Course summary

Would you like a professional career in health and social care, working to tackle health inequalities and advocate good health outcomes for users of health-related services? This contemporary and exciting Health and Social Care degree explores the inherent links between health and wellbeing as well as the issues shaping the healthcare agenda nationally and globally. On this course, you’ll study key themes including psychological interventions and alternative therapies, social prescribing for diverse community groups, multi-agency working, managing long-term conditions and developing leadership and enterprise in healthcare settings. You’ll examine health and social care from national and global perspectives considering cultural values and beliefs, enabling you to deliver compassionate, high quality and inclusive care and services for individuals, families and communities. Your lecturers will use their up-to-date practitioner and research experience to help you develop a high level of theoretical knowledge and practical know how.  Subject specific skills and the importance of cultural competence, social justice, adherence to relevant legislation and professional standards will be evident throughout all levels of your study. Professional work placements, which form an integral part of your degree, will give you the chance to gain experience in multiple health and social care settings and there are opportunities to study, work or volunteer overseas during your course.  You’ll be encouraged to deepen your knowledge with additional qualifications and training to gain recognition for professional competencies such as social prescribing, addiction recovery support, disability support, safeguarding children and adults, and cultural competency awareness. We will support you to undertake professional work placements in these areas to ensure you are confident in embedding these skills in your own practice in preparation for your future career. The applied nature of this degree means you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and experience needed for professional practice and that employers in this growing sector are looking for.  Professional work placements Our students have completed placements in facilities that provide residential care for adults and older adults, with youth work teams, in the NHS, in children's and family centres, and with charities and non-government agencies. You may also choose to explore career pathways in primary care outside of traditional clinical roles, including social prescribing, public health, community development and digital health enterprise. Graduate opportunities The currency and contemporary curriculum of this course will prepare you for a rewarding career in areas including public health, frontline digital health specialisms, community development, health commissioning, health and justice, and psychological wellbeing practice. Progression opportunities also exist on a range of relevant health or social care graduate schemes as well as in postgraduate clinical and non-clinical roles.