Key Facts

Level:
Level 2
Subject Sector:
1.3 Health and Social Care
Credits:
39
Qualification No:
601/6261/2
GLH:
308 hours
Total qualification time:
390 hours
Age Range:
18+

Qualification purpose

Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area

Qualification Grading Type

Pass/Merit/Distinction

Assessment Methods

  • Portfolio of Evidence

  • Why choose this qualification?

    The Pre-Access Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work is intended to support progression to an Access to HE Diploma in a related area.

    The Diploma will provide learnerswith a firm foundation in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding of health, social care or social work, while at the same time giving them opportunity to develop and practisetheir study skills. Individuals will have the chance to practise producing written work in the format expected when progressing to an Access to HE Diploma and to experience the same approach to assessment, makingthe learnerbetter prepared for further study.

    Each of the pre-Access qualifications has a single mandatory, graded unit which requires learners to complete an extended project in their chosen sector or subject. Learners can then choose the remaining units from a range of optional ungraded units, selecting those that match their interests and best fit with their planned progression route. They may also select a unit in effective learning skills, if they need an additional focus on these skills.

    The Certificate and Diploma in Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work will support progression to Access to HE Diplomas including Health and Social Care, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Studies, Psychology and Sociology and Social Work and Related Professions.

    Rules of Combination

    Learners must achieve a minimum of 39 credits with 6 credits taken from the Mandatory Group (M), and the remaining credits from the Optional Group (O).


    Units

    Mandatory

    Learners must achieve the single mandatory unit totalling 6 credits.

    Health, Social Care or Social Work Project

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    48
    Credits:
    6
    Unit No:
    R/507/1982
    Click here to view full unit details
    Optional Group

    Learners must achieve a minimum of 33 credits from this group.

    Communication in a Health, Social Care or Social Work Context

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    Y/507/1935
    Click here to view full unit details

    Diet and Nutrition

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    D/507/1936
    Click here to view full unit details

    Effective Learning

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    30
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    K/505/1088
    Click here to view full unit details

    Health Promotion

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    H/507/1937
    Click here to view full unit details

    Healthcare Provision in England and Wales

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    Y/507/1983
    Click here to view full unit details

    Human Reproduction

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    M/507/1939
    Click here to view full unit details

    Intellectual and Language Development of Children and Young People

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    18
    Credits:
    2
    Unit No:
    R/505/2462
    Click here to view full unit details

    Introduction to Psychology

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    D/507/2052
    Click here to view full unit details

    Introduction to Social Work

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    K/507/1938
    Click here to view full unit details

    Introduction to Sociology

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    L/507/2032
    Click here to view full unit details

    Mental Health and Disorder

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    L/507/1981
    Click here to view full unit details

    Person-centred Approaches in Health, Social Care and Social Work

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    16
    Credits:
    2
    Unit No:
    R/507/1979
    Click here to view full unit details

    Physical Development of Children and Young People

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    18
    Credits:
    2
    Unit No:
    M/505/2467
    Click here to view full unit details

    Planning a Career in Health, Social Care or Social Work

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    20
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    R/507/1934
    Click here to view full unit details

    Professional Relationships with Children and Young People

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    M/507/2105
    Click here to view full unit details

    Protection and Safeguarding in Health, Social Care and Social Work

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    J/507/1980
    Click here to view full unit details

    Reflective Practice in Health, Social Care and Social Work

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    16
    Credits:
    2
    Unit No:
    F/507/2075
    Click here to view full unit details

    Science in Medicine

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    36
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    R/505/5359
    Click here to view full unit details

    Social Care Provision in England and Wales

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    F/507/1976
    Click here to view full unit details

    Social and Emotional Development of Children and Young People

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    18
    Credits:
    2
    Unit No:
    M/505/2470
    Click here to view full unit details

    Supporting New Parents

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    8
    Credits:
    1
    Unit No:
    J/507/1977
    Click here to view full unit details

    The Living Body

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    48
    Credits:
    6
    Unit No:
    J/505/5357
    Click here to view full unit details

    The Sociology of Health and Illness

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    32
    Credits:
    4
    Unit No:
    H/507/1940
    Click here to view full unit details

    The Sociology of the Family

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    R/505/6043
    Click here to view full unit details

    Understanding Counselling Skills

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    48
    Credits:
    6
    Unit No:
    K/506/4763
    Click here to view full unit details

    Value of Play and Recreational Activity to Children and Young People

    Level:
    Level 2
    Guided Learning Hours:
    24
    Credits:
    3
    Unit No:
    L/505/2489
    Click here to view full unit details

    What is the purpose of this qualification?

