Health and Social Care

Curriculum Intent

Health and Social Care equips our students to discover the impact of positive and negative human development and how to critically analyse how these factors affect our day to day lives. The study of Health and Social Care enables students to explore academically and practically areas that influence how we develop throughout life stages and in turn raise expectations of how we can live successful and healthy lives now and in our future.

Within the Health and Social Care department at Blenheim we believe that there never been a more relevant time to study our subject. Our intention is to fully support and prepare students who want to work with, care for and help other people in their future careers.

Our KS4 Course provides students with the background knowledge and skills needed by someone considering working with people in a health care provision capacity. We have an accomplished history of enabling our students to achieve the qualifications they need to build successful careers in the Health and Social Care sector such as; Teaching, Social work, Nursing and Midwifery and Paramedic science.

The KS4 Course is broken down into the following topic areas:

  • Human Lifespan Development
  • Development across the life stages
  • Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social Development
  • Factors affecting growth and development
  • The impact of major life events
  • Understanding the structure and practices of Health and Social Care Services
  • Barriers to accessing services
  • Safeguarding
  • Care values 
  • A brief history of the NHS
  • The impact of Covid 19 on Health and Social Care services
  • Factors affecting health and wellbeing
  • Designing Health and wellbeing improvement plans

The KS4 Course is broken down into the following areas of assessment

  • Component 1 – Human Lifespan Development (Course work) 30%
  • Component 2 – Service and Values in HSC (Course work and a practical assessment) 30%
  • Component 3 – Health and Well-being (Exam in February and May of year 11) 40%

Useful Links

BBC News Health: Up to date news on matters of health and care provision in the UK

Guardian Health: Up to date news on matters of health and care provision in the UK

NHS: Detailed website with current information on conditions and treatment in the UK

Department for Health: Government website explaining changes to care provision on the UK

NHS Careers: information about how to access different types of work in the health sector

NHS Careers: test to identify which part of the NHS you are suited to

Pearson Edexcel BTEC National Diploma 2016 Specification

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Health and Social Care

KS4 Health and Social Care BTEC Tech award

Exam Board

Pearson BTEC Tech award in Health and Social Care. 

Link to course specification

Course Detail

This qualification is for learners interested in taking a hands-on course alongside their GCSEs that will offer them an insight into what it is like to work in one of the fastest growing sectors
in the UK: Health & Social Care. The course covers some of the fundamental aspects of health and social care, including growth and development, health and social care services and values, and health and wellbeing, giving learners a broad introduction to a sector that transects a wide range of careers from social care and social work to many different branches of healthcare. The breadth of this course allows learners to identify their strengths and interests to help inform next steps in education and training.

Using realistic vocational contexts, learners will acquire sector-specific knowledge and technical skills, exploring a range of healthcare conditions and social care needs and considering how the different healthcare and social services available can help meet individuals’ needs as well as the common barriers to access and obstacles to care. They will learn about physical, lifestyle, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors affecting health and wellbeing and how to make recommendations for improvement using person-centred approach.

Human Lifespan Development (Coursework)

  • Main life stages
  • Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social Development
  • Factors affecting growth and development
  • Life events

Health and Social Care Services (Coursework)

  • Barriers to accessing services
  • Care values

Health and Wellbeing (Exam)

  • Factors affecting health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing improvement plans

What skills will students develop

This course has been designed for students who want a strong core of knowledge of the Health and Care sector, because they wish to work or go on to study further in a related area.

You will:

  • Have practical experience from real-world assignments
  • Take responsibility for your own learning
  • Have a strong core base of knowledge
  • Have real experience of effective teamwork
  • Know how to work to a brief with set deadlines
  • Efficiently manage time to complete tasks

How students are assessed

Non exam assessment

Human Lifespan Development

30% of the qualification

Non exam assessment

Health and Social Care Services and Values

30% of the qualification

Exam (2 hrs)

Health and Wellbeing

40% of the qualification

Progression

This Tech Award complements the more theoretical aspects covered by GCSE Biology or GCSE Psychology, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in a vocational context. Achievement of the qualification opens up a wide range of progression opportunities, including A Levels or a BTEC National in Health and Social Care.

What makes a good Health and Social Care student?

Personal organisation and diligence will be vital to your success as you will be required to carry out independent research tasks, evaluate evidence and clearly present your findings on a number of topics. You will benefit from a variety of learning techniques which include hosting visiting practitioners from a variety of professions, as well as meeting service providers and service users, and investigating their experiences.

Homework

Homework will be varied and will consist of research, coursework completion, project-based work and exam questions

Silver School Mental Health Award