Health and Social Care BTEC (Double Qualification)

Applications Open: - 17 November 2025

Applications Close: - May 2026

Entry Requirements: - 5 GCSEs at grade 4 including English Language or Literature, and Maths. There are some further entry requirements for specific courses.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Open Event: - Wednesday 12th November 2025 16.30-19:30 - talks at 17.30 and 18.30pm

The BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care have been developed in the health and social care sector to provide;

• the opportunity for full-time learners to enter employment in the health and social care sector
• ways to progress to vocational qualifications such as the Edexcel BTEC Higher Nationals in Health and Social Care
• opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

The National Diploma is equivalent in size to two A Levels.

Skills students will acquire through the course include:

• Interpersonal skills: knowledge and understanding of skills involved in effective communication.
• Counselling skills: caring for the young and elderly, supporting and protecting vulnerable people.
• Presentation skills: how to produce a report; care plan; oral presentation.
• Cognitive skills: Analyse different perspectives on health and social care including sociological and psychological views.
• The subject encourages students to enhance their knowledge of:
• Equality and Diversity: the rights of patients and professionals in a health and social care setting.
• Anatomy and Physiology: How the body works; factors that can affect health.
• Health and Safety: At home and in the workplace.

The subject also encourages students to:

• Explore their own view points on ethical issues regarding health and social issues.
• Challenge ideas of morality
• Apply their knowledge to a health and social care setting as well as everyday lives.
• This course would be a great asset to students wishing to broaden their skills and knowledge in sectors related to health and social care.

Mandatory units covered, include;

• Human Lifespan Development
• Working in Health and Social Care
• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs
• Enquires into current research in Health & Social Care

Optional units that may be covered include;

• Sociological Perspectives
• Psychological Perspectives
• Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
• Physiological Disorders and their Care
• Nutritional Health

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic.

Externally-assessed units

Each external assessment for a BTEC National is linked to a specific unit. All of the units developed for external assessment are of 90 or 120 GLH to allow learners to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Learners are permitted to re-sit external assessments during their programme.

The styles of external assessment used for qualifications in the Business suite are:

• examinations – all learners take the same assessment at the same time, normally with a written outcome

• set tasks – learners take the assessment during a defined window and demonstrate understanding through completion of a vocational task.

Some external assessments include a period of preparation using set information. External assessments are available twice a year.

Internally-assessed units

Most units in the sector are internally assessed and subject to external standards verification.

Learners could be given opportunities to:

• write up the findings of their own research

• use case studies to explore complex or unfamiliar situations

• carry out projects for which they have choice over the direction and outcomes

• demonstrate practical and technical skills using appropriate presentations and role plays.

Synoptic assessment

Synoptic assessment requires learners to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively, in an integrated way, an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge from across the whole sector as relevant to a key task. BTEC learning has always encouraged learners to apply their learning in realistic contexts using scenarios and realistic activities that will permit learners to draw on and apply their learning.

In order to attend Meopham Sixth Form the minimum entry requirement is 5 level 4 GCSEs, including English and Maths.

A GCSE/BTEC Level 2 in Health & Social Care is not required and students will not be at a disadvantage if they do not hold a previous Health & Social Care qualification.

After completing the Health & Social Care Extended Certificate qualification at Meopham School you will be able to access a variety of undergraduate university courses, such as;

• University of Kent - Health & Social Care BA (Hons)
• City University of London - Psychology for Health & Social Care
• Manchester Metropolitan University - Integrated Health & Social Care BA (Hons)
• Brighton University - Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)
• University of Greenwich - Social Work BA (Hons)
• Jobs directly related to a Health & Social Care degree include:
• Community development worker
• Further education teacher
• Health improvement practitioner
• Health service manager
• Medical sales representative
• Nephropathy

Jobs where a Health & Social Care degree would be useful include:

• Adult nurse
• Anatomical pathology technologist
• Counsellor
• Dental hygienist
• Dental technician
• Dental therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Personal trainer
• Physician associate
• Prosthetist/orthotist
• Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
• Social worker
• Youth worker

There are a huge array of apprenticeships available within the Health and Social Care sector, to find out more, please visit the careers section of the NHS website.