    The primary purpose of this qualification is to support learners to progress to a higher level vocational qualification, specifically an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma relating to health, social care or social work. This qualification is designed for adult learners who are aspiring to higher education, lack the necessary qualifications to apply for a degree course but are not yet ready to embark on a preparatory Level 3 qualification, such as an Access to HE Diploma. The Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work (as opposed to the Certificate of the same title) is particularly suitable if learners have been advised that they would benefit from an extended Level 2 course before moving on to an Access to HE Diploma.

    There is a Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work. The Certificate will be appropriate for most learners preparing to progress to an Access to HE Diploma.


    What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?

    This qualification includes one mandatory unit:

    • Health, social care or social work project

    Learners must then select further units from a list of optional units. These include knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to all the possible progression routes from the Diploma, e.g.

    • Reflective practice in health, social care or social work
    • Communication in a health, social care or social work context
    • Person-centred approaches in health, social care and social work

    Learners can also choose units which are specific to the particular pathway you are planning, e.g.

    • Social care provision
    • Human reproduction
    • Introduction to social work.

    Learners can also decide to take a unit, ‘Effective Learning’, which will give you the opportunity to focus explicitly on developing the study skills they will need to succeed on an Access to HE Diploma and on a degree course.


    How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?

    The Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work is intended to support your progression to an Access to HE Diploma in a related area. The Diploma will provide learners with a firm foundation in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding of health, social care or social work, while at the same time giving learners the opportunity to develop and practise their study skills. Learners will have the chance to practise producing written work in the format expected of individuals when they progress to an Access to HE Diploma and to experience the same approach to assessment, making them better prepared for further study.


    Which sector does this qualification support?

    This qualification is not intended to support progression to employment. Depending on the combination of optional units that learners choose so they could progress to an Access to HE Diploma in any of the following areas:

    • Health
    • Health and Related Health Professions
    • Health and Social Care
    • Health Professions
    • Health Professions and Social Sciences
    • Midwifery
    • Nursing
    • Nursing and Midwifery
    • Nursing, Midwifery and Health Studies
    • Paramedic studies
    • Psychology and Counselling
    • Psychology and Sociology
    • Psychosocial Studies
    • Science and Health Professions
    • Social Science
    • Social Studies
    • Social Work
    • Social Work and Related Professions.


    What are the progression options?

    There is a Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work. The Certificate will be appropriate for most learners preparing to progress to an Access to HE Diploma. However learners should take the Diploma if they have been advised that they would benefit from a significant period of time developing their knowledge, skills and understanding at Level 2 before progressing to an Access to HE Diploma, perhaps because learners have been out of learning for a long while or are studying in English for the first time.

    The Diploma may also be the right choice if they are still uncertain about the specific Access to HE Diploma they want to progress to and need time to explore several different progression options within the broad field of health, social care and social work.


    Progression & entry requirements

    There are no specific entry requirements, in the form of prior qualifications or levels of attainment, for this qualification. However, if at the start of their course learners have not already achieved Level 2 English and maths (in the form of functional skills or GCSE), they can expect to be offered the opportunity to include English and maths in their programme alongside the Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work. Learners must be aged 18 or over to take this qualification. The minimum vocational content for this qualification is 90% (if learners choose to include the unit ‘Effective Learning), the maximum is 100%.

    Funding information

    There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

    The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

    View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

    The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

    View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

    How to find a learning aim

    If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

    How to Use: Find a learning Aim


    We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

    This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.