Higher National Certificate in Healthcare Practice for England

Teaching and placement:
You will be taught through a combination of lectures. You will have 12 contact hours per week consisting of taught lectures. The programme also includes a mandatory 225 hours work placement across the duration of the course. Placements must be in a setting providing direct care to service users.

Independent learning:
When not attending lectures and placement you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research, preparing coursework assignment and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Your independent learning is supported by a range of facilities including the Learning Resource Centre and support from a Higher Education Academic Tutor.

Overall workload:
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assignment activity.

Academic support:
Our Higher Education Academic Support Tutors provide help in the following areas -
- Study skills (including reading, writing, note-taking and presentation skills)
- Written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy)
- Academic writing (including how to reference)
- Research skills (in conjunction with the learning centres)
- Critical thinking and understanding arguments
- Revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management)

Teaching staff:
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team, whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes lecturers with industry experience. Our teaching is informed by the relevant practice within the sector and 100% of our lecturers have a teaching qualification.

Assessment:
The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module.

Assessment methods include written tasks, assignments, portfolio work and presentations. The grades from formal assessment count towards your module grade

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework:
100% of the course is assessed by submission of module work and completion of 225 hours completed placement.

Feedback:
You will receive feedback on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

We aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of hand-in (formal coursework assessment).

The programme includes a mandatory 225 hours work placement across the duration of the programme. Placements must be in a setting providing direct care to service users.

The programme starts in January and is part-time for 18 months. The course will be delivered over 1 day in college and the remaining learning hours through a blended online approach.

In addition to the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the study of the health and social care sector, the Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals in Healthcare Professions’ Support for England programme gives students experience
of the breadth and depth of the sector that will prepare them for further study ortraining in healthcare-related fields.

You will study modules including:

- Law, Policy and Ethical Practice
- Demonstrating Professional Principles and Values in Health and Social Care Practice
- Supporting the Individual Journey through Integrated Health and Social Care
- Fundamentals of Evidence-based Practice
- Principles of Health Education
- Effective Healthcare Practice Using Maths
- Applied Anatomy and Physiology