BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care with Foundation Year
Course Overview
The BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care with Foundation Year at School of Coding & AI in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, is designed for individuals passionate about making a difference in the health and social care sector. This program provides an accessible entry point into higher education, supporting students with varied academic backgrounds through a foundation year that enhances study skills and confidence.
Following this, the degree program delves into key areas such as health policy, social care practice, leadership, and research methods, equipping students with the expertise required for a career in healthcare, community support, or social work. With a blend of academic study, practical application, and industry insight, this course ensures graduates are well-prepared to navigate the challenges of modern health and social care environments.
| Qualification Title | BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care with Foundation Year |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Awarding body | University of Wolverhampton |
| Mode of Study | Full-Time or Part-Time |
| Duration | Full-Time 4 years, Part-time 6 years |
| Entry Requirements |
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| Intakes | January and September |
| Campus | Birmingham |
Course Structure & Modules
Year 1
- Module: 3SC003
- Credits: 20
- Period: 1
- Type: Core
In this module, students will explore how different groups of people experience society, with a focus on discrimination and how to combat it. We will be looking at how we can place people with care and support needs at the heart of our work. We will then consider different ways of doing this within social care. Lived experience perspectives will underpin the module throughout, alongside the exploration of the wishes and feelings of people with social care needs and lived experience.
- Module: 3ED004
- Credits: 20
- Period: 1
- Type: Core
You will work with peers on case studies centred on the concept of the family. You will learn how different professions work together through group tasks.
- Module: 3ED002
- Credits: 40
- Period: 1
- Type: Core
The module is a combination of academic study skills and problem-based learning designed to develop your skills and prepare you for undergraduate study. You will learn skills such as critical reading, academic writing and the importance of referencing. You will learn about working with others to solve problems. Learning Outcomes 1) Carry out defined investigative strategies and communicate results effectively in a given format 2) Use a range of digital tools to complete tasks effectively 3) Collect information to inform a choice of solutions to problems 4) Reflect on own and others’ behaviours and capabilities against given criteria.
- Module: 3SC002
- Credits: 20
- Period: 1
- Type: Core
This module will help students define social care and place social care provision in context in Britain today. We will explore how social care is funded and delivered in the UK by drawing on examples of social care providers from the private, voluntary and statutory sectors. We will consider how differing care and support needs are met through social care provision.
- Module: 3ED003
- Credits: 20
- Period: 1
- Type: Core
The module will introduce you to ethical issues within your field of study. You will explore issues of respect for others, cultural awareness, and equality and diversity in your subject. You will be faced with ethical dilemmas and will need to formulate responses that demonstrate your understanding of what it means to be an ethical practitioner.
Year 2
- Module: 4HL003
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
This module has been designed to develop your personal and professional skills, allowing you to reflect on your progress so far, as well as your future career aspirations. The focus is on developing students who are competent, compassionate and effective professionals able to work in partnership with individuals, families, communities and with a range of wider agencies/organisations in order to improve health and social outcomes. The emphasis on “how” you work in partnership with individuals and groups and build effective relationships is vital in ensuring health outcomes are improved and inequalities reduced. In this module, you will explore how health and social care is delivered in the UK (the structure, organisation, funding and regulation) as well as the legal, professional and ethical frameworks underpinning professional practice. You will look at the roles of different professionals, reflect on the values, knowledge and skills that are required to work in the sector and consider your own personal and professional development linked to these.
- Module: 4HW096
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
The health agenda worldwide has increasingly been shaped by recognition of the crucial importance of social factors in determining health and illness. Wide disparities in health – reflecting divisions in social class, wealth, geography, gender, racial or ethnic background – persist between communities, regions and countries, and are growing in many parts of the world. This module examines the wide range of social and cultural factors that influence individual, community and population health. You will explore the causes and extent of inequalities in health status within and between different social groups and identify how these challenges are being addressed so that the health and well-being of all groups in society can be improved.
