L3 National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care FT – September 2024

Funding information: Free For Eligible 16-18 year olds and First Full L3 for 19-23 year olds. Adult Learner Loans available, course costs apply.
Duration: 1 Year
Attendance: Full-time Provision

Course Overview

The Level 3 has a wide range of units on the course to explore and develop your skills and knowledge. You will benefit from working with teachers who have extensive experience in health and social care. The course is designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable you to make the right choices to move you to the next stage of your aspirational journey. You will develop important communication skills needed in a career in healthcare, such as communication, collaboration and teamwork.

The health care side of the course focuses on the development of health through different life stages of service users. You will understand the various lifestyles that can positively and negatively affect health and study the disorders of the human body.

The social side of the course focuses on the values ​​of health and social care, which are important areas and are a successful link between our course and progression or employment. You will have the opportunity to practice these care values ​​in health and social care, where you can further develop your skills in communication, determination, teamwork and self-development.

Work experience is an integral part of your study program and helps prepare you to work in a healthcare environment. Most employers expect students to have successfully completed work experience in a field related to the profession. A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for work placement students and is carried out at the start of the course. In this course you will be asked to gain work experience related to the subject you are studying. You will undertake work experience with an external company that is within distance to you, at placement you will practice what you learn in the classroom, as part of the course we believe work experience will aid you when developing various skills.

Course Content

In today’s society many people are in need of care and support, and there are a number of different career opportunities at all levels and in a variety of fields including Residential Care, Social Work, Professions Allied to Medicine and Community Care. 

Health and Social Care is one of the largest employment sectors in the UK and opportunities are buoyant. You should choose the course if you are interested in exploring these areas as potential career options or you just have an interest in health and social care and want to combine it with other subjects for a broad and balanced curriculum in the sixth form.

The units planned for this course are : (these may be subject to change)

  • Human Lifespan
  • Working in Health and Social Care
  • Physiological Disorders
  • Nutritional Health
  • Individual Care Needs
  • Principles of Safe Practice

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs grades A*- C / grade 4 or above (or acceptable alternatives), including English Language and Maths.

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required and will be carried out at the start of the course.

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Assessment Methods

  • Units are assessed using a grading scale of Distinction (D) Merit (M) Pass (P) Near Pass (N) and Unclassified (U).

Progression

Learners who achieve this qualification could progress into a range of areas to include:

  • BSc (Hons) in Nursing
  • BA (Hons) in Social Work
  • BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
  • BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy
  • BSc (Hons) in Speech Therapy
  • BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care.
  • Radiography
  • Midwifery and Nursing
  • Paramedic Science
  • Podiatry
  • Healthcare Science
  • NHS Practitioner Training Programme
  • Level 4 and 5 Professional Practice in Health and Social Care

Once you’ve completed the course and completed your placement, it can help you secure an apprenticeship, employment or assist you with your application to university in the future. We recommend that you start thinking about your work placement as soon as you apply for the course and consider potential employers you may want to intern with to get the most out of your experience. For more information and advice on industrial placements, please contact the Industrial Placement Team at wex@chesterfield.ac.uk

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