Health & Social Care

Examination Board

OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Entry Criteria

Grade 5 in English Language

Grade 5 in Biology or 5-5 in Combined Science

Assessment and Course Content

This course consists of 58% external exam and 42% of internally assessed coursework units.

Students will complete six units four of which are mandatory, three are external exams, one mandatory internally assessed unit and two additional optional units.

To achieve this qualification, learners must complete a minimum of 360 GLH. They must achieve the four mandatory units totalling 270 GLH and optional units totalling a minimum of 90 GLH

Mandatory Units  

• Unit 1 Building positive relationships in health and social care
• Unit 2 Equality, diversity and rights in health and social care
• Unit 3 Health, safety and security in health and social care
• Unit 4 Anatomy and physiology for health and social care

These units will give learners an understanding of health and social care in the wider contexts of different environments and settings where care takes place, the importance of effective communication in health and social care, the importance of legislation in health and social care and how to deliver a person-centred approach in the care given. Learners will also develop transferable skills such as communication, research, planning and organisation.

Learners will then select additional units from a range of 10 optional units. These optional units will give learners an appreciation of workplace practices and an understanding of how to promote and support a healthy and active lifestyle.

Example Options Unit 

• Unit 13 Sexual health, reproduction and early development stages External Assessment Internal assessment
• Unit 17 Supporting people with mental conditions Internal assessment
• Unit 24 Public health Internal assessment

Unit 22 Psychology for health and social care Internal assessment.

Why you should study Health & Social Care:

This course gives learners an understanding of health and social care in the wider contexts of different environments and settings where care takes place, the importance of effective communication in health and social care, the importance of legislation in health and social care and how to deliver a person-centred approach in the care given. Learners will also develop transferable skills such as communication, research, planning and organisation.

Skills Developed, Progression and Possible Future Careers

These courses provide a broad understanding and skill set related to Health and Social Care, and the academic skills required to support progression into higher education in a range of health and social care or related qualifications. You may also seek employment in the health and social care sector or a related industry. It will enable learners to progress to a wide range of degree programmes.

The qualification carries UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses such as paediatric, adult, midwifery and mental health nursing as well as, primary and secondary education, childhood studies, physiology, social work, counselling and many more.

The transferable skills learnt on this course can open many doors to other areas of industry through the skills gained in the units as all industries will apply the ethos and underpinning knowledge that Health and Social Care gives you.