Health and Social Care Level 3
Start Date: 2nd September 2026
- Length 2 Years
- Study Full Time
- Location West Lancashire College
More about the course
The Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care is ideal for anyone who wishes to enter a health or social care related profession, or progress to higher education in a health or social care related field e.g. nursing, social work, midwifery or a paramedic.
Entry requirements
- 4 GCSEs at Grade 4-9, including English Language and/or Maths
What will I achieve?
If you successfully complete this course, you will receive a NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (VRQ)
What will I learn?
- Human lifespan development
- Working in Health and Social Care
- Meeting individual care and support needs
- Principles of safe practice in Health and Social Care
- Supporting individuals with additional needs
- Nutritional health
- Anatomy and physiology for Health and Social Care
- Enquiries into current research in Health and Social Care
- Work experience in Health and Social Care
- Promoting public health
- Physiological disorders and their care
- Caring for individuals with dementia
- Assessing children's development support needs
What experience will I have?
- Links with Partner Universities – UCLan and Edge Hill University
- Industry recognised training and qualifications delivered by expert tutors with experience in the Health Care sector including a Midwife and Social Worker
- Unique work placements in a variety of roles within the medical sector with placements being offered with leading employers including NHS and HCRG Group
- Industry visits appropriate to your chosen career including Ashworth Hospital, Thackray Medical Museum, The Mind, Body & Soul Experience and bespoke taster days at local universities
- Guest speakers appropriate to your chosen career including Southport Community Mental Health Team, HCRG, BEAT (Eating Disorders), Addaction Group, Lancashire NHS Team, Local Safeguarding Adult Board for Lancashire, Council for Voluntary Service and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, West Lancashire
- Workshops and seminars including our Health Conference, delivered by Health Care Professionals and Professors
- Look and feel like a Health Care professional
- Bespoke University days and support with UCAS personal statements to help secure your chosen University
- Links with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
How am I assessed?
- External and Internal set assignments
Where can I progress?
Upon successful completion of the course, students may wish to progress to Entry in Employment, Higher Education including Degree Apprenticeship or an Apprenticeship.
Course costs
If you are 16-18 years old, you do not have to pay course tuition fees*.
If you need information on any financial support that may be available to you with fees or study costs on this course, please contact Student Services who can offer advice and assistance on accessing any financial support that may be available.
*This is subject to attendance.
*Exam and registration fees will be paid for by the college. This is subject to satisfactory attendance and course completion
Contact our team
Meet our Health and Social Care students and tutors
Wendy Bennett
Assistant PrincipalWendy is the Assistant Principal for the 16-18 provision at West Lancashire College, overseeing Health, Education and Digital, Creative and Service Industries, Construction, and Advanced Engineering. She has extensive experience as a leader and college manager, having worked in education for over 20 years. Wendy is the College's strategic lead for T Levels and curriculum development and is passionate about developing innovative study programmes that enhance progression to higher education, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities for young people. As a leader and manager, Wendy supports colleagues and learners across all departments, creating opportunities that help develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to become successful members of both the local community and wider society. She is committed to ensuring learners are well prepared to make positive personal and professional contributions throughout their lives.
Lynsey Makin
Head of Curriculum for Health, Education and Foundation LearningI am an experienced educator with a background in the health and care sectors. I am passionate about supporting learners on their educational journey and take great satisfaction in seeing them achieve their goals and progress into rewarding careers. I am proud to be part of a highly effective team that combines high expectations with a caring and nurturing approach. Together, we strive to equip our learners with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to recognise their potential, achieve their ambitions, and succeed in their future careers.
Suzanne Gibson
Health and Social Care LecturerI teach on the Level 2 and Level 3 Health and Social Care programmes and, as an experienced educator, I am passionate about helping students develop an understanding of health, nutrition, and their vital role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoy teaching Health and Social Care and find it incredibly rewarding to see students work hard, achieve their goals, and progress to positive destinations, including employment within the care sector and higher education across a wide range of disciplines. I am part of a small, dedicated, and highly effective team that is committed to supporting every learner to achieve their full potential. Together, we provide a caring, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment where students can develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in their future careers.
