GCSE Health and Social Care encourages students to understand aspects of personal development and the health, social care, and early years sectors by investigating and evaluating a range of services and organisations.

Health and Social Care is a qualification awarded by CCEA

Students can achieve an graded qualification in this subject. This is an exam and Controlled Assessment subject. 50% of the grade on external examination and 50% of the grade on Controlled Assessment.

Unit 1: Personal Development, Health and Wellbeing

Topics studied will include:

human development through the main life stages and age ranges;
factors affecting health and development, including behavioural, environmental, physical, and socio-economic factors;
how relationships influence social and emotional development;
how a range of factors influence self-concept;
major life changes and sources of support;

External written examination (1 hour 30 mins) - 50% weighting of overall grade.

Unit 2: Working in the Health, Social Care, and Early Years Sectors

Topics studied will include:

how health and social care services meet a range of service users’ needs;
barriers to health and social care services and how they can be overcome;
job roles of a range of practitioners and how they apply the values of care in their day-to-day work;
the importance of safeguarding in health, social care and early years settings.

Controlled Assessment completed in Year 12 - 50% of overall GCSE grade.

This is an ideal course for students who want a broad background in health and social care.

Many students with a qualification in GCE Health and Social Care go on to degree-level study in a variety of subjects such as health studies, social policy, social science, psychology, nursing, or social work.

As part of the AS course, students are required to complete a period of work experience in a health and social care or early years setting in the local community e.g. Nursing home, nursery school, day centre, or primary school.