Level 3 (Diploma) in Health and Social Care & Mental Health

Health and social care and Mental Health AAQ is equivalent to 2 A-Levels and is completed over 720 guided learning hours and is awarded by the completion of 4 exams and 7 coursework units.

The course is divided over two years, year one completes the Health and Social Care content and Year two completes the Mental Health content.

Who this qualification is for

The Cambridge OCR Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification Cambridge Advanced National in Health and Social Care and Mental Health: Individuals & Society is for students aged 16-19 years old. It will develop knowledge, understanding and skills that will help prepare you for progression to undergraduate study and are relevant to Health and Social Care and mental health and wellbeing. You might be interested in this qualification if you want to learn key knowledge and understanding in the subject and apply what you learn to practical, real-life contexts

The qualification will also help you develop independence and confidence in using skills that are relevant to the sector and that prepare you for progressing to university courses where independent study skills are needed. You will develop the following transferable skills that can be used in both higher education and other life and work situations. This qualification will complement other learning that you're completing at Key Stage 5. If you are a full-time student, it will be part of your studies along with A Levels and/or other Level 3 qualifications.

What you will study when you take this qualification

Through a combination of theoretical study and hands-on experience, you will develop the necessary knowledge and skills that can support progression to higher education Health and Social Care and mental health and wellbeing study. In the examined units, you will study key knowledge and understanding relevant to Health and Social care and individual mental health and wellbeing, and mental health and wellbeing in society. In the non examined assessment (NEA) units, you will demonstrate knowledge and skills you learn by completing applied or practical assignments. More information about the knowledge and skills you will develop is below.

Year 1- Health and Social Care Content

In year 1 you will complete the Health and Social Care AAQ (Please see the separate AAQ prospectus)

Year 2- Mental Health Content

The qualification has four mandatory units and two optional units.

These are the mandatory units – you must take all these units:

F400: Fundamentals of mental health and the individual This unit is assessed by an exam. In this unit you will learn about the key topics that are important for the mental health and wellbeing of an individual.

F401: Mental health, wellbeing and society This unit is assessed by an exam. In this unit you will learn about what society is and the things that combine to shape society. You will learn about how perceptions of mental health in society have changed over time and how this has affected the treatment of and care for people with mental health disorders. You will also learn about what the provision of support for mental health and wellbeing in society is like today and the current societal influences on mental health and wellbeing.

F402: Supporting and promoting mental health and wellbeing in organisations This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn about how organisations support the mental health of their employees. You will learn how to identify the ways work can impact mental health, best practices for monitoring, influencing and improving mental health through communicating a mental health campaign.

F403: Community-based support for mental health and wellbeing This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn about social connectedness, why it’s important and how it can be improved. You will learn about the benefits, processes, and factors affecting social prescribing and how it can be used to support improvements in mental health and wellbeing.

Optional Units- 1 must be selected from the list below.

F404: Supporting mental health and wellbeing with physical activity

F405: Supporting mental health and wellbeing with outdoor and creative activities

The types of courses you may progress to

Both the subject-specific knowledge, understanding and skills, and broader transferable skills developed through these units, will help you progress to further study in related areas such as: BSc (Hons) Mental Health and Wellbeing, BA (Hons) Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing, BSc (Hons) Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaching, BSc (Hons) Health and Wellbeing, BSc (Hons) Health Studies, BSc Nursing (Adult/Child/Learning disabilities/Mental health), BSc Midwifery, BSc Health and social care, BSc Healthcare and Health Science, BSc Health Sciences, BSc Paramedic Science, BSc Public Health and Wellbeing and BA Social Work.

There are also a lot of apprenticeships within the NHS and other organisations which allow a direct line into the industry.

Health and social courses offers entry into a range of different careers including Social worker, Nursery Nurse, Medical Secretary, Nurse, Midwife, Care Assistant, Primary School Teacher or Assistant, Charity Workers, Mental Health Carers and Counsellors.