Course description

Are you passionate about supporting children and families? Would you like a career where you can tackle issues such as health inequalities and poverty? Achieve your ambitions by studying on this exciting four year course which includes a foundation year and offers you the ideal preparation.

A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions

• Prepare for a fulfilling career in roles such as family support worker or community health worker
• Engage with our enthusiastic and highly experienced teaching team who are dedicated to your success
• Make the most of our exceptional learning facilities
• The Foundation Year course leads on to the full BSc (Hons) Child and Family Health and Wellbeing degree.

Beginning with a foundation year

Starting at foundation level is ideal if it has been a while since you were in formal education; are planning a career change; would benefit from a more gradual introduction to university level study; or do not meet the entry requirements to join our three-year honours degree directly.

It gives you an insight into working in health and social care environments, as well as supporting you to develop the skills you need to achieve your goals.

On completion of the Foundation Year you will then commence study on the full BSc (hons) Child and Family Health and Wellbeing degree.

We’re proud to welcome applications from candidates with practice experience in youth work, health, social care and education. This is as part of our commitment to enable those from non-traditional backgrounds to be able to study as part of our commitment to widening participation.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

How you will learn

From day one you’ll get all the benefits of being a University of Derby student, plus extra support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence.

We pride ourselves on offering a supportive, friendly and welcoming learning environment where you can fulfil your ambitions.

You will be inspired and motivated by our dedicated teaching team who boast extensive experience of working with children and families in a broad spectrum of roles.
We also draw on the expertise of research-active staff across our College of Health and Social Care, so you will benefit from insights into nursing, social work, counselling, psychotherapy, health promotion and creative expressive therapies.

Who you will meet

Our Programme Leader, Liz Eate, a registered adult general nurse who gained her Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing at the University. She has previously worked as a Health Visitor for Community Development and as a Family Nurse for the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP), drawing on her special interest in teenage parents and safeguarding.

Senior Lecturer, Claire Ambrose, who has over 25 years’ experience in leading and managing work with children, young people and families in settings such as the NHS, family centres, healthy living centres and health action zones. Originally a teacher, she has specialist research interests in areas including mental health, family learning, health inequalities and the pressures facing families affected by poverty. Claire worked as an Ofsted inspector for six years and has been an assessor for the National Patient Safety Agency within the NHS since 2003