- Module: 4SH011
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
When thinking about health and wellbeing at an individual, family or community level, it is important to first consider what is meant by the term ‘health’; to explore how ‘illness’ and ‘disability’ are defined and to think about we mean when we talk about ‘wellbeing’? It is only through an understanding of these concepts and of the factors that influence them that we can begin to think about how to improve people’s health and how to support those experiencing poor health. However, the very terms ‘health, ‘illness’, ‘disability’ and ‘wellbeing’ may be defined and understood differently, depending on a range of factors. For example, is ‘health’ something people experience and an end in itself, or should ‘health’ be thought of in terms of the capacity it gives people to function and participate in society? Why is it that some people will regard themselves as ‘ill’ whilst others with similar symptoms do not? Are there differences in how clinicians assess ‘health’ and ‘illness’ compared to how we might think about this as members of the public, and if there are differences in all of these, what impact might this have? This module explores the challenges of defining and measuring these key concepts and will support you to develop an appreciation of the bio-psycho-social model of health and well-being. Drawing on a range of perspectives, the module also provides insight into people’s health and social behaviours, considers the changing health needs of populations (with a focus on the UK) and introduces you to public health and health promotion.
- Module: 4SC012
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
In this module you will be introduced to the idea of research and necessary knowledge and skills required in becoming a researcher. You will learn about research process and an introduction to the different type of research approaches and methods. You will have the opportunity to explore contemporary social care issues to test your research skills. This module will enable you to exercise employable skills by identifying an area of interest that will contribute to setting the foundations you to develop research skills and prepare for future studies.
- Module: 4SC009
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
The aim of this module is for students to gain an understanding of the funding, organisation and delivery of social care services in contemporary Britain. Students will need to show an understanding of the state, market and family and their respective roles within the mixed economy of welfare, as well as the purchaser/provider split and its implications for the funding and delivery of social care services. Students will be introduced to key policies and legislation, and there will be a focus on core academic skills such as source selection, referencing, paraphrasing and academic writing, with students required to demonstrate their proficiency in each of these areas in order to progress from the module.
- Module: 4SC010
- Credits: 20
- Period: 2
- Type: Core
In this module, we will introduce you to several key ideas that you will build on throughout your studies. The module aims to prepare you for ethical practice through an exploration of personal and professional values. You will study how ethical principles, values and ideology relate to, create, maintain and are challenged by disadvantaged groups.
Year 3
- Module: 5SC012
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
This module will examine the purpose and uses of research while exploring contemporary issues and debates in the way research is conducted. The module will outline methodological issues and equip students with skills necessary to evaluate existing research and understand how it can be used to inform their understanding and practice.
- Module: 5HL012
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
Mental, physical and social wellbeing are virtually inseparable. Good mental health is a vital asset for individuals, families and society. It enhances healthy lifestyles, physical health and functional abilities and promotes recovery from illness. It also has important social benefits on educational attainment, economic productivity, social and family relationships, social cohesion and overall quality of life across the entire population. This module provides you with an opportunity to explore the concept of mental health and wellbeing from a range of perspectives. You will gain an understanding of holistic approaches to promoting mental health along with knowledge of mental health conditions, the factors that impact on mental health and look at mental health practice / service provision. The module also explores positive proactive steps to promote recovery and draws throughout on the lived experience, legislative drivers and research to further enhance an understanding of mental health and wellbeing. The module has been designed to allow flexibility of choice for you to focus on a specific area of interest.
- Module: 5HW085
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
Those working in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors work within a range of inter-professional teams, organisations, networks and systems in order to support individuals and communities. This requires practitioners to be able to learn and work together in order to overcome the potential constraints arising from different professional and organisational accountabilities, cultures, values and professional codes of conduct. In addition, there is a heightened recognition now at a national policy level that not only do staff need to work together in the best interests of individuals and communities, but local health and care organisations must also collaborate more effectively to make best use of public funding and accelerate the integration of services for patients. This module will introduce you to theoretical, legislative and policy underpinnings of partnership and collaborative working, consider professional roles and responsibilities and explore the key skills and knowledge required to engage and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across health and social care. There will be an emphasis throughout on understanding how partnership / collaborative working impacts individual service users and wider communities, and responding appropriately to diversity.
- Module: 5SC013
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
This module will consider the key stages of interventions in social care, whether in terms of work with individuals, groups or communities. Practitioners in social care organisations – whether in statutory, private or voluntary sectors – work with different assessment frameworks and methods (including systemic social practice), designed to assess levels of need with a multidisciplinary approach. However, in some way, most will follow the progress of making an assessment and engaging with a service user through care planning processes and delivering appropriate needs-led/person-centred intervention. Students on completion of this module will be able to identify (1) the skills that are necessary to support these practices, and (2) how these practices can be needs-led and /or person-centred.
