Support. Care. Empower.

Throughout the Health and Social Care degree, we aim to support you to explore, discuss and evaluate health and social care systems from a range of different perspectives.

You will research the history of health and social care provision, critically examine a range of professional roles, discuss the potential for service user involvement and analyse global health problems and government policy. In addition, you will debate a range of significant health and sociologically important topics such as disability; equality and social justice; mental health; and the social determinants of health.

This degree also aims to equip you with knowledge about some of the challenges and tensions of partnership and inter-professional working, involving service users, and why integration between health and social care might lead to higher standards of care.

Why study Health and Social Care at Northumbria?

The knowledge you will get from these health and social care courses in the uk will prepare you for potential roles in a variety of health and social care settings, such as working with people experiencing mental health issues, in Domestic Violence services, or in Public Health teams. It will also prepare you for post-graduate and/or professional study in this health and social care related subjects.  

• Top University - Social Work at Northumbria is ranked top 20 in the UK (Times Good University Guide, 2024)
• A Research Powerhouse - Social Policy is ranked 3rd in the UK for research power in the UK out of 76 submissions (REF, 2021). This represents a rise of 15 places compared to 2014.
• Student Rated - Over 93% of students studying Social Work at Northumbria felt free to express their ideas, opinions, and beliefs (NSS, 2023).

How will I learn on this Health and Social Care course?

In the first year of the degree, the modules you study cover the foundations and some of the key concepts of health and social care and some of the different professions involved in health and social care (such as nursing, occupational therapy, social work etc.). You also learn about the history of health and social care services and how they have developed over time and you begin to debate issues of social justice and needs, and how the environment in which we live can affect our health. In addition, you are introduced to different ways of learning at university and how academic research is carried out.

In the second year, you learn about different international systems for organising and providing health and social care services, and some moral and ethical dilemmas that arise when providing care for people. You also learn about communication skills and professional boundaries, different perspectives on caring for older people and you will begin to develop your skills as a research in your own right. You also get to choose an optional module that may allow you to pursue and learn more about an issue you are particularly interested in.

In the third year, you explore changing policy landscapes of health and social care and begin to learn about management and leadership approaches. You also discuss legal, ethical and governance issues relating to social care and examine what we mean by safe and effective practice. You will also carry out a research project of your own, supported by a supervisor.

Who will teach me during this degree?

The teaching staff on this course come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are interested in lots of different research and policy areas. We have qualified social workers, nurses and occupational therapists teaching on the programme and staff who have previously worked with young people, in housing services, local authorities, and with User Led Organisations (ULOs) and disabled groups.

Our staff’s research interests cover issues such as patient safety, school food, resilience amongst young people, disability rights, health inequalities amongst traveller communities, the involvement of service users, the concept of Madness, how health policies are implemented, family policy, and poverty.

Where will I study during my time at Northumbria?

The Coach Lane Campus offers modern teaching facilities, two cafes, a well-equipped library and plenty of space for group work and individual study.

You will be part of a growing multi-disciplinary department that includes education, social work, children and young people, public health and community wellbeing. Our academic team are actively involved in some of the ‘real issues’ that face individuals and communities through their research into health inequalities, poverty, welfare rights and advice, child protection and service user involvement.

We work in partnership with a range of different organisations outside of the university and we encourage learning outside of the classroom as much as we can. This involves trips to local health and social care organisations, health walks and tasks for students to do off-campus.

How is research applied to the teaching on this course?

The research rich learning approach, which encourages you to become an active inquirer and participant in your own learning, is at the heart of the teaching and learning approach on this course.

In the first two years of study, you will learn about a range of research approaches, from people who are actively involved in carrying out research around health and social care issues. For example, some of our staff are involved in a new £16 million national project to address health inequalities in the country and the prevention of poor health.

How does Northumbria approach Health and Social Care research?

Our staff are also involved in writing books, book chapters, journal articles and reports for government and charitable organisations. These works are intended to be read by a wide range of people, including students, other academics, policy makers and practitioners. For example, Colin Cameron who teaches on this degree has edited a widely used student textbook on Disability Studies

These experiences will hopefully inform your studies into Health and Social Care and how you approach your research project. You will be encouraged to identify and select topics you are interested in, and to think about potential research issues from a range of perspectives.

In your final year, you undertake a research project that will allow you to study a topic you are interested in in detail and help to prepare you for the professional and/or academic world beyond this degree.

What can I do after my BSc Health and Social Care degree?

You will be encouraged to explore a range of career pathways throughout your degree and develop an understanding of contemporary ways of working in the field of Health and Social Care engaging with a range of employers, alumni and external agencies.

How does studying at Northumbria prepare me for the future?

You will be supported to develop key professional and personal skills (such as one to one work, group work, interviews and presentations) throughout the course. You will be encouraged and supported to engage with volunteering opportunities and use the links and networks we have with local employers to improve your employability. A number of extra-curricular career development and employability sessions, focusing on different professions and aspects of job-hunting run throughout the year.

The skills learnt and assessed through the course will develop your employability, and you will have acquired the characteristics of a Northumbria graduate – the ability to think independently, work collaboratively, and apply innovation.