Qualifications
Pearson BTEC Level 4 HNC in Health and Social Care Practice (Social & Community Work)
Day of week: Multiple Days
Times: 09:00 - 16:30
Overview
The purpose of Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals in Social and Community Work is to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals able to meet the demands of employers in the social and community work sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. The qualifications aim to widen access to higher education and enhance the career prospects of those who undertake them.
The course:
- equips students with social and community work skills and the knowledge and understanding necessary to achieve high performance in the global health and social care environment
- provides opportunities for students to develop the skills, techniques and personal attributes essential working in the health and social care environment
- provides education and training for a range of careers in social and community work, including family support work roles, resource officer and personal assistant roles, community development work, public health and community support work, care planning roles, advocacy, social services supervisory or lower management roles, counselling and rehabilitation support role
- provides students with knowledge and understanding of culturally diverse organisations, cross-cultural issues, diversity and values
- facilitates opportunities for students to enter or progress in employment in social or community work, or progress to higher education qualifications such as an Honours degree in Social Work, Youth and Community Work, Childhood Studies, Public Health, Social Policy or a related area. Student must complete 225 in a relevant placement to achieve this course.
- offer students the chance of career progression in their chosen field, with particular emphasis on achieving management-level positions, professional recognition and beyond
Key areas of study
- Values and Principles in health and social care;
- Law, Policy and Ethical practice;
- Mental health and wellbeing: a Whole Person Approach
- Fundamentals of Evidence Based Practice;
- Community Development – Principles and Practice
- Planning and Supporting community-led Activities
- Applied Understanding of Human development
- Social work principles and introduction to practice
- Student must also complete 225 hours of work experience in a relevant placement to achieve this course.
- Have attained a pass in at least one GCE A Level subject of equivalent Level 3 qualification.
- Applicants should have attained a minimum or 46 UCAS tariff points achieved through the completion of A Levels, National Awards, Access or other alternative approved qualifications and / or experience.
- Have evidence of competence in written and spoken English and Numeracy, equivalent to Level 2 certification in each subject or GCSE grade C; have attained at least 12 points at Level 2 or above (eg GCSE) or have alternative approved qualifications;
- Applicants are required to produce original examination certification to be awarded a place on this course.
You will be required to show evidence of current work or voluntary experience in health or social care at the commencement of the course and ideally at the Course Endorsement session.
Please see below link to the UCAS tariff point calculator:
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points |UCAS
Are you already an internationally registered nurse? While we would welcome an application to study you may not need to complete further training to gain employment in Northern Ireland. Please check the following links to determine your next steps
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) UK Registration Guidance:
www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc - NMC Competence Test Centre at Ulster University (Derry/Londonderry Campus):
www.ulster.ac.uk/nmc-competence-test-centre
Fees:
Academic period 2026*:
HE Tuition Fee = £3235.00
Fees are payable annually.
*The fees have not been finalised and may be subject to change.
Visit our Student Funding page here to find out how to fund your studies
Please contact our Funding Team by emailing studentfunding@belfastmet.ac.uk for other options.
You will be assessed primarily through coursework assignments and your practical work within the sector [minimum of 225hrs over one year]
Careers
Successful completion of this course may allow students to progress to an undergraduate in Social work, Youth and Community work and Mental health and Psychology or other related undergraduate programmes.
It is your responsibility to investigate the possible degrees you wish to study and ensure that they accept this qualification and module.
Interests
- Health and Social Care
- Youth work
- Community
- Mental health
- Volunteering
Useful Links
- Study at the Met
- Search for Courses
- Full Time
- Part Time
- Apprenticeships
- Leisure Courses
- Creative Connections
