Access to Care (Health & Early Years) Level 5 NQ

What is special about this course?

Are you interested in helping others and making a difference? The Access to Care course provides a solid foundation in the many areas of Healthcare and Early Years Education, helping you to choose your future career path.  

You'll learn about the care of adults and children, important social issues, and gain recognised qualifications in basic first aid and food hygiene.  

The course is ideal for anyone considering a career in care, whether you're a school leaver, a parent returning to work, or considering a career change. It is a great first step to a wide variety of careers including Care Practitioner, Nurse, Teacher, Social Worker and many more.  

 

Entry requirements

You must be 16 years of age at the start of the course.  

 

The practical elements of the course include:  

  • Taking part in activities that support child growth and development  
  • Guest lecturers from a range of different care backgrounds
  • Learning essential basic first aid and achieving the qualification
  • Class discussions about important social issues and their impact on care  

In the classroom you will learn:

  • The theory behind care practices  
  • How to conduct effective research
  • Essential IT skills  

You'll have the opportunity for personal development too and we'll support you to:

  • Gain effective communication skills  
  • Collaborate effectively with your classmates to work together on group activities
  • Build your self-confidence through practical and theory based learning
  • Apply creative thinking to connect theory with practical applications 

The units you will study include:

  • Development and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
  • Care of Children
  • Families in Modern Society
  • Social Services in Scotland: An Introduction
  • Care: Values & Principles
  • Introduction to Basic First Aid
  • Children and Young People: Rights and Protection
  • REHIS
  • Maintenance of a Safe Environment for Children
  • Human Development & Behaviour
  • Healthy Eating in a Care Setting
  • HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
  • Communication
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Numeracy

How will I study my course?

  • Full Time

Your course will generally be a mix of scheduled connected learning time in your nearest UHI Argyll learning Centre.

When we talk about 'Connected Learning' we mean that you will learn together with your lecturers and fellow classmates at a scheduled time in an online classroom. This will include a combination of video conferencing (like a Zoom call), interactive chat and sharing of presentation slides and other visuals. Online classrooms provide you with real time interaction, contact and discussion with your lecturer and fellow students, so it's a much richer experience than purely online learning. 

 

 

How long will my course last?

1 Academic Year

Where can I study my course?

    • UHI Argyll
    • Arran Learning Centre
    • Campbeltown Learning Centre
    • Dunoon Learning Centre
    • Helensburgh Learning Centre
    • Islay Learning Centre
    • Lochgilphead Learning Centre
    • Oban Learning Centre
    • Rothesay Learning Centre

Start date

August 

Fees

For the latest information on fees please see our fees policy.

Funding

Bursary for Living Costs 

If you are 18 years of age or over on the start date of your course, and will be studying full-time you may be eligible for bursary funding, depending on your household income. Our bursary fund is finite and is allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis so it’s important to make your application for bursary as soon as the application process opens in July. You will need to have accepted our offer before you apply. 

If you are under 18 you may be eligible for EMA. EMA is paid at a rate of £30 per week dependent on your total household income.  

Please see page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide for full details of Bursary and EMA.  

You may also be eligible for assistance with travel and childcare, and we have discretionary funds for those students in need. You can find all the information you need in our funding pages. 

What can I do on completion of my course?

Many students who complete this course go on to further study with courses such as NQ Health & Social Care Level 6, NC Early Education & Childcare, or may go into jobs such as a Care Practitioner, and follow an SVQ route of further study, while working. 

This course can lead to a wide variety of careers, in some cases through further study, including Care Practitioner, Nurse, Teacher, and Social Worker, among others. 

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Access to Care (Health & Early Years) Level 5 NQ

I want to start in 2025/26

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI Argyll. UHI Argyll operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.