Health and Social Care Diploma Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels)

Be challenged and rewarded on our Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma as you gain an excellent introduction and preparation for your future career. Study a range of topics such as anatomy and physiology, safeguarding and promoting health and well-being. If you choose the Extended Diploma you will also study specialist areas such as mental health and learning disabilities.

Our wonderful staff and students have built an excellent reputation amongst local service providers; our location on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus means you are perfectly placed to make use of the established links we have with Addenbrookes Hospital.

You will be taught by subject-specialists who have the relevant knowledge and vocational experience to support your progression into a range of different careers.

This 2 year course leads to a vocational qualification which will prepare you for further study or employment and is an excellent grounding for a wide range of careers in health, social care and early years. Our teachers have wide vocational experience. Work experience is an integral part of the course along with extensive coursework and several exams.

The units are varied and cover a range of specialisms such as Anatomy and Physiology, Equality and Diversity, and Building Positive Relationships, considering a range of health, social care and early years settings. Units for extended diploma students include Caring for Older People, Mental Health and Supporting People with Learning Disabilities.

You must be prepared to work in a wide variety of Health, Social Care and Early Years settings. There are coursework assignments and activities which need to be completed in a care setting. These will form part of your final assessment.

You will have the opportunity to take part in a full and varied extra-curricular programme, which previously has included opportunities such as work placement at the Royal Papworth Hospital and voluntary work in across a range of health, social and child care settings. This will enable you to make clear links between theory and practice, as well as provide you with rich experience that will support a university or employment application.

- 45% exam .

- 55% coursework.

You can use this qualification to go into higher education or other professional courses, leading to careers in Health, Social or Public Services such as Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Early Years teaching and Social Work.

Some of the degrees being taken by former students are: Midwifery at Northampton, Nursing studies at University of East Anglia, Paediatric Nursing at Anglia Ruskin, University, and Radiography studies at University of Portsmouth.

The course also prepares you well for employment within the sector. Employment opportunities have included teaching assistant, entry to early years’ practitioner qualifications and clinical support work.