Health and Social Care

Working with vulnerable or marginalised adults and children, helping people reach their full potential and supporting healthy lifestyles adds up to a challenging but very satisfying career. And with a rapidly ageing population and cuts to social care, there is a pressing need for qualified workers, particularly in the most deprived communities in the country.

Our Health and Social Care course ensures that students graduate with a clear understanding of the global challenges that relate to health and social care; and the role of the individuals, communities and organisations in addressing them. The role of health, community and social care practitioners who can pro-actively meet global challenges, in innovative and meaningful ways, is vital in creating sustainable futures for us all.

With 1.5 million people employed in the social care sector alone — a figure projected to increase to 3.1 million by 2025 — employment prospects are excellent for those who want to make a difference in people’s lives and seek to promote social justice and tackle inequality.

Our course focuses on the part we all play in making society and its systems fairer for all people. You explore a broad range of issues within health and social care with an emphasis on effective, collaborative work with those who use, design and shape services. Issues within different professional settings are expanded and linked to how practitioners can support people's needs in their communities.

Theory and literature about how people and communities behave and the importance of understanding and reflecting our own response to service users' needs is also a key focus. There is a core theme of empowering practice and user-led approaches in health and social care practice throughout the programme.

Year 1 is foundational and provides an understanding of the contexts for health and social care. You are introduced to theories concerning how people come to be labelled as vulnerable or marginalised. You also explore the political and ethical influences on service provision and develop effective skills for working with individuals and groups.

During Years 2 and 3, you gain the knowledge needed to be a proficient worker across a range of community and care settings. You study an array of key issues such as understanding mental health, physical impairments, communities, law and ethics. Optional modules include Autism, Dementia and Substance Use and Misuse, and a Volunteering module.

Our talented teaching team has a wide range of practical experience in different health, social care and community settings. They are reinforced by guest lecturers who bring experience and expertise to the programme.

Study in the library and lecture theatre is balanced by participating in schemes to help members of vulnerable or marginalised groups. You also work alongside service providers and carers.

The fields of health, social care and community offer challenging and rewarding careers. Our graduates work with children, families, people who use substances such as drugs or alcohol, disabled people, elderly people, people with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities and people with mental health issues. They take up employment in a variety of settings: in residential or daycare services, with the NHS, social services or voluntary and private service providers.