- Module: 5HW094
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
Where we live and our communities are inextricably linked with our health and life expectancies. This module explores the impact that community environments have on health and wellbeing from a multi-disciplinary perspective, investigating both the theory and the practical applications which aim to improve health and wellbeing; empower communities to realise their potential and which contribute to building healthier, resilient and sustainable communities. Community development principles which you will explore and apply to the grassroots dimension of this subject area reflect an inclusivity and diversity framework, as social justice, education, sustainability, partnership and equality are fundamental principles embedded within. The module will support you to work within community settings by looking at local policy and provision and you will be expected to discuss and reflect on your own knowledge and experience to understand and challenge current theories, polices and practice. You will gain an understanding of how community development approaches seek to challenge the power relations embedded in professional contexts and you will be expected to synthesise and evaluate research, policy and practice evidence regarding community development and health.
- Module: 5SC015
- Credits: 20
- Period: 3
- Type: Core
This module will discuss a comprehensive and contemporary range of issues that affect children in their personal lives and in the wider community. The position of youth and the challenges they face within the community will be explored using appropriate theories, methods and models.
Year 4
- Module: 6HL013
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
This module provides an analysis of health policy primarily focusing on recent policy changes in the UK and identifying the major influences which have shaped these policies. There have been considerable changes in health service policy and public health policy in the UK over the last two decades involving changes to existing policies and the development of new policy themes. The latter have included aspects such as the rise and fall of policies aimed at social inequalities and the decline in life expectancy in some areas; the increasing emphasis on ‘nudging’ lifestyle change and on wellbeing in public health policy and the re-emergence of the importance of environmental health policy. There has also been a continued focus on the views and/or the voice of the user and the public and increasing emphasis on democratising the health service and co-production. This module will develop your critical understanding of current health policy, the influences on policy (historical, social, economic/financial, technological, professional and political) and the policy-making process. It develops the evaluative skills necessary to critically interrogate policies- to determine how effective, efficient, ethical and equitable they are – and to advocate for alternative policies that would enhance the effectiveness and equity of policy responses to public health issues.
- Module: 6HW156
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time. Beyond biological and physiological differences, gender roles, norms and behaviour have an influence on how women, men, girls and boys access health services and how health systems respond to their different needs. The different and often unequal abilities of women, men, girls and boys to protect and promote their health require recognition so appropriate health interventions can be planned. Gender is an important determinant of health in two dimensions: 1) gender inequality leads to health risks for women and girls globally; and 2) addressing gender norms and roles leads to a better understanding of how the social construction of identity and unbalanced power relations affect the risks, health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes of men and women in different age and social groups. This module explores concepts of gender, masculinity and femininity applied to health issues, considers the usefulness and relevance of binary categories such as male/female within contemporary societies and looks at the implications for those providing care and support.
- Module: 6SC011
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
This module will give the opportunity for an in-depth study of a social care topic of your own choosing. This could be based on your personal, volunteer or work experience; it could be something that has particularly interested you during the course.
- Module: 6HW161
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
Law and ethics in health is a fascinating area to study, dealing with some of the most contested and controversial issues of our time. In a changing moral climate, debates about abortion, about stem cell research, about withholding treatment or about assisted dying are very much alive and attract considerable political, media and public interest. There are also challenging ethical and legal questions about psychiatry, about capacity issues in relation to treatment decisions, about the allocation of scarce medical resources, about autonomy and public health, and many other issues. This module will provide you with an understanding of how law and ethics apply when working in health and care settings. It will give you an appreciation of relevant legal and ethical issues, terminology, sources of law and the ways in which law and ethics work in practice.. You will explore the philosophy and principles of ethics and look at the legal requirements of safe practice, using case studies to help you apply this knowledge. You will have the opportunity to deliver a coherent and reasoned solution to resolve a specific dilemma in a healthcare setting in the summative assessment.
- Module: 6HW157
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
In the continually changing health and social care environment it is imperative that all staff are able to adapt and review how they understand and undertake leadership and management within their roles. Leadership in the health and care sectors is considered to be ‘shared’ and ‘distributed’, requiring the efforts of staff at all levels to maintain high quality care and to deliver change and improvement. However, leadership is challenging. It requires a complex set of skills – from motivating and engaging others and working collaboratively to dealing with uncertainty and supporting colleagues. This module will support you to develop an in-depth understanding of leadership and management in contemporary health and social care contexts, whilst considering your own role and future development. You will explore both the theoretical background to leadership and management and the practical skills which required to be an effective leader. You will leave with greater insight into your own leadership style and your impact on others, how to engage others to bring about change and improvement and a deeper understanding of how all those involved in delivering care/services can take on leadership roles.
