Welcome

Health & Social Care is a one of a small number of well-established vocational subjects in the Chatham and Clarendon Sixth Form. It is also one of the few subjects that are directly focused on preparing you for your future career in this exciting and rewarding sector. The vast majority of students that study this subject go into careers within the NHS and the wider health care system, or into areas such as social work or education.

We offer two courses from the 2016 Cambridge Technical suite of qualifications – the extended certificate and the diploma. These courses offer a useful mix of both formally examined units and internally assessed coursework units, meaning lessons can take several formats. To meet the demands of the coursework units, our students are able to make use of a dedicated computer suite, with guidance and support from the specialist health & social care teachers. To meet the demands of the examination units, students benefit from a program of engaging and dedicated lessons.

This program is also supplemented by a number of guest speakers who are able to give insight into their specialism within the health and social care sector. This has included speakers from Alzheimer’s Association & Dementia Care, the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), nursing and primary education professionals and first aid training provided by the Red Cross. In addition, the department works closely with the wider volunteering programs that operate in the sixth form, such as Macmillan Crossroads and the Beanstalk program. Our students’ learning is also enriched by visiting the Old Operating Theatre in London, the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe, where they are able to gain an in-depth understanding of the development of surgical procedures, anaesthetics and antiseptics.

All of these activities are directly related to the varying units that our students study. The topics of these units include building positive relationships, equality & diversity, health & safety, anatomy & physiology, infection control, personalised care, safeguarding, nutrition and mental health. Students are also given the opportunity to select at least one unit as a ‘specialist unit’ of their own choosing. This enables them to select a topic based upon their personal interests or career aspirations.