Overview

This foundation degree course is ideal if you are seeking a career working in health and social care, and want to learn in a practical way. There is significant vocational focus to the course and a range of work experiences and/or placement settings are available to help you develop your learning in practice, such as working with older people, children and adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health issues and substance misuse issues. You are required to source your own placement within a health or social care setting which should be agreed with the course leader.

It is a two-year course run by Stockton Riverside College and Redcar & Cleveland College in partnership with Teesside University and local health and social care employers. The approach we take is to facilitate and support your learning and develop independent, reflective learners in preparation for lifelong learning, and continuing personal and professional development.

Where you study

The course is delivered at Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College where you attend three days a week. You also have with a minimum of one day a week placement in a care setting.

You develop an understanding of the theory underpinning care practice, which will enhance the quality of care you provide for your clients either in work or on placement. The content of the curriculum is strongly influenced by the principles of wellbeing and prevention, and the recognition that an individual, their family and/or carer must be enabled to make decisions about their own care.

You study a module at the beginning of the course which develops your study skills and provides an introduction to learning at higher education level as well as modules relating to theory and practice, such as Maintaining the safety of Vulnerable People and Staff in Care Settings , Developing Effective Care Practice and The Psychosocial Context of Care. Second year modules include Social Care and Support for Individuals with Specific Needs, Principles of Public Health and Wellbeing, and Understanding Evidence-based Practice.

This module is 60-credits at level 4 and incorporates the work-based learning element of the programme. The idea with this module is that you should be able to demonstrate how the learning from the theory modules that you study, links to your practical work. You do this by demonstrating your achievement of the competencies detailed in the work-based portfolio.

The purpose of the work-based portfolio is to provide a framework for you to record and demonstrate progress and achievements during the first year of your Foundation Degree or your Certificate in Higher Education. You will also complete a work-related care study that is specific to your work role or area of interest.

Learning to Learn: An Introduction To Academic Study Skills

This module runs over three days in the first few weeks of the programme. You are introduced to the skills required for academic study including IT skills, academic writing, study habits, searching literature and using evidence.

Maintaining Safety For Vulnerable People and Staff in Caring Settings

You examine legislation and national and local policy related to safety in the workplace and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. You explore the importance of working in a safe environment, monitoring risks to the individual, including actual and potential harm and abuse, and reviewing health and safety in the workplace.

The Psychosocial Context For Care

You gain an understanding of key theoretical concepts from psychology and sociology that pertain to lifespan development, wellbeing and life chances. You explore psychosocial constructs including family, culture, community, deviance, changing societal norms and values and the relevance to social policy and social care. You examine sources of data to explore the changing nature of the UK population, socio-economic influence on life chances and the influence of these on policy and service provision. You analyse historical development of service provision and contemporary social and health policy and apply it to social care provision.

How you learn

You experience a range of different approaches to your learning from lectures, workshops, seminars (tutor and student-led), electronic learning, independent study, group work to individual tutorials.

How you are assessed

Assessments include formative assessments to help develop your academic skills as well as several forms of summative assessment including assignments, examinations, presentations, portfolio work, case studies, workbooks and projects. 50% of each year is assessed through a work-based e-portfolio demonstrating practice development achieved within the workplace/placement.

Work placement

You are required to complete 150 hours placement a year in a care setting environment.

Career opportunities

After successfully completing this course you can seek employment as a support worker or healthcare assistant. There may also be opportunity for progression on to a part-time top-up degree course or access to relevant pre-registration health or social work programmes.