Quick facts
| Qualification type | Pearson Level 2 Diploma |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Study times | You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:15. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction. |
| Entry requirements | 4 GCSEs at Grade 3 or above. The course requires students to have achieved either their Math's or English at grade 4 or above for this course. You will also need to pass successfully a DBS check for work placement requirements. |
| Campus | West Suffolk College Sixth Form Campus, Bury St Edmunds |
| Work placements | Yes - 50 hours (work or industry placement towards the end of the academic year) |
| Assessments | This course is assessed through 2 external exams and the remaining work in coursework-based assessments. |
Is it for me?
This course will provide you with a strong understanding to the Health and Social Care sector, while developing the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours you will need to progress to higher-level study and pursue future opportunities within healthcare.
Throughout the course, you will develop essential healthcare skills including effective communication, person-centred care, teamwork, professionalism, respecting individual rights and promoting equality and diversity. You will explore how these skills are used when supporting people of different ages, backgrounds and needs across a range of health and care settings.
Your studies will also build your understanding of health, wellbeing and the human body through topics including Healthy Living, Lifespan Development, Nutrition and Human Body Systems. Alongside this, you will learn about Care Values, Communication Skills, Working in the Health and Social Care Sector, Individual Rights, Equality and Diversity, and Therapeutic Activities. These topics will help you develop the core knowledge and healthcare industry skills required for your next stage of study.
There is a strong focus on preparing you for progression. You will develop important skills and behaviours such as confidence, resilience, independence, organisation, problem solving and working effectively with others, while learning how to apply your knowledge to realistic health and care situations.
On successful completion of the course, and subject to achieving the required grade in English or maths, your intended progression route will be onto our Level 3 T Level Health or Medical Studies course where you study and work within our local hospitals throughout the large 315 hours work placement. This provides you with a clear pathway to continue developing your specialist healthcare knowledge and practical skills at Level 3, preparing you for future progression into higher education, apprenticeships and a wide range of careers within the healthcare sector.
What you'll learn
You will study four core units and a further six units:
- Healthy Living - externally assessed
- Lifespan Development - externally assessed
- Communication Skills
- Care Values in Health and Social Care
- Working in the Health and Social Care Sector
- Nutrition
- Human Body Systems
- Individual Rights
- Equality and Diversity
- Therapeutic Activities for Adults in Health and Social Care
Work experience placements
A compulsory part of the course is work placement and you will need to complete in the region of 50 hours to pass the course. Work placements are organised by the work placement team.
Assessment
This course is assessed through 2 external exams and the remaining work in coursework-based assessments.
Further study
Progression to Level 3 in Health or Level 3 in Psychology.
Example careers
Paramedic
Nurse
Cardiologist
Care Worker
Psychologist
Activity and Wellbeing Coordinator
Anthropologist
Counsellor
Social Worker
Youth worker
Teacher
Occupational Therapist
Midwife
Health Visitor
Rehab Worker
Healthcare Assistant
Days & times
Starting September 2027
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