Health and Social Care Practice foundation degree

Course structure

You are required to attend university one day a week during term-time and the equivalent of two days a week in supported/supervised practice. 

You will spend approximately 30% of your course time at the university, 40% in practice undertaking skills and role development, and 30% undertaking independent, guided or private study.

Induction takes place during the first week, during which you’ll be able to find out more about the course and the wider university support mechanisms and university life like the Students’ Union, Fresher’s Fair, etc.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Syllabus

Our course team recognises that students come from a diverse background within NHS hospitals, community NHS and social care settings, including the private and voluntary sector, and so our course subjects cover a number of different areas. Subjects focus across the age spectrum on different service user groups and types of care, from acute to long-term.

Year 1 

The focus of the first semester is on study skills, the transition from the workplace to higher education (university) and communication skills.

You will cover writing academic essays, learning styles, time management, IT, reflective writing, effective studying techniques and numeracy skills, along with developing communications skills. In practice, you will complete a number of core skills related to practice and role development.

In the second semester you’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of key areas related to your practice – anatomy and physiology, and legal and ethical aspects. Additional skills sessions are built into the semester either within the classroom (knowledge-based) or practice skills rooms (simulated practice-based).

Modules

• Study Skills for Health and Social Care Practice

  This module will develop your self-confidence and skills as an adult learner. The module will enable you to study in higher education by enabling you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and providing strategies to address these across a range of key skills.

• Communication in Health and Social Care Practice

  This module will enable you to develop effective communication in a health and social care work setting.

• Legal and Ethical Foundations of Health and Social Care Practice

  Health and social care is an ever-changing landscape. Those who access services from health and social care providers deserve to receive a quality service. This module will develop your depth of knowledge and understanding of legal-ethical issues in health and social care. Within this module you will be introduced to legal-ethical issues and policy related to your area of practice.

• Anatomy and Physiology to Support Health and Social Care Practice

  In this module you will explore anatomy and physiology in relation to health and well-being of clients and patients across the lifespan. The module underpins and informs practice. You will apply an understanding of anatomy and physiology to your area of practice.

• Work-based Learning for Health and Social Care Practice

  This module will enable you to demonstrate competence in a range of practice skills. A portfolio will demonstrate the development of underpinning knowledge and reflection in work-based learning.

Year 2 

The focus of the second year is enhanced practice development towards associate and assistant practitioner roles. 

Skills on which you are assessed will be:

• negotiated in partnership with the employer
• closely related to your job description
• applied to your developing role in the work environment.

You also have opportunities to develop your skills in the simulated environments that are available at the university. 

You will develop research awareness and knowledge in the first semester, and undertake a work-based project throughout the year. The projects you will achieve are challenging but often lead to promoting positive practice and changes in the workplace.

Modules

• Project Planning

  This module will prepare you to plan a work-based project to benefit practice and enhance your role within the health and social care setting. Content will include lectures, collaborative group work, discussion, reflection, action learning sets and tutorials exploring areas such as quality improvement in healthcare, project planning tools and process, leadership theory, effective teamworking, stakeholder involvement, ethics and risk analysis.

• Using Evidence as a Basis for Practice

  This module will provide you with an overview of evidence-based practice, highlight the key role that research plays within this process and enable you to explore how you can apply an evidence-based approach to your own practice. Areas studied include the history of evidence-based practice, the role of NICE and other regulatory bodies, principles of research, qualitative and quantitative research, and ethics and research in decision-making.

• Work-based Project

  This module offers you the opportunity to conduct a work-based project in your workplace. Drawing on the content and experience of other modules, you will integrate and apply the knowledge and skills gained to an aspect of practice or role development within the workplace for the mutual benefit of employer and employee.

• Integrative Health Care Practice

  The module provides an opportunity for you to explore a variety of patient scenarios using a problem-based learning approach and identify appropriate interventions in relation your role. Scenarios will include respiratory care, cardiovascular care, neurological care, diabetic care, long-term conditions, pain management, mental health, learning disabilities and end of life care.

• Practice Skills Development

  This module provides you with the opportunity to further develop the knowledge, skills, behaviour and attitudes required to support your role as an assistant practitioner or trainee nursing associate. You will explore the dynamic nature of healthcare and use evidence-based practice to support the development of skills to enhance the quality of care. You will also continue to develop the skills required for reflective practice.

Facilities

Course fees

This course is an approved Higher Apprenticeship. Higher apprenticeships offer an apprentice the opportunity to combine working while studying for a work-based academic or vocational higher level qualification, with course fees paid from apprenticeship funds.

To find out more you can contact your employer, visit www.gov.uk or contact the course team for more information on becoming an apprentice.

Read more about apprenticeships at Brighton. 

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton