BTEC Health and Social Care (AAQ)

This qualification aims to provide an introduction to study of the sector and is for the student interested in learning about the health and social care sector as part of a balanced study programme. It is intended as an Applied General qualification, and is equivalent in size to one A level. The health and social care sector comprises two sub sectors; health care and social care. Health care encompasses all hospital activities, medical nursing homes and GP services, for example. The social care sector includes residential nursing care, residential nursing facilities, residential care facilities, domiciliary care and social work. Students are able to progress into work in the sector through degree programmes in nursing, midwifery, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy, for example. There are more than 300 distinct career paths in this sector.

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care consists of three mandatory units, one internal and two external. Learners must complete and achieve at Near Pass grade or above in all mandatory external units and achieve a Pass or above in all mandatory internal units. Also there is one optional unit learners must complete.

Year 12

Mandatory Unit 1 – Human lifespan development (90GLH) –external written exam

1.5 hour examination with a mix of short and long answer questions. Learners will be assessed on their understanding of growth and development through the human lifespan, the factors that affect growth and development and the effects of ageing.

Mandatory Unit 5 – Meeting individual care and support needs (90GLH) – internal assignment / synoptic unit

Learners complete reports relating to the care and support provided for individuals which draw together how underpinning values and principles are applied through working practices, including multi-disciplinary working. Learners complete the task using knowledge and understanding from their studies of the sector and apply both transferable and specialist knowledge and skills.

Year 13

Mandatory Unit 2 – Working in health and social care (120 GLH) – external written exam

1.5 hour examination with a mix of short and long answer questions. The paper consists of four sections and each is based on a different scenario explaining the situation of a person with health and social care needs.

Optional Unit 14 – Physiological disorders and their care (60GLH) – internal assignment

In this unit, you will learn about the signs and symptoms of physiological disorders and how they are investigated and diagnosed. You will also learn about the different types of treatment and support available for individual service users, including surgery, rehabilitation and complementary therapies. You will create a treatment plan for a service user with a specific physiological disorder.

This will help you understand the treatment and support strategies involved, the contributions of different professionals and the importance of providing individualised care.

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic.

Each external assessment for a BTEC National is linked to a specific unit. All of the units developed for external assessment are of 90 or 120 GLH to 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. The styles of external assessment used for qualifications in the Health and Social Care suite are:

• examinations – all learners take the same assessment at the same time, normally with a written outcome

• set tasks – learners take the assessment during a defined window and demonstrate understanding through completion of a vocational task.

External assessments are available twice a year.

Most units in the sector are internally assessed and subject to external standards verification. Learners could be 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.

Grading decisions will be made based on the requirements and supporting guidance given in the units. Learners may not make repeated submissions of assignment evidence.

Synoptic assessment requires learners to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively, in an integrated way, an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge from across the whole sector as relevant to a key task. BTEC learning has always encouraged learners to apply their learning in realistic contexts using scenarios and realistic activities that will permit learners to draw on and apply their learning. The synoptic assessment gives learners an opportunity to independently select and apply learning from across their programmes in the completion of a vocational task.

Five GCSEs grade 4 or above including a Merit in Health and Social Care.