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This qualification has been allocated UCAS points. Please refer to the UCAS website for further details of the points allocation and the most up-to-date information.
About this qualification
This qualification is designed to provide learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills essential to the health and social care sector within Northern Ireland, and to support progression into Higher Education or the workplace.
This qualification has been designed and written by a team of subject matter experts, and we have involved employers and Higher Education Institutions in the review of the content.
This qualification aims to:
focus on the study of health and social care in Northern Ireland
offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge
provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical skills.
Who is it suitable for?
This qualification is suitable for learners aged 16 or above who wish to progress onto Higher Education or to work in a variety of different settings within health and social care in Northern Ireland.
What are the entry requirements?
Learners should be at least 16 years old. We do not set any other entry requirements but centres may have their own guidelines.
Centres are responsible for checking that learners have already achieved the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) (Northern Ireland) qualification prior to requesting certification for this qualification.
How is this qualification structured?
Learners must achieve:
a pass grade from the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) (Northern Ireland)
four mandatory units, four optional units from Optional Group A and four optional units from Optional Group B within this qualification (all units are graded A*-D)
an external assessment short answer question paper graded A*-D for mandatory unit ‘Anatomy and physiology for health and social care’ and an external synoptic extended assessment graded A*-D covering the remaining mandatory units
a minimum of 100 placement hours.
How is it assessed?
There are two external assessments, one covering the Anatomy and physiology for health and social care mandatory unit and one covering the remaining mandatory units. The remaining units within the qualification are internally assessed.
Do you need to be working to take this qualification?
This qualification requires learners to complete a work/industry placement experience.
The minimum required number of placement hours is 100 hours.
Progression
Upon achievement of this qualification learners may be able to access Higher Education or progress into a wide range of job roles within the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland.
Career opportunities
The qualification is applicable to a variety of roles and/or careers in Northern Ireland.
Bundle offer
There is a bundle offer available for centres if they register learners on the Level 3 Diploma and Level 3 Extended Diploma at the same time. Using bundle code NDF6754, centres will receive a discounted price for the two qualifications, only paying for the Extended Diploma registration.
Funding for our qualifications
Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.
NCFE have password protected the latest external assessment past-paper, mark scheme and chief examiner report. You are now able to use these as current and valid mock assessments. To access the documents, you will need a Portal login. If you do not have a Portal login please contact your Portal administrator.
This resource contains interactive e-learning and a useful user guide.
These knowledge quizzes relate to key topic areas within the larger context of dietary requirements.
This resource contains interactive e-learning and a useful user guide.
These knowledge quizzes relate to key topic areas within the larger context of dietary requirements.