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Health & Social Care – Level 3 Extended Diploma

Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

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Availability & Details

Health and Social Care - Level 3 Extended Diploma SF1-HESC3E/C01

Venue
South Downs Campus

Type of study
Vocational

Dates
Academic Year 2027-28 (2 years)

Examination board
Oxford Cambridge & RSA Examinations

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Overview

This Level 3 Health and Social Care (3 A level equivalent) course helps students to develop their skills and knowledge to competently work in the ever-evolving world of Health & Social Care. It introduces a variety of sector relevant concepts and skills in preparation for employment in the sector, as well as development of solid research, evaluation, and problem-solving skills that will be valuable should you choose to progress on to Higher Education following successful completion of this course.

You will study an extensive range of internally assessed units including Building Positive Relationships; Supporting People with Dementia; Supporting People with Learning Disabilities; Sociology; Nutrition; Youth Work Practice Mental Health; Infection Control; Promoting Positive Behaviour, and The Impact of Long-term Physiological Conditions. Externally examined units that you will study include Equality, Diversity & Rights; Health, Safety and Security; Anatomy & Physiology; Personalisation & a Person-Centered Approach to Care; Safeguarding, and Research Methods.

To give you hands-on experience of working in this sector, and to further develop your skills, you will also undertake industry work placements in both the first and second year of the course. This programme is designed to facilitate progression to either Higher Education study, further training via Apprenticeships, and ultimately, employment in a wide range of fields such as Social Work, Nursing, Midwifery, Residential Care/Support Work, Teaching, Youth Work, and Dementia care and support.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language.

This full-time two-year course is assessed through both internal coursework assessments, as well as a range of externally examined units.

HSDC South Downs offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, workshops, presentations and group discussions. You will have access to Google Classroom and use other online and digital resources to create your assignments. We also have visits from guest speakers from individuals in the profession and all students undertake a minimum of 100 hours of work based placements.

You will be assessed by a mixture of coursework portfolio and external examinations.

This programme is designed to facilitate progression to either Higher Education study, further training via Apprenticeships, and ultimately, employment in a wide range of fields such as Social Work, Nursing, Midwifery, Residential Care/Support Work, Teaching, Youth Work, and Dementia care and support.

We have excellent links with local health, early years education, and social care providers, who provide interactive experience for you in the form of placements and presentations.


There are lots of people at the college, each studying a diverse range of courses, people from all different areas come to study here, it creates a sense of community, there is a huge social aspect to college life across all courses.

Lee Backhouse, BTEC student

This is a really good college, and it is definitely somewhere you can achieve your dreams.

Yolanda Stemp, BTEC student

My time at the college was definitely life changing, I have learnt a lot of new skills, and obviously it’s a completely new experience. The support was great, there was always people there to help and try make it as easy as they can for you. The college is really fantastic, it has helped me on the way to get to what I want to achieve within my career goals.

Erin Morgan, BTEC student