Free Level 2 Health and Social Care Course in Penzance

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2027
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body

About this course

Free Level 2 Health and Social Care Course in Penzance. Classes run at Penwith College, full-time during the day. You'll build a broad understanding of how to support children, young people, and adults across different care settings, covering human development through the life stages. The course runs for one year. You'll need three GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English and/or Maths; if you don't yet have a grade 4 in either, you'll study Functional Skills or GCSE alongside the course.

Who this course is for

The Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care provides you with a broad vocational approach to work alongside children, young people, and adults, offering you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of supporting individuals through the life stages. This course provides you with a holistic understanding of how to support children, young people, and adults in a variety of different settings. The Level 2 has an emphasis on developing your skills, giving you the knowledge, understanding and skillset required for employment within the health care sector, or further study within Further Education. This qualification aims to give you the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge that are used within the health, social care, and childcare sectors.

The course enables you to gain a broad understanding and knowledge of the health and social care sector including: the underpinning care values; the individual rights that people using health and social care services are entitled to and may need support to be upheld; the importance of promoting positive health and wellbeing for children and adults; life stage development including infancy, early childhood, adolescence, early, middle and later adulthood and challenges that individuals may go through and how that may affect their development.

Entry requirements

Three GCSEs at grade 3 or 4 including English language or Literature and/or Mathematics. Students without a Grade 4 in either English or Maths will be retaking either functional skills or GCSE, depending on the students GCSE results, and this will be incorporated into their programme of study.

What you will learn

  • You'll explore how individuals develop across the life stages, from childhood through to older adulthood.
  • You'll learn how to support people in a range of health and social care settings.
  • You'll develop knowledge of the values and principles that underpin good care practice.
  • You'll study how to communicate effectively with individuals who have different needs.
  • You'll gain an understanding of health, wellbeing, and the factors that affect them.
  • You'll learn about safeguarding and the responsibilities of those working in care roles.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom-based sessions at Penwith College. Assessment on the Pearson Edexcel BTEC is coursework-based, using assignments and projects rather than formal exams. You'll build a portfolio of evidence as you progress through the course, demonstrating your knowledge and skills across the units you study.

What you will need to bring

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

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Care assistant: supporting adults or older people in residential or home care.
  • Healthcare support worker: assisting clinical staff in NHS or community settings.
  • Nursery assistant: working with young children in early years settings.
  • School support assistant: helping children with learning or additional needs.
  • Community support worker: supporting individuals to live independently.
  • Domiciliary care worker: providing personal care to people in their own homes.

What you could study next

  • Level 3 Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care (Pearson Edexcel BTEC): the natural next step if you want to move into more senior care roles or apply to university.
  • Level 3 Early Years Educator: if you want to focus on working with young children in nursery or school settings.
  • Level 3 Award in Education and Training: useful if you're interested in moving into a training or mentoring role within care.

Related courses at Penwith College

More courses near you