations and professionals that provide health, social care and early-years services. Aspects covered in the A2 units include: the provision of services; roles of care practitioners; child development; human behaviour and mental health.

This qualification has a vocational focus and therefore you will be actively encouraged to do some work experience with a health, social care or early-years organisation as part of this course, for example Year 1 students will have the opportunity to undertake a 5-day placement towards the end of the summer term. Year 2 students will also have the opportunity to undertake a second work placement.

Studying Health and Social Care to AS and/or A level will help you to:
gain a good knowledge and understanding of the work of health, social care and early years organisations; develop skills that will enable you to make an effective contribution to the work of care organisations, e.g. skills in research, evaluation and problem-solving; prepare for further study and/or training.

A qualification in A level Health and Social Care can help you gain entry onto many different higher education courses, such as diploma and degree courses in: health studies; health and social care; nursing (adult, children and mental health nursing); midwifery, social work; teaching (nursery, primary and secondary teaching); child development; youth and community work; counselling; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; dietetics. Alternatively you can also use these A level qualifications to progress onto further training for employment in areas such as early years work, residential care, health care and community work.