Health and Social Care Practice - Level 4 Higher National Certificate

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Part-time

Course fee: To be confirmed

Discover the new and improved Pearson BTEC Higher National in Health and Social Care—a dynamic 120-credit qualification designed to give you the knowledge, confidence, and hands-on experience to excel in this rewarding sector. Our updated curriculum goes deeper into the realities of modern health and social care, focusing on developing strong professional practice, effective teamwork, and excellent communication skills. Taught by highly experienced industry professionals, the course brings real-world expertise straight into the classroom. 

Course Content

Modules include:

401: Developing Professional Practice (30 credits)  

402: Teamwork and Communication (15 credits)  

403: Evidence Based Practice (15 credits)  

404: Compassionate Care & Value Based Practice (15 credits)  

Practical / Placement Requirement 

• Students must be prepared to attend on-campus classes/workshops during the year.  
• As part of the course, students are required to complete a minimum of 225 hours of placement in a range of care settings over the duration of the course.  
• If a student fails to complete the necessary placement hours, the course cannot be successfully completed.

Special Features

Why Choose This Course? 

• Learn from experienced industry lecturers  
• Practical placement in social care or community settings  
• New 2025 Pearson Higher Nationals curriculum  
• Excellent preparation for further study  
• Supportive environment that builds confidence, skills and professionalism 

Assessment Methods

Assessment is continuous and based on coursework as well as practical placement experience. To progress, students must be verified as fit for placement—an essential component of the programme requires completion of 225 hours of work placement in a health and social care setting. 

For those applicants recently in education: 

• Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care, Early Years or related area, equivalent to 48 UCAS points OR 
• A Level subjects with relevance to Health and Social care, equivalent to 48 UCAS points.  

In addition, applicants will have: 

• GCSE English & Maths grade C (or equivalent - Essential Skills Level 2 accepted).
• For those applicants wishing to pursue Nursing, GCSE Science grade C is desirable.

For those applicants wishing to change careers or return to education: 

• Relevant work experience and qualifications will be considered OR 
• If you do not meet the formal academic criteria, there is an option to apply via Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) — i.e. using substantial previous relevant experience or skills instead of formal qualifications. Where you wish to have prior education and/or experience taken into account, in lieu of meeting the full course entry requirements, you should contact the relevant Course Director or Admissions. APEL applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start date of the programme. More details can be found in the APEL Policy.

All applicants must: 

• Attend an interview (face-to-face or online) - this may include a short-written assessment. 
• Successfully complete ACCESS NI checks (where relevant). 
• Have the ability to complete a suitable work placement or relevant employment in health and social care to satisfy the course requirements.   

Conditions & Notes 

• Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee a place — selection also depends on suitability (academic + personal) and availability of spaces.  
• If demand is high/programme oversubscribed, the College reserves the right to raise entry criteria.  

This programme is designed to support progression to a wide range of university degrees. Many of our learners move on to study subjects such as nursing, social work, occupational therapy, psychology, criminology, speech and language therapy, and paramedic science. 

Upon successful completion of the HNC, graduates can advance to degree-level study in health and care or step directly into rewarding roles within the healthcare sector.