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Topic outline
BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification 
BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care 500/8217/6 This BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care has been developed to provide an interesting and engaging introduction to the Health & Social Care sectors. The course provides a suitable foundation for further study within the sectors through progression on to qualifications such as the Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health & Social Care. Learners can also progress to traditional A-levels in health and social care or work in one of the sectors, although completion of the course cannot guarantee employment. Learners will also develop skills that are transferable to other studies and employment such as numeracy, literacy and use of ICT. The course includes compulsory work experience.
Assessment
Assessment of the course is 25% examination and 75% coursework. The coursework assessment allows learners to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course by completion of a portfolio. Work is graded pass, merit or distinction. Learners are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and achievement.
Units that will be covered during the course at Soham Village College:
Unit 1 - Human Lifespan Development (30 credits)
This unit allows learners to explore how we, as humans, grow and develop throughout our lives and to investigate the factors that affect this growth and development. They will consider how these factors are interrelated and will be able to appreciate the care needs of individuals at different life stages. Assessment is via a timed-unseen examination of one hour duration in January or June.Unit 2 - Health & Social Care Values (30 credits)
Ways of empowering individuals are explored including promoting choice, independence and advocacy. Overall this unit will enable learners to understand the high standards that are expected in health and social care, in order to safeguard the wellbeing of service users. Assessment is via coursework.Unit 5 - Promoting Heath & Wellbeing (30 credits)
Injuries and diseases can be prevented if people make healthy lifestyle choices and know how to reduce risks to their health. This unit introduces learners to some of the reasons why health promotion activities occur, and the benefits of health promotion work both for individuals and for the health and wellbeing of the nation as a whole. They will look at some of the methods that are used by health care workers. It provides learners with the opportunity to explore and research an area of health risk. They will then create health promotion materials for a specified target group. Assessment is via coursework.Unit G2 - Work Experience (30 credits)
Work experience is an excellent way for learners to develop an understanding what happens in the workplace. It will help prepare them for work by improving their knowledge, understanding and skills and will add value to their job applications. Learners will prepare for work by learning how to find and apply for a suitable vacancy. They will also look at health and safety issues. They will also reflect on their own experience and consider how it will help them in your career. Assessment is by effective participation in work experience and completion of a portfolio. This will include evidence of researching possible work placements, making an application, completing an interview, writing about health & safety in the workplace and evaluating the learning that took place during the secondment.Other Information
Visits will take place during the school day and will only incur a small donation towards mileage for use of the school mini bus if necessary. Parents will be asked to sign one authorisation to cover all trips throughout Years 10 and 11.
BTEC Extended Certificate in Public Services
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification BTEC Extended Certificate in Public Services Level 2 Public services are at the heart of our community and offer a variety of very rewarding career opportunities both uniformed and non-uniformed. Although the qualification cannot guarantee a job, on completion learners will have taken an important first step onto the ladder of a well-structured career. This qualification can lead to progression to other similar courses, including a new BTEC level 3 diploma in public services. Some universities, including Anglia Ruskin offer a Foundation Degree in public services.
The course gives learners an insight into employment and public service skills, including team working and communication. They find out about the different public services and how they work individually and interact with each other. The course is taught through a range of diverse activities including simulation, role play and oral presentation as well as completion of a portfolio. The course is applied, so the themes taught have to be relevant to the real world of the uniformed and non-uniformed public services. This makes learning interesting and enjoyable. Applicants are advised to join a relevant cadet organisation. Advice can be sought from the course lead teacher regarding this.
Those interested in uniformed healthcare careers (ambulance service, military medical services, for example) may take this course alongside the BTEC Level 2 in Health & Social Care. Other careers for which this course is relevant include: the police, prison service, fire service, revenue & customs and the armed forces.
Assessment
100% CourseworkThe assessment approach for the BTEC Extended Certificate in Public Services allows learners to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course as they provide evidence towards meeting the unit assessment and grading criteria. Learners are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and achievement, taking into account industry standards for behaviour and performance. The project requires effective reading and writing skills and the ability to work independently, including finding out information. Coursework is graded pass, merit or distinction.
Units that will be covered during the course at Soham Village College in the following order:
Unit 1 - Public Service Skills (10 credits)
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to develop public service skills thus enabling them to meet the needs and expectations of the public.Unit 3 - Employment in the Non-uniformed Services (5 credits)
This unit will give learners who have an interest in these public services the opportunity to find out more about them and to broaden their knowledge of a whole range of careers, looking at job descriptions for different public sectors.Unit 2 – Employment in the Uniformed Public Services (5 credits)
This unit will provide information about the range of different job opportunities within the services and can investigate the kind of work that public service employees do on a day-to-day basis.Unit 19 – Research in Public Services (Project) (10 credits)
This unit enables learners to develop the skills needed to carry out a research project into a topic of personal interest arising from any area within the public services.Other Information
Visits will take place during the school day and will only incur a small donation towards mileage for use of the school mini bus if necessary. Parents will be asked to sign one authorisation to cover all trips throughout Years 10 and 11.
Diploma in Society, Health & Development
Class of 2013 ONLY
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Coursework Examination Diploma in Society, Health & Development 8 Units 1 Unit The Diploma in Society, Health & Development teaches young people about the work, values, attributes and attitudes of the health, justice, children and young people and social care sectors which care for and support individuals, families, groups, communities and society. It will also raise awareness amongst learners of the range of rewarding career opportunities that exist across the four sectors. Learners will be supported in becoming independent learners, a vital life-skill. Employers will be engaged in teaching specialist components of the course, which will be interesting for students. Frequent educational visits and work experience will enrich your learning.
Applicants must have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in the course topics, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate ideas effectively. Home learning will feature highly in the course and there may be the necessity to do some work during school holidays, particularly relating to the extended project. The principal learning component will make the same intellectual demands as conventional GCSEs, but there will be opportunities to apply learning in a realistic and practical way. You will only be able to study this course if you are capable of achieving level 2 functional skills in Maths, English and ICT (roughly the equivalent of a ‘C’ grade at GCSE).
The course will appeal to you if you:- Have an interest in how society works by personal investigation
- Are interested in the health and well-being of others and what affects health
- Are interested in careers in health care, social care/social work, law and justice, childcare and early years education/care, uniformed services
- Want to move on to a related career or further education
Progression from the diploma is good. After successful completion, candidates can pursue any of the advanced Diploma lines at post-16 (equivalent of 3½ A levels), providing an alternative route into higher education. Many diploma students choose traditional A-level courses offered by all of our local sixth form colleges.
Assessment
At Soham Village College we only offer the Level 2 Diploma. The course is made up of 9 Units, each is assessed individually.Units 1 to 3 and 5 to 9 are assessed by extensive written coursework (C).
Unit 4 is assessed by examination (E), which takes place during January of Year 11.Other Information
If you would like any more information, please come and see Mr S Butler in his office (opposite L7).
Useful Websites
You can get lots more information, including sample assessment/exam materials by visiting the Edexcel website
developments.edexcel.org.uk/diplomas/what/lines/shd/
Advice for students straight from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Including some information in movie format
http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomasDownloadable videos, sound files and leaflets about the diplomas
http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/news_and_features/videos_audio_leafletsStatements from universities and other higher education institutions that have specifically expressed views regarding all of the new 14-19 diplomas
www.ucas.com/diplomastatements/Useful Resources
