Health & Social Care

Health and Social Care is taught as an option in Key Stage 4. This vocational qualification provides students with the skills necessary to continue their study at level 3 and beyond in Health and Social Care studies.

Exam board: OCR
Cambridge National Level 2 Certificate: Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care Curriculum Intent

The OCR Cambridge National for Health & Social Care introduces students to the biggest employment sector in the UK. A variety of settings including elements of the NHS, local authority adult and child care services as well as a range of independent providers which provide care for individuals across all age ranges are explored.

Students will be encouraged to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of the rights of individuals, person centred values, effective communication and how to protect individuals in health and social care settings. They will develop learning and practical skills that can be applied to real-life contexts and work situations. By thinking creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically they will develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the health and social care sector and more widely.

How the course will be assessed

Three units will be assessed over two years. One controlled assessment unit will be completed in Year 10, another in Year 11. The third unit is the written exam that takes place in the summer of year 11. The grading criteria is:

  • Level 2 Pass/Merit/ Distinction/Distinction*
  • Level 1 Pass/Merit/Distinction.

Assessment in the controlled assessment units will be based on the completion of the set assignments set by OCR. These set assignments are changed each year by OCR. The controlled assessment will be marked and moderated internally, then sent to OCR for external moderation.

The exam unit is assessed externally through a one-hour exam.

Course Content

Two controlled assessment units (NEA) are worth 60% altogether and include:

  • R033 Supporting individuals through life events

Within this unit students will study:

  1. Life stages
  2. Impacts of life events
  3. Sources of support
  • R035 Health promotion campaigns

Within this unit students will study:

  1. Current public health issues and the impact on society
  2. Factors influencing health
  3. Plan and create a health promotion campaign
  4. Deliver and evaluate a health promotion campaign

Written Exam (worth 40%)

R032 Principles of care in health and social care settings

For the exam students will study the following 4 topic areas:

  1. The rights of service users in health and social care settings
  2. Person-centred values
  3. Effective communication in health and social care settings
  4. Protecting service users and service providers in health and social care settings

Homework

Homework may either be set weekly, but may also involve longer homework tasks where students may be given a number of weeks. Homework will include research tasks and activities to consolidate classwork and revision.

Future progression in this subject

On successful completion of the course students can progress onto Level 3 in Health and Social Care as well as the potential to progress onto higher education. Careers include a wide variety of Health and Social Care settings including, social work, care work, nursing, optometry, dentistry and more.

Curriculum Map

Please click here to view Curriculum Maps.

Useful websites and publications

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/health-and-social-care-level-1-2-j835/