NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
Ref:
601/8435/8
Sector:
Health, Public Services and Care, Health and Social Care
Features:
Learning Resources Available, Performance Points, UCAS, Nested Qualification
Registration & certification fee:
£270.50
Level:
Level 3
Minimum entry age:
16
GLH:
1189
TQT:
1495
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that this qualification (subject to any future reviews by the DfE) has been approved for inclusion within the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Key Stage 5 performance tables.
The DfE have confirmed that the additional retake opportunity in place for the 2018/19 academic year for all Tech Levels and Applied General qualifications will continue to be offered while the moratorium for 16-18 performance tables is in place. This includes Tech Levels and Applied General qualifications which will be counted in 2022 and 2023 performance tables.
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
The Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care has been designed to enable learners to access Higher Education or assist with progression into 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.
The Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma has been designed to meet the Department for Education’s criteria for the 16–19 Performance Tables, and has been approved as a ‘Tech Level’ qualification.
What is a nested qualification?
This qualification is nested. Qualifications within a nested suite allow learners to be topped up to a qualification that is the same level and subject within the Award, Certificate, Extended Diploma structure. This can be done by self-service through the Portal. Qualification nests and top-up pricing can be found in our fees list.
What does it cover?
This qualification covers a wide range of key subject areas in health and social care. The Extended Diploma includes a wide range of optional units, allowing learners to pursue an interest in the specific areas of social care, health studies and health sciences, while still allowing enough diversity for the optional units to be tailored to suit a learner’s preferred progression path.
Who is it suitable for?
This qualification is suitable for learners aged 16 or above who wish to progress on to Higher Education.
Experience in a real work environment
Learners will be required to attend placement in a real work environment to support their learning. The minimum required number of placement hours is 175 (includes the 75 hours completed during the Certificate).
Entry requirements of Higher Education Institutions may specify the need for more work experience.
What are some examples of suitable work placement settings for learners?
Placement is a crucial element of the learner's journey. Listed below are some examples of appropriate settings which could support learners:
• Residential Care Home
• Nursing Home
• Day Centre
• Children's Centre
• Health Centre
• Supported/Sheltered
• Accommodation
• Domiciliary/Community care
• Respite Care
• Residential Schools
• Assessment Centre
• Special Schools
• Hospital
• Specialised Voluntary Groups
What are the entry requirements?
Learners must be at least 16 years old. We do not set any other entry requirements but colleges or training providers may have their own guidelines.
How long it takes to complete?
Learners will usually be able to achieve the Extended Diploma in two years.
What qualifications can you progress to?
Achievement of the Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care supports learners’ access to Higher Education and progression into a wide range of job roles within the health and social care sector.
The Care Certificate
This qualification promotes high quality care and support and has been mapped to the standards within the Care Certificate.
For more information about the Care Certificate, including free teaching and learning resources, please see the Skills for Health website.
Funding for our qualifications
Find out more about this and other qualifications on the Funding page.
Assessment opportunities
Please note: the assessment opportunities for all the externally set and marked assessments for the Diploma are limited to one attempt and one further reattempt opportunity (undertaking an alternative assessment).
Which type of job roles can you apply for on completion?
This qualification does not provide a licence to practise, but may support progression into a wide range of job roles in the health and social care sector, including:
• Care Support Workers in adult residential settings
• Healthcare Assistants in community, primary care and acute health environments
• Care Support Workers in domiciliary services, supported living or day services
• Community-based Support Workers
More detail on the range of job roles and potential progression paths will be provided in the Learner Handbook.
External assessment timetable
Please see the external assessment timetable for a breakdown of the assessment dates for this qualification.
Useful links
Regulations for the conduct of external assessment
Qualification specific instructions for delivery (QSID)
Support materials
Qualification specification (PDF) (PDF | 824 KB)
Qualification specification (Word) (DOCX | 547 KB)
Purpose statement (PDF | 127 KB)
Qualification factsheet (PDF | 126 KB)
CACHE Technical qualification - performance tables (PDF | 122 KB)
DfE performance table quick guide (PDF | 460 KB)
N grade information sheet (PDF | 127 KB)
Mapping to National Occupational Standards (PDF | 42 KB)
Mapping to the Care Certificate (PDF | 64 KB)
Employer support letters (PDF | 4078 KB)
Tutor guidance (PDF | 1740 KB)
Tutor guidance (Word) (DOC | 1999 KB)
Tutor guidance optional units (PDF | 1821 KB)
Tutor guidance optional units (Word) (DOC | 2155 KB)
Placement guidance mentor and tutor (PDF | 178 KB)
Placement guidance mentor and tutor (Word) (DOC | 448 KB)
Learner handbook (PDF | 1336 KB)
Learner handbook (Word) (DOC | 1562 KB)
Learner handbook optional units (PDF | 1458 KB)
Learner handbook optional units (Word) (DOC | 1968 KB)
Placement handbook learner (PDF | 199 KB)
Placement handbook learner (Word) (DOC | 441 KB)
Support Handbook (PDF | 327 KB)
Assessment materials
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.
