The CCEA GCSE Health and Social Care specification provides opportunities for students to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of what is required for working in the health, social care and early years sectors.

In particular, they learn about:

• human development through the main life stages and age ranges;
• factors affecting health and development, including behavioural, environmental, physical and socio-economic factors;
• how relationships influence social and emotional development;
• how a range of factors influence self-concept;
• major life changes and sources of support;
• how health and social care services meet a range of service users’ needs;
• barriers to health and social care services and how they can be overcome;
• job roles of a range of practitioners and how they apply the values of care in their day-to-day work; and
• the importance of safeguarding in health, social care and early years settings.

This qualification links to the Learning for Life and Work and Science and Technology Areas of Learning at Key Stage 4.

This specification is unitised, so it is possible to take part of the assessment at the end of the first year of study.

The specification has two units:

• Unit 1: Personal Development, Health and Well-Being
• Unit 2: Working in the Health, Social Care and Early Years Sectors.