FdSc Health and Social Care

Explore the central concerns of health and social care in a practical setting. Examine the complexities surrounding the understanding of knowledge, theories, issues, and skills required when working within health and social care practice. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills through work-based learning to increase your employability when you graduate.

Gain an understanding of the theory and practice of qualitative research methodologies and methods in social science. Discover the history of social science research and the philosophical and methodological debates which have underpinned the emergence of contemporary social science. Carry out your own research, investigating an aspect of contemporary social life, learning how to think about, organise, manage, and report on social scientific research.

Explore the central concerns of health and social care knowledge, topics, issues, and service users from the origins of the Welfare State through to contemporary society. Examine the complexities of what we mean by health and how inequalities in health are endemic.

Consider the roles that biology, psychology and sociology may play in inherent individual behaviour, in order to understand the complexities of individual and collective behaviour in contemporary society. Interpret and apply these theoretical perspectives to specific issues within different areas of social sciences.

Develop your study skills and personal qualities required in an academic and professional context. Explore the social contexts in relation to the practical and emotional effects of transitioning into Higher Education and the impact of this on your learning. Reflect upon this, learning strategies and mechanisms of support to facilitate the transition.

Explore what we understand health to mean and the multifactorial perspectives which contribute towards this understanding. Examine biomedical and social understandings of health and illness and the impact of social class, gender, ethnicity, and place, as well as the impact of the media and how health and illness is represented therein.

Examine the contemporary challenges in health and social care and consider the implications these issues have for policy and practice. Learn about how and why these challenges have emerged and the complexities of dealing with them. Analyse the ways in which the challenges covered have been informed and developed as a result of global and local social changes, culture, politics, ideology, and economics converging as current social problems. Investigate a range of empirical sources and use theoretical models to explore some of the possible wider sociological causes of the issues covered.

Learn about the theory and practice of quantitative research methodologies and methods in social science. Apply the principles underpinning quantitative research to the analysis and interpretation of statistical data. Carry out your own research, investigating an aspect of contemporary social life, learning how to think about, organise, manage, and report quantitative research.

Build on the knowledge gained throughout the course to develop your own practice, reflection, and ability to apply theory to practice. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills through work-based learning to increase your employability when you graduate.

Study the concepts, theories and models underpinning contemporary health promotion and lifestyle behaviour change. Examine biopsychosocial theoretical approaches, values, and beliefs in relation to the application of models of health promotion and behaviour change.

Study what lessons can be learned by partner agencies about the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, through the analysis of real serious case reviews.

Develop knowledge of life course approaches towards health, incorporating biopsychosocial theoretical perspectives. Gain knowledge and a critical understanding of each early life stage from before birth through to young adulthood, including contemporary challenges which are compared to different historical periods and different geographical places.