Alicia
Health and Social Care Alumni StudentI enjoyed learning about a range of topics, including different diseases, the cardiovascular system in the anatomy unit, and aspects of public health, such as medicines, treatments, and government strategies designed to support the public. I would recommend West Lancashire College to any high school student, as it gave me the opportunity to explore different career options, with tutors who adapted their teaching to suit my interests and support my learning.
Eleanor
Health and Social Care Alumni StudentI would highly recommend the Health and Social Care course at West Lancashire College to anyone considering a career in the health industry. The teachers treated me with respect as an adult and encouraged me to develop my independence. As part of the Level 3 course, I completed a combination of exams, coursework, and practical assessments, which I particularly enjoyed. I also gained valuable experience through work placements, as well as a range of trips and visits that enhanced my learning and understanding of the sector.
Eva
T Level Health Alumni StudentThe course provided me with a wide range of valuable experiences, and I found every aspect of it interesting and engaging. My course tutor made the learning experience extremely enjoyable, and I particularly enjoyed hearing about her experiences working within the nursing profession. Her insight and industry knowledge helped bring the subject to life and gave me a greater understanding of potential career opportunities within the sector.
Maddy
T Level Health Alumni StudentThe opportunity to gain experience in a variety of healthcare settings was one of the main reasons I chose to study the T Level Health course. My favourite part of the programme was working alongside nurses, as it gave me valuable insight into the profession and helped me develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for my future career. The industry placement provided real-world experience and reinforced my ambition to become a paramedic.
Olivia
T Level Health Alumni StudentI chose this course because it offered a highly practical approach to learning and would broaden my opportunities for a future career in healthcare. I particularly enjoyed the hands-on elements of the course, especially gaining experience on hospital wards and learning how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly. These practical experiences gave me valuable insight into working in healthcare and helped me develop the skills and confidence needed for my future career.
Kiera
T Level Health Alumni StudentI chose to study the T Level Health course because it was the ideal pathway for pursuing a career in nursing. My favourite part of the course was the industry placement, which provided invaluable hands-on experience and gave me many opportunities to develop my skills, knowledge, and confidence in a real healthcare environment. The placement played a key role in preparing me for my future career and reinforced my ambition to become a nurse.
What can I do with a qualification in Health and Social Care?
Daily tasks:
- Assesses and advises on factors affecting business performance.
- Determines staffing levels appropriate for accounting activities.
- Plans external and internal audit programmes, arranges for the collection and analysis of accounting, budgetary and related information, and manages the company.
- Participates in the formulation of strategic and long-term business plans, assesses the implications for the organisation financial mechanisms and oversees their implementation.
Daily tasks:
- Ensures custody of all cash receipts and organises regular stock checks.
- Recruits, supervises and trains staff.
- Determines financial, staffing, material and other short- and long-term needs.
- Advises on the facilities available and promotes publicity in relation to shows, games, races, new theme parks, etc..
- Keeps abreast of new trends and developments in recreational activities and arranges exhibitions, theatrical productions, concerts, demonstrations etc..
- Ensures that facilities are kept clean and in good condition and that appropriate health and safety requirements are adhered to.
- Organises timetable of activities/schedule of programmes.
Daily tasks:
- Carries out research into aspects of the natural world.
- Prepares applications for funding to other organisations, and assessing applications for funding from other organisations.
- Promotes conservation issues via educational talks, displays, workshops and literature and liaison with the media.
- Maintains and develops knowledge in relevant policy areas within a national and European legislative context.
- Liaises with other groups in the selection and maintenance of the Protected Site System including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Ramsar sites, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and National Nature Reserves (NNRs).
- Provides advice and information to government at national and local levels, clients, landowners, planners and developers to facilitate the protection of the natural environment.
- Implements, evaluates and monitors schemes for the management and protection of natural habitats.
