Course summary
Why study this course? Are you passionate about caring for others, aiming to advance your career, or looking for a practical and accessible entry into the social and community sector? Studying an HNC in Health and Social Care Practice (Social and Community Work) provides you with essential knowledge and hands-on skills, opening doors to rewarding careers in fields such as social work, youth work, family support, housing, addiction services or community development. The qualification is current and aligned with the fast-changing social and community work landscape. By studying the latest curriculum, you’ll learn about up-to-date policies, practices, and technologies shaping the sector today and aligning with employer and industry needs. The course content is designed specifically for the modern social and community work environment, helping you develop key skills employers value—such as effective communication, empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving. About the course The Pearson BTEC Higher National Certificate (Level 4) in Health and Social Care Practice (Social Community Work) provides a high-quality professional and technical education pathway, equipping learners for employment or further higher education opportunities. The programme is designed to develop learners into professional, reflective practitioners who are prepared to meet the expectations of healthcare employers. You will be encouraged to engage in continuous learning, developing and reflecting on your progress throughout the course. The programme requires a minimum of 225 hours of work experience or placement in healthcare, social care, or community settings. This is assessed through a portfolio, where you will demonstrate your practical learning and development as part of the Evidence based Practice unit. How will it make me more employable? This programme will provide you with the skills to enable you to meet the demands of a challenging Social Care sector or progression to relevant degree programmes. The course will help learners develop a wide range of skills including, but not limited to: Employability Skills: • Effective Communication • Professionalism and Ethics • Critical Thinking Teamwork • Time Management • Health & Safety Awareness • Adaptability and Resilience • Technology Use • Person-Centred Care • Continuous Learning Where will it take me? Progression routes include further study or employment in Health and Social Care. Related Degree Programmes: This qualification will give you a maximum of 120 credits which you can use to apply to related Degree programmes such as Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, Youth and Community work. *Employment: *The course can lead directly into a career in Health and Social Care, for example previous learners have sought employment as support worker, social work assistant, community care assistants, and residential support workers.
Modules
Level 4 Modules: Unit 401: Developing Professional Practice- The unit contains a blend of campus and practice learning with learners spending most of their learning time applying the principles, techniques, knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom. Unit 402: Teamwork and Communication- This unit is designed to enable learners to identify and understand their key personal abilities and to underpin the development of their personal and professional skill set. This will include areas such as effective communication skills, interprofessional working, understanding the role of others within the healthcare team, professional identity and working as part of a team. Unit 403: Evidence based Practice (Pearson -set)- The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ knowledge, understanding and application of audit, quality improvement and research – embedding the principles and key features of co-production throughout each process. Learners will learn the purpose and the processes involved in undertaking an audit, a quality improvement project and a research project, exploring the concept of co-production at each stage. Learners will devise a quality improvement plan on a topic of their choice, aligned to the Pearson-set theme and chosen topic. Unit 404: Compassionate Care and Values based Practice- This unit is designed to enable learners to develop their awareness of equity, diversity and inclusion, and professional ethical practice. They will build a skill set of empathy, compassion, dignity and respect and be able to apply this in the provision of personalised care. Unit 407: Planning and Supporting Community Led Activities- This unit introduces learners to the practicalities of community involvement. It offers a good platform for those seeking to work in the community sector or progress to higher education opportunities in a variety of social or community related disciplines. Unit 413: Applied Human Development and Behaviour- This unit provides an ideal opportunity for learners to become informed about a central concern for the caring professions: human growth, development and behaviour. It will provide an important foundation for those seeking to work or who are already working in the caring professions. In additions it will be a stepping stone for learners wishing to progress to additional higher education programmes to study one of the plethora of related vocational degree programmes. Unit 415: Sociological Perspectives-This unit provides a helpful foundation for those working in a range of settings and environments in the supporting sector, or who will be continuing higher education in either academic or vocational disciplines (including sociology, social policy, health and social care, community work and development
Assessment method
Learners are assessed using a range of different methods. These include examinations, coursework, Project Based Learning, presentations, practical, posters, leaflets, role-play, and exams. This is dependent on the requirements of each unit of study. Oral, written and online feedback will be provided during your course to help improve and monitor performance.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
14Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 0029
- Institution code:
- R01
- Campus name:
- SERC Newtownards
- Campus code:
- N
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
We offer a diverse range of world class courses and study options, and we’re delighted to offer our international students a warm welcome to study at SERC. For more information visit: https://www.serc.ac.uk/international/students
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - CC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MPP
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher
Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis on application. Alternatively, you can provide evidence of your ability to undertake the programme by meeting the requirements for the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process, either through Accredited Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Further details on APL can be found in the HE admissions process section of our website and the HE Accreditation of Prior Learning SOP.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Other
All applicants must hold GCSE grade C/4 in English Language, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills- Communication, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification AND GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills- Application of Number, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification AND passes in 4 different subjects (can include English Language and Mathematics as above), with 1 at GCE Advanced (A) level (grades A-E), and 3 at GCSE level (grades A*-C*/9-4), or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | Minimum of 5.5 in all skills |
| PTE Academic | 51 | Minimum of 46 in each part |
All applicants must hold a GCSE grade C/4 in English Language, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills-Communication, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification. Or equivalent UKVI-approved English Language Test For further information please contact our International Department at [email protected]
Click here to find out more about becoming an international student at SERC.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £3100* | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £3100* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £3100* | Year 1 |
| England | £3100* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £3100* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £3100* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £3100* | Year 1 |
| International | £7500* | Year 1 |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Learners may incur a cost for AccessNI checks subject to placement provider requirements with an approximate cost of £32
Sponsorship information
There are a number of sources of financial support available to learners. These vary depending upon your course of study. Apply as soon as possible as closing dates vary between funds. The main types of student finance are tuition fee and maintenance loans, which have to be paid back, and grants and bursaries, which do not have to be paid back. For more information visit: https://www.serc.ac.uk/support/student-finance/full-time
Provider information
South Eastern Regional College
Castle Park Road
Bangor
County Down
BT20 4TD