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Free Level 3 Health and Social Care Course in Durham – New College Durham

CostFREE
Duration2 years
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyNCFE awarding body
Apply now →

About this course

Free Health and Social Care Level 3 Course in Durham. Classes run at New College Durham, full-time during the day. This level 3 health and social care qualification covers how adults and older people are supported physically, emotionally, and socially. You'll study across two years, building the knowledge needed to work in care or move into higher education. It's a free health and social care course for adults and school leavers alike. You'll have an initial assessment to confirm the course is the right fit for you.

Who this course is for

Course may be subject to change.

The health and social care industry provides physical, emotional and social support to help adults and older people live their lives. This advanced course will provide you with a solid background in health and social care to enable you to progress to further study or a rewarding career in this growing sector.

Entry requirements

Please refer to College website.

What you will learn

  • You'll explore how physical, emotional, and social support is provided to adults and older people.
  • You'll learn about safeguarding, equality, and the rights of people who use care services.
  • You'll study human development across the life span and how it affects health and wellbeing.
  • You'll examine how health and social care services are organised and delivered in the UK.
  • You'll develop understanding of communication skills used in care settings.
  • You'll learn about mental health, disability, and long-term conditions and how care responds to them.
  • You'll study research methods and how evidence informs care practice.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom-based sessions at New College Durham. Assessment is through a combination of assignments, case studies, and portfolio work. There are no formal written exams for this qualification. You'll build up evidence of your knowledge and understanding throughout the two years, submitting work unit by unit.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. New College Durham will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Care assistant: support adults with daily living in home or residential settings.
  • Support worker: help people with physical or learning disabilities live independently.
  • Healthcare assistant: assist clinical staff in hospitals or GP surgeries.
  • Mental health support worker: work with people experiencing mental health conditions.
  • Senior care worker: take on a lead role in a care team after gaining experience.
  • Residential childcare worker: support young people in residential care settings.

What you could study next

  • Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training: if you want to teach or train others in health and social care.
  • Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care: the next step for those moving into senior or supervisory care roles.
  • Foundation Degree or BA in Health and Social Care: many universities accept this Extended Diploma for direct entry onto degree programmes.
  • Nursing Associate or Nursing degree apprenticeship: a route into registered nursing for those with relevant care experience.
Apply on newcollegedurham.ac.uk →
Apply now →

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