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Fast Track to HNC Healthcare Practice, HNC Social Services and HNC Counselling

  • Qualifications National Qualifications
  • SCQF Level SCQF Level 6
  • Study mode January to June
  • Campus Kilwinning
  • Start date January 2026
  • Duration 18 weeks or less
More information

Attendance/Duration

Short full-time

Overview

If you’re interested in a career in health and social care or counselling, then this course can help you on your way. This fast track programme offers you a broad perspective across key areas to prepare you for your next progression route or employment.

  • This course is delivered online in real time, which means you’ll need to attend scheduled live sessions and actively take part in group discussions and activities.
  • It’s not just self-paced or independent learning—you’ll be expected to engage with tutors and classmates during set times each week.
  • Being present and involved is key to your success on this fast-track online course.

Entry Requirements

For entry to this course you’ll need:

One relevant Higher such as English or Modern Studies at Grade C or above, or a relevant NC course at SCQF Level 5 or equivalent, such as Health and Social Care (L5) or NC Social Sciences.

Caring skills and qualities

You may be required to attend a telephone or online interview.

If you don’t have formal qualifications, but have life experience, then we’ll also consider you for a place, so please call us for a chat.

Being confident with technology and able to access online learning is essential for success on this course. To take part fully you’ll need:

  • Basic ICT skills such as using email and joining video calls.
  • Reliable internet access
  • A device such as a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer with a camera and microphone

Course Content

This course helps you understand how to work in care or counselling. You’ll learn why people use these services and how to support their health and wellbeing.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How care and counselling services in Scotland support people’s needs, including laws and good practice.
  • How things like poverty, education, and family can affect people’s lives and opportunities.
  • How people grow and change over their lives, and how life experiences and psychology influence behaviour.
  • What stress is, how it affects people, and ways to manage it.
  • The difference between mental health and mental illness, and how both affect behaviour and treatment.
  • How to care for people with dementia and support their carers.

You may hear from guest speakers working in the care and counselling sector.

Careers and Further Study

Students who have been successful on this course have had the opportunity to progress onto relevant level 7 courses such as HNC Social Services, HNC Healthcare Practice, HNC Counselling and HNC Social Science.

It also supports you starting your career in the Care Sector with employment as a Support Worker, Care at Home Worker or Care Assistant.

Skills

You will develop skills that will support you in life, work and education. These will include communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

Employer and Industry Links

The Health and Social Care workforce is the largest workforce in Scotland. More than 400,000 skilled and caring people work together to support the health and wellbeing of the people in Scotland. There are always numerous job and career opportunities available in these valuable roles.