Why Choose Level 3 Health & Social Care at Northern Regional College?

• Work Experience: assessed unit as part of course: supporting professional skills and the development of self-assessment through reflection. 
• Health & Social Care Sector links: the department have strong links with a range of local Health & Social Care providers, which provides students with the opportunity to gain part-time or full-time employment in the Health & Social Care sector 
• Varied methods of assessment: Exam, course work, case study application, simulated demonstration. 
• Wide range of professional guest speakers: module specific to enrich learning and support achievement. 
• Entrepreneurship: built into course delivery through workshops.  

This course provides the knowledge and skills for those wishing to work in the vocational areas of Primary and Secondary Care, Social Care, Allied Health support and wellbeing services. It is equivalent to 3 A levels and is delivered by highly qualified, experienced staff, who provide a friendly, supportive environment in which to learn.

Learners will undertake at least 100 hours of work experience and will be able to observe the roles of health and social care workers in practice; and use their experience to link theory into practice. Students will have the opportunity over the two years of the course to spend time in a range of different care settings working with older people, young children and individuals with additional needs.

As well as work placement, educational visits and guest speakers will be used on the course to relate theory to practice.

This qualification enables learners to develop a range of employability skills such as interpersonal, communication and team working skills; and to develop their knowledge of the professional roles and responsibilities in the health and social care sector.

Most units are internally assessed by coursework; 3 units are externally assessed by exams (2 exams in year 1; 1 exam in year 2) and 1 synoptic external assessment.

During the course 13 units are completed. Examples of some of the topics covered include:

• Human Lifespan Development
• Working in Health and Social Care
• Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
• Enquiries into Current Research in Health and Social Care
• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs
• Work Experience in Health and Social Care
• Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care
• Promoting Public Health

If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.

Anna shares her experience of studying the Level 3 in Health & Social Care at the College.

Students may progress on to our level 4 BTEC HNC in Healthcare practice or our level 5 Foundation Degrees in Health and Social Care (validated by Ulster University); or Early Childhood Studies (validated by Stranmillis) or a wide range of level 6 honours degree programmes such as Teaching, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, Psychology, Social Policy, Housing, Sociology, Criminology to name but a few. There are also opportunities to enter employment with the civil service, social care sector, nursing auxiliary and much more.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1 July in the year of proposed entry to the course and have at least 4 GCSEs at Grade C or above. Preference will be given to candidates who possess a grade C in English and Maths or equivalent and satisfy ACCESS NI Assessment Methods and health checks.

For applicants wishing to pursue a career in Nursing they must have at least 5 GCSE Grade C or above. Pass in GCSE English, Maths and Science is essential.

In the event of oversubscription, the College will use the following enhanced criteria:

• At least 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above to include GCSE English, Maths and Science.