Chief examiner report - HSC1 - January 2024 (PDF | 118 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSC1 – January 2024 (PDF | 151 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSC1 - April 2023 (PDF | 112 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSC1 – April 2023 (PDF | 789 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED2 - May 2024 (PDF | 116 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - May 2024 (PDF | 798 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED2 - January 2024 (PDF | 168 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - January 2024 (PDF | 199 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED2 - May 2023 (DOCX | 145 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - May 2023 (PDF | 713 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED 2 - February 2023 (PDF | 114 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - February 2023 (PDF | 775 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED2 - May 2022 (PDF | 63 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - May 2022 (PDF | 139 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSED2 - February 2022 (PDF | 170 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSED 2 - February 2022 (PDF | 99 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSC/SAE - January 2023 (PDF | 2697 KB)
Mark Scheme HSC/SAE January 2023 (PDF | 277 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSC/SAE - January 2023 (PDF | 66 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSC/SAE - May 2022 (PDF | 529 KB)
Mark Scheme HSC SAE May 2022 (PDF | 179 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSC SAE - May 2022 (PDF | 117 KB)
External assessment past paper - HSC/SAE - January 2022 (PDF | 272 KB)
Mark Scheme HSC SAE January 2022 (PDF | 179 KB)
This sample mark scheme will help learners prepare for their external assessment.
Chief Examiner Report HSC SAE January 2022 (PDF | 117 KB)
This document contains feedback from the chief examiner for the January 2022 external assessment.
External assessment past paper - HSC/SAE - January 2021 (PDF | 220 KB)
External assessment past paper mark scheme - HSC/SAE - January 2021 (PDF | 287 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSC/SAE - January 2021 (PDF | 114 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper HSCNI SAE May 2024 (PDF | 1733 KB)
Chief Examiner Report HSCNI SAE July 2024 (PDF | 128 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper Mark Scheme HSCNI SAE May 2024 (PDF | 422 KB)
Chief Examiner Report HSCNI SAE January 2024 (PDF | 126 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper HSCNI SAE January 2024 (PDF | 3042 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper Mark Scheme HSCNI SAE January 2024 (PDF | 453 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper Mark Scheme HSCNI SAE May 2023 (PDF | 262 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper HSCNI SAE May 2023 (1) (PDF | 2537 KB)
Chief Examiner Report HSCNI SAE May 2023 (PDF | 180 KB)
Chief Examiner Report HSCNI SAE January 2023 (PDF | 101 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper HSCNI SAE January 2023 (PDF | 2262 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper Mark Scheme HSCNI SAE January 2023 (PDF | 263 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper HSCNI SAE May 2022 (PDF | 297 KB)
External Assessment Past Paper Mark Scheme HSCNI SAE May 2022 (PDF | 264 KB)
Chief Examiner Report HSCNI SAE May 2022 (PDF | 130 KB)
External assessment past paper HSCNI SAE - January 2022 (PDF | 303 KB)
External assessment past paper mark scheme HSCNI SAE - January 2022 (PDF | 297 KB)
Chief examiner report - HSCNI SAE - January 2022 (PDF | 125 KB)
External assessment cover sheet (PDF | 152 KB)
Assessment task (PDF | 341 KB)
HSED2 - instructions for tutors (PDF | 229 KB)
HSED2 example titles (PDF | 72 KB)
Supplementary Answer Booklet (PDF | 140 KB)
Teaching materials
Hodder Education Book
Refer to external link
Hodder Education Boost Course eBook and Boost Unit eBook
Refer to external link
Unit breakdown
Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care (K/507/1406)
Human Growth and Development (M/507/1407)
Safeguarding in Health and Social Care (T/507/1408)
Communication in Health and Social Care (J/507/1431)
Infection Prevention and Control in Health and Social Care (L/507/1432)
Psychological Perspectives in Health and Social Care (R/507/1433)
Sociological Perspectives in Health and Social Care (Y/507/1434)
Working in Health and Social Care (D/507/1435)
Reflective Practice (H/507/1436)
Empowerment in Health and Social Care (K/507/1437)
Protection of Children, Young People and Adults in Health and Social Care (M/507/1438)
Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care (F/617/6754)
Research Skills for Health and Social Care (K/507/1440)
Personal and Professional Development (M/507/1441)
Certificate Synoptic Assessment (HSC1)
Extended Diploma External Assessment (HSED2)
Certificate 75 Placement Hours (HSC/CPH)
Extended Diploma 100 Placement Hours (HSC/EDPH)
Behaviour Change in Health and Social Care (D/507/1483)
Biochemistry for Health (H/507/1484)
Community Care Provision (K/507/1485)
Complementary Therapies and Alternative Medicine for Health and Social Care (M/507/1486)
Dementia Awareness (T/507/1487)
End of Life Care (F/507/1508)
Genetics in Health and Social Care (J/507/1509)
Health Education (F/507/1511)
Health Psychology (J/507/1512)
Mental Health and Well-Being (L/507/1513)
Microbiology for Health (R/507/1514)
Nutrition for Health and Social Care (Y/507/1515)
Physiology of Coordination (D/507/1516)
Public Health for Health and Social Care (K/507/1518)
Science of Nutrition (M/507/1519)
Social Policy (H/507/1520)
The Role of Play for Children and Young People (K/507/1521)
Advocacy in Health and Social Care (T/507/1490)
Epidemiology for Health and Social Care (F/507/1489)
Ethics in Health and Social Care (A/507/1491)
Family Issues in Health and Social Care (F/507/1492)
Learning Disability (J/507/1493)
Medication in Health and Social Care (L/507/1494)
Models and Systems of Health Care (R/507/1495)
Partnership Working in Health and Social Care (Y/507/1496)
Pharmacology (D/507/1497)
Physiology of Ageing (H/507/1498)
Promoting Positive Behaviour (K/507/1499)
Sociology of Health and Illness (R/507/1500)
Support Care Within Fostering and Adoption Services (D/507/1502)
Technology in Health and Social Care (H/507/1503)
Voluntary Organisations (K/507/1504)