A Level Health and Social Care

Qualification

AS / A2

Examination Board AQA

Course Description

A level health & social care provides students with the general knowledge and understanding required for working within a number of vocational qualifications within the sector.

AS/A2 Units

The first year is the AS course and consists of two units.

Unit 1

This unit gives an introduction to the communication skills used in health, social care, children, young people, and community justice sectors. It also introduces some of the factors which are required for a good quality of life, and a variety of the skills and techniques practitioners can use in order to treat people well and provide good quality care. 

Assessment of this unit is a portfolio of evidence, where you will be expected to write a report on the caring and communication skills used in one of the above sectors.  Your research can be gathered either by means of a case study, or by carrying out a series of visits to the sector.

Unit 2

This unit introduces a number of health conditions including diabetes, stroke, cancer and leukemia. The treatment and management, potential impact and patient care pathways for these health conditions form the basis of study which is assessed by an exam at the end of the AS year.

The second year completes the A level.

Unit 5

Learning and development aims to increase understanding of the influences that affect learning and development and the key theories which explain behavior.  An exam forms the assessment for this unit.

Unit 6

Practitioner roles investigates the world of work in health, social care, children and young people and community justice sectors.  Assessment is by portfolio of evidence.

Entry

5 GCSEs at grades A* to C including English language, maths and science.

Progression

Many students apply to and are offered places at university to study courses such as nursing, midwifery, social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dental nursing and speech therapy. A number of students go onto employment as support workers in a variety of care organisations. Others apply for the foundation degree in care studies at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.