Higher Education Courses

Health & Social Care FdSc

University of Worcester and Herefordshire & Ludlow College

Course overview

The Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care is a Level 4 and 5 course designed to support students wishing to pursue a career in the health and social care sector, as well as those currently practising in the field who may be looking for promotion, or to extend their skills and knowledge towards management or other higher level vocational qualifications.

Students work within a range of different settings including residential and nursing, schools, community centres, day and community services and hospitals, as well as community outreach services.

This course is an exciting vocationally focused higher education qualification, designed to integrate academic and work-based learning.

Key facts

The degree totals 240 credits: 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5.

You can complete the one year, level 4 Cert HE programme or stay with us for two years to complete the level 5 foundation degree

Timetable
Year 1: one day per week face-to-face delivery on campus, three hours online and one day in placement.
Year 2: one day per week face-to-face delivery and one day in placement.
The course is flexible enough to be accessible to those with work, caring or parenting responsibilities.

Course content

Year 1

Preparing for Practice in Health and Social Care
Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing
Ethics, Values and Use of Self in Practice
Communication Skills for Practice
Human Development across the Life Course
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (optional module)
Working with intersectionality in social care (optional module)

Year 2

Innovative Working in Health and Social Care
Understanding Health Conditions in Person-centred Practice
Research and Evidence-based practice
Understanding Teamwork in Professional Practice
Promoting Health and Wellbeing
Equality, Diversity and Anti-Oppressive Practice.

Assessment

Assessment is modular based with students being required to complete a variety of written tasks, case studies, reflective portfolios and presentations to meet the assessment requirements for each module.

At Level 5, there is a greater emphasis on students being independent; completing module assignments relating to their own chosen study area, interests and career progression.

Entry requirements

32 UCAS tariff points
4 GCSEs (Grade C/4 or above) and 1 A level or equivalent qualification.

Applications from candidates who do not have the standard entry requirements above will be considered on the basis of relevant work experience in the Health and Social Care sector and attainment of skills. Those candidates will be invited to complete an academic essay to demonstrate their ability to study at this level.

Students will also be required to complete:

an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check carried out by the University (it won’t be possible to start practice as part of this course until clearance is confirmed)
a health questionnaire.

Employability

The programme has strong, established links to the statutory, voluntary and independent sector, both locally and beyond. Students are encouraged encouraged to seek out placement opportunities best suited to their career goals.

Employment options could include working in statutory, voluntary or commercial organisations in areas such as:

Care services
Advice and guidance services
Police and probation
Advocacy and rights-based services
Preventative health, care and welfare services
Housing support services
Health care provision

Progression

On completion of your Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care you will be eligible to apply for entry to the following University of Worcester top-up degree programmes at Level 6 to complete your degree: