The CCEA GCE Health and Social Care specification appeals to students with an interest in health, well-being and caring for others. It gives students the opportunity to study a diverse range of subjects, including communication, physiology, social policy and psychology, and develop skills including research, investigation, and analysis.

This specification is available at two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS units plus the A2 units for a full GCE A level qualification. They can also choose to take the AS course as a stand-alone qualification.

In the AS units, students explore values of care, and learn about key concepts of health and well-being and the impact of health and ill health on individuals.

Students who continue to A2 will explore the physiology of health, body systems and disorders, and conduct extensive research on a chosen topic.

For a full GCE Single Award qualification students must complete six units: three at AS level and three at A2. For a full GCE Double Award qualification 12 units are required: six at AS level and six at A2.

The specification has 14 units. For details on compulsory and optional units, please see the specification.

• Unit AS 1: Promoting Quality Care
• Unit AS 2: Communication in Health, Social Care and Early Years Settings
• Unit AS 3: Health and Well-Being
• Unit AS 4: Safeguarding Children
• Unit AS 5: Adult Service Users
• Unit AS 6: Holistic Therapies
• Unit AS 7: Understanding the Physiology of Health and Illness
• Unit A2 1: Applied Research
• Unit A2 2: Body Systems and Physiological Disorders
• Unit A2 3: Providing Services
• Unit A2 4: Public Health and Health Promotion
• Unit A2 5: Supporting the Family
• Unit A2 6: Understanding Human Behaviour
• Unit A2 7: Human Nutrition and Health.