Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

Required qualifications

Typical entry requirements:

• 24 UCAS points
• A Level – grade D
• BTEC L3 Extend Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma – grades PPP
• BTEC L3 Diploma – grades PP
• Access to HE Diploma (Full Award)
• Cache Technical L3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

What skills will I develop?

Through the Foundation Degree (Arts) Health and Social Care you will be able to gain an understanding of the fields of health and social care and how the two strands are interlinked by collaborative working. You will develop the necessary skills and understanding of the complex and diverse nature of health and social care. You will also gain valuable work-based learning skills which will enable you to further your career in the health and social care fields.
Example course units are:

Year 1

• Developing Academic and Communication Skills
• Contextualising Health and Social Care
• Learning About Practice Through Reflection
• Understanding Inequalities in Health and Social Care
• Understanding Physical Health and Health Issue
• Promoting Health in Health and Social Care

Year 2

• Evaluating and Using Research in Applied Social Studies
• Learning about Services through Work Experiences
• Leadership and Management
• Key Contemporary Social Policies for Children and Adults
• Understanding Emotional Health and Wellbeing
• Planning Care in the Legal and Ethical Context

Careers

Many students who undertake the Foundation Degree may be currently employed in areas of health or social care – however, those who are not, could find work in residential care, community care and health promotion in the community and schools.

Successful completion of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care can lead to career progression in a range of areas. Potential future job roles include probation officer, family support worker, charity support worker, housing officer, public health practitioners, social care facilitator, infection prevention control practitioner and many more.

Upon completion of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care you can seek a top-up degree at university. There is a progression route to level 6 with University of Wolverhampton studying BA(Hons) Social Care and Social Policy, BA(Hons) Health Studies or BA(Hons) Social Care and Health Studies. There are opportunities to study at master’s level in social work or nursing.

This course would offer a continuation of your career pathway to enable you to explore a wider variety of options. Health education and promotion is a sector that is unremitting, there will always be individuals, families, communities, and groups who require support and guidance to improve their health, well-being or lifestyles. You will be able to create exciting and innovative programs and strategies to improve quality of life for those who are most in need. You may progress into roles where you can work in areas such as substance or alcohol misuse, teenage pregnancy coordinator, healthy lifestyle educator, violence prevention programs, or even working to find suitable accommodation for individuals who are homeless or who have anti-social behaviours.

• Typical job role
  Housing officer
  Housing officers look after rented properties for local authorities and housing associations.
  Average salary (a year) – £21,000 starter to £60,000 experienced member of staff
  Typical hours (a week) – 37 to 39 a week
  You could work evenings attending events or appointments.

English and maths

As a higher education course, it is expected that you have good English and maths skills in order to gain access to the course.
Whilst on the course you will continue to develop and enhance these skills throughout each module with both English and maths embedded in all delivery. Your use of English to help to communicate your knowledge and understanding of the subject will be a focus of all feedback and instruction. We will also work with you to develop your academic writing and your professional communication skills.

It is recognised that all students have differing abilities and challenges to face with their English and maths skills and you will be able to take advantage of an extensive network of support and assistance in this area from the college.

Other important information

Applicants will also be required to provide a satisfactory personal statement and two references (academic/employer). Applicants must have access to work based learning (WBL) experience (placements). This WBL experience must be in place and ready to commence at the start of the course.