Course summary

Health and social care are major sectors of society today. The health and social care with foundation year degree offers you the chance to understand and analyse the complexities of these two key aspects of our social world. Our health and care needs are changing: our lifestyles are increasing our risk of preventable disease and are affecting our wellbeing, we are living longer with more multiple long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease and the health inequality gap is increasing. In addition, the very terms ‘health’, ‘illness’ and ‘wellbeing’ are themselves contested concepts which are mediated by individuals, by society, by politics and by organisational systems and processes. People’s experiences of health and wellbeing are therefore both complex and multi-faceted. This engaging and values-led degree programme will enable you to understand and critically analyse the broad range of issues and concepts which affect the health of individuals, groups and communities locally, nationally and internationally; to consider ways of improving health and wellbeing which make best use of collective resources and develop your personal, professional and practical skills and capabilities. Social care is a key ingredient in meeting the future social challenges that we face as a society. It is critical to the decisions we make about how we care for and support one another. It seeks to influence key political and policy debates about how we distribute social and financial resources and how we answer fundamental questions relevant to contemporary society. The health and social care degree is designed for those who want to develop a career within the expanding sector. Students can study specific populations, such as children and/or adults and to develop their understanding of critical contemporary debates. This programme gives you an opportunity to engage with and learn about health and social care through: • providing you with a strong foundation in your first year to ensure that you get the most out of your degree-level studies • understanding the provision of formal and informal care and the social policy structures which surround and define them, • enabling you to demonstrate the relevant core values and ethics, • knowledge of the key social issues that impact on people’s lives and for which they may seek or need support and care, • understanding what underpins assessment of need and leads to the delivery and management of interventions, • studying a range of specialisms based on the research, practice and policy expertise of academic staff and partner organisations working together to ensure the course is up to date and relevant to student and employer needs, • demonstrating and applying research knowledge and skills which can be applied in a practice setting to problem solve and/or support change, • opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills vital to the effective delivery of social care and health. The course will equip you with knowledge and skills appropriate to a range of graduate jobs in the health and social care sectors.