Health & Social Care (Single Award)

Examining Board – Edexcel

Subject Content

GCE single award Health and Social Care is designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and analysis of health providers and social care settings.The course is ideal for candidates who are considering a career in nursing, midwifery, nursery nurse, counselling, probation service, youth worker, health visitor to name a few.This course is not just classroom based; it provides students with placements to investigate in a health and social care setting.

Methods of Study

For each unit you will be given some background and underpinning knowledge. You will also be given the opportunity to develop a range of vocational and general skills.

The teaching strategies used include discussions and debates (whole group, small group, one-to-one), brainstorming and the annotation of handouts. Students will also have access to videos/DVDs and interactive computer programs. On a practical basis there will be the opportunity to hear visiting speakers, make work place visits and take part in mini-projects.

Methods of Assessment

AS Units

  • Unit 1 Human Growth and Development
  • Unit 2 Communication and Values
  • Unit 3 Positive Care Environments

A2 Units

  • Unit 7 Meeting Individual Needs
  • Unit 8 Promoting Health and Well Being
  • Unit 9 Investigating Disease

For the internally assessed units, you will be given an assignment and a deadline for its completion. The assignments are structured and broken down into specific tasks with guidelines, but you will need to work independently on the tasks.

Four of the units are internally assessed:

  • Communication and Values (AS)
  • Positive Care Environments (AS)
  • Promoting Health and Well Being (A2)
  • Investigating Disease (A2)

The internal assessment is via an assignment. Each assignment has specific criteria required to achieve at Grades A, C and E. A score is then awarded depending on the criteria met.

Two of the units are externally assessed:

  • Human Growth and Development (AS)
  • Meeting Individual Needs (A2)

Each unit has one written examination paper. The examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

The final Grade is decided from a mean score, which is converted into a Grade (A to E, as all A levels).

Entry Requirements

There are no special qualifications required for Health and Social Care other than the standard GCSE quota needed for study at Rainford College.