Who this qualification is for?

The OCR Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification Cambridge Advanced National in Health and Social Care (Certificate) is for students who want to develop knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the health and social care sector. The qualification will help prepare students for undergraduate study or employment when taken alongside other qualifications. You might be interested to take this course alongside the Early Childhood Development Extended Certificate, and other Level 3 qualifications or A Levels. 

You will have the opportunity to apply what you learn to real-life contexts, such as:

• Recommending support for individuals.
• Presenting advice and guidance.
• Communicating and building relationships.
  

The qualification will also help you develop independence and confidence in using skills that are relevant to the sector and that prepare you for progressing to university courses where independent study skills are needed. You will develop the following transferable skills that can be used in both higher education and other life and work situations:

• Communicating and collaborating effectively with individuals
• Creating and presenting/delivering information to an individual. • Independent learning, spending time outside of lessons completing research solve problems.
• Researching topic areas and recording research sources, then using them to interpret findings and present evidence.
• Recommending care and support for individuals.
• Presentation skills by presenting recommendations to others.
• Problem solving health and social care problems for others.
  
  

This qualification will complement other learning that you're completing at Key Stage 5. If you are a full-time student, it will be part of your studies along with your A Levels and/or other Level 3 qualifications

What you will study when you take this qualification

 Through a combination of theoretical study and hands-on experience, you will develop the necessary knowledge and skills that can support progression to higher education health or social care study. In the examined units, you will study key knowledge and understanding relevant to health and social care. In the non examined assessment (NEA) units, you will demonstrate knowledge and skills you learn by completing applied or practical assignments.

The qualification has four mandatory units and two optional units. These are the mandatory units – you must take all these units:

• Principles of health and social care
• Anatomy and physiology for health and social care
• Person-centred approach to care
• Supporting people with mental health conditions
  
  

The optional units are chosen by the subject lead and will include two from the following list:

• Supporting people with long term physiological conditions
• Investigating public health
• Supporting people in relation to sexual health, pregnancy and postnatal health
• Supporting healthy nutrition and lifestyles
  
  

What can I do afterwards?

 The types of courses you may progress to Both the subject-specific knowledge, understanding and skills, and broader transferable skills developed through these units, will help you progress to further study in related areas such as:

• BSc Nursing (Adult/Child/Learning disabilities/Mental health)
• BSc Midwifery
• BSc Health and social care
• BSc Healthcare and Health Science
• BSc Health Sciences
• BSc Paramedic Science
• BSc Public Health and Wellbeing
• BA Social Work
  

How will my work be assessed?

The course 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.

Units are assessed using a grading scale of Distinction* (D*), Distinction (D), Merit (M), Pass (P), Near Pass (N) and Unclassified (U).  All mandatory and optional units contribute proportionately to the overall qualification grade, with a cumulative grade awarded at the end of the course.

What qualifications do I need?

You will need at least 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above.