- Carries out environmental impact assessments and field surveys.
- Promotes and implements local and national biodiversity action plans, particularly with regard to threatened species and habitats.
Daily tasks:
- Provides professional guidance to clients, government agencies, regulators and other relevant bodies, having regard for sustainable approaches and solutions.
- Implements, reviews and advises on regulatory and legislative standards, guidelines and policies.
- Assists organisations to conduct their activities in an environmentally appropriate manner.
- Communicates scientific and technical information to relevant audiences in an appropriate form, via reports, workshops, educational events, public hearings.
- Carries out environmental audits and environmental impact assessments.
- Carries out environment-related desk-based research and fieldwork to collect, analyse and interpret data to determine their validity, quality and significance.
- Implements remediation works.
- Advises on and provides solutions for mitigating the effects of such contamination.
- Identifies contamination of land, air or water and assesses any adverse impact on the environment.
Daily tasks:
- Monitors the standards of scientific and technical research undertaken by the research team.
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities to the research and development team.
- Develops research methodology, implements and reports upon research investigations undertaken.
- Liaises with production departments to investigate and resolve manufacturing problems.
- Establishes product design and performance objectives in consultation with other business functions.
Daily tasks:
- Supervises the implementation of care and treatment plans by other healthcare providers.
- Prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials.
- Refers patient to specialist where necessary and liaises with specialist.
- Supervises patient.
- Administers medical tests and inoculations against communicable diseases.
- Diagnoses condition and prescribes and/or administers appropriate treatment/surgery.
- Examines patient, arranges for any necessary x-rays or other tests and interprets results.
Daily tasks:
- Applies psychological treatment methods to help athletes achieve optimum mental health and enhance sporting performance.
- Applies professional knowledge and techniques within the workplace, addressing issues such as job design, work groups, motivation etc..
- Maintains required contacts with family members, education or other health professionals, as appropriate, and recommends possible solutions to problems presented.
- Studies psychological factors in the treatment and prevention of mental illness or emotional and personality disorders.
- Analyses the effect of hereditary, social and physical factors on thought and behaviour.
- Observes and experiments on humans and animals to measure mental and physical characteristics.
- Develops treatment and guidance methods and gives treatment or guidance using a variety of therapy and counselling techniques.
- Develops and administers tests to measure intelligence, abilities, aptitudes, etc. and assesses results.
Daily tasks:
- Ensures that drugs and medicaments are in good supply and are stored properly.
- Tests and analyses drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength.
- Liaises with other professionals regarding the development, manufacturing and testing of drugs.
- Maintains prescription files and records issue of narcotics, poisons and other habit-forming drugs.
- Checks that recommended doses are not being exceeded and that instructions are understood by patients.
- Highlights a drug.
- Advises health professionals on the selection and appropriate use of medicines.
- Prepares or directs the preparation of prescribed medicaments in liquid, powder, tablet, ointment or other form following prescriptions issued by medical doctors and other health professionals.
Daily tasks:
- Carries out research with glass and lens manufacturers.
- Refers patient to a specialist, where necessary.
- Advises patient on proper use of glasses, contact lenses and other aids, and on appropriate lighting conditions for reading and working.
- Prescribes, supplies and fits appropriate spectacle lenses, contact lenses and other aids.
- Examines eyes and tests vision of patient, identifies problems, defects, injuries and ill health.
Daily tasks:
- Prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials.
- Maintains patients.
- Refers patient to specialist, where necessary.
- Educates patients on oral health care.
- Supervises patient.
- Constructs and fits braces, inlays, dentures and other appliances.
- Carries out clinical treatments, restores teeth affected by decay etc., treats gum disease and other disorders.
- Administers local anaesthetics.
- Assesses and recommends treatment options to patients.
- Examines patient.
Health and Social Care at West Lancashire College
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Upcoming events
October Open Event
West Lancashire College
Monday 12th October 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm
November Open Event
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Thursday 19th November 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm
February Open Event
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Monday 1st February 2027
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