Health & Social Care (AAQ BTEC) L3 National Extended Certificate

The AAQ Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care aims to provide you with a broad understanding of various aspects of the health and social care sector. You will study three mandatory Units and one optional Unit.

The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level, and you will take this qualification alongside other A Levels and/or AAQs.

This qualification requires you to explore some difficult topics, so it is important to ensure you are comfortable learning about the following:

• Diseases and disorders of the body, and their effect on physical and mental wellbeing to include:

• Acquired brain injury

• Cancer

• Dementia

• Child protection and welfare

• Safeguarding

• Child abuse; physical abuse and injury, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, domestic abuse.

Who is this qualification for?

This qualification is ideal for anyone who is interested in developing their knowledge of both human health and development and the health and social care sector. It will be of particular interest if you may be considering a career in this important field.

When you have completed the qualification and dependent on your other options, you will have a range of progression pathways to choose from. These include moving on to employment, apprenticeship or further study at university in fields such as social care management, nursing, midwifery, social work and other health and social care related areas.

What will I study?

In total, you will study four units. There are three mandatory units which are:

• Unit 1: Human Lifespan and Development

• Unit 2: Human Health and Biology

• Unit 3: Principles of Health and Social Care Practice

We as a school will select one additional unit of study from the following list:

• Unit 4: Health, Policy and Wellbeing

• Unit 5: Promoting Health Education

• Unit 6: Safe Environments in Health and Social Care

• Unit 7: Health Science

How will I be assessed?

This qualification is assessed using external assessments (exams) and internal assessments (coursework). As the assessment is split 50/50 between exams and coursework, and you are permitted to resit the exams, this qualification is ideal for those that may find exams challenging or those that prefer coursework.