- Module: 6SC015
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
In this module, we will introduce you to the issue of innovation in social care and the current and future role of technology. The module will outline some of the current challenges facing the sector, e.g. a larger and increasingly ageing population and people with severe, multiple and complicated needs. Innovative and technological solutions have a role in tackling these challenges. The module will develop students’ ability to critically evaluate the challenges and solutions to these issues. This module will further equip students with employability skills to work in practice with these challenges and implement strategies and solutions that are based on technology and innovation.
- Module: 6SC013
- Credits: 20
- Period: 4
- Type: Core
This module will discuss a comprehensive and contemporary range of issues that affect young people in their personal lives and in the wider community. The position of youth and the challenges they face within the community will be explored using appropriate theories, methods and models.
Course Structure
- Academic Study Skills: Learn critical skills such as academic writing, research procedures, and effective study practices.
- Health, Society, and Culture: Investigate the relationship between health and society variables, including cultural impacts on health beliefs.
- Introduction to Health and Wellbeing: Explore the fundamental ideas of health, sickness, and well-being, taking into account the different elements that impact individual and community health.
- Introduction to Social Care and the Mixed Economy of Welfare: Understand how social care services are funded, organised, and delivered in modern Britain, with an emphasis on the roles of the state, market, and family within the welfare mixed economy.
- Introduction to research skills: Learn the principles of research, including methodologies and methods for investigating current social care concerns.
- Leadership and Management in Healthcare and Social Services: Analyse leadership theories and their practical applications in health and social care contexts, focussing on successful management techniques.
- Examinations: Determine understanding of fundamental health and social care principles.
- Group Projects: Work on projects that solve real-world health and social care issues, demonstrating cooperation and problem-solving skills.
- Presentations: Present research findings or case studies to improve communication and public speaking abilities.
- Written assignments: Write essays and reports to exhibit analytical thinking and subject area knowledge.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for the BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care with Foundation Year at School of Coding & AI, you should meet the following criteria (subject to validation):
- UCAS Points Requirement: Applicants must have at least 48 UCAS tariff points to ensure accessibility for students from varied educational backgrounds.
- Core GCSEs: GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C/4 or equivalent are necessary to provide basic communication and numeracy abilities.
- Additional Qualifications: Professional or occupational qualifications, as well as relevant work experience, may be considered throughout the application process.
Benefits
At School of Coding & AI, our foundation course blends academic excellence with practical experience, preparing you to thrive in the dynamic fields of health and social care. The SOC Higher Education Advantage includes:
- Foundation Year assistance: This year is designed for those who are returning to school or who have taken a different academic route. It provides targeted assistance to help them gain confidence and essential skills.
- Practical Focus: The curriculum incorporates real-world scenarios to prepare students for practical issues in health and social care settings.
- University Experience: Studying at the School of Coding & AI in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, guarantees a full and stimulating educational experience.
Further Career
- Health and Social Care Practitioners: Work directly with individuals and communities to provide important assistance and services.
- Community Development Worker: Helps to enhance communities' quality of life by recognising needs and executing effective initiatives.
- Health Promotion Specialists: Create and implement efforts to promote better lives and well-being among diverse groups.
This program provides graduates with the information and skills they need to flourish in a variety of professions in the health and social care sectors, supporting positive change and promoting well-being in different communities.
FAQs
This course is ideal for students interested in health and social care professions, including those returning to education, those with non-traditional qualifications, or individuals looking to transition into a rewarding career in the sector.
Graduates can pursue careers in roles such as health and social care practitioners, community development officers, care coordinators, health promotion specialists, and social work assistants. The degree also provides a strong foundation for further study, such as postgraduate qualifications in social work or healthcare management.
The foundation year is designed to boost academic confidence and skills through personalized support, study skills workshops, and mentoring. Tutors provide guidance on academic writing, research methods, and professional development to ensure students transition smoothly into the full degree program.
Assessment methods include written assignments, group projects, presentations, case studies, and examinations. These diverse approaches ensure students develop both practical and theoretical expertise applicable in real-world health and social care settings.
No prior experience is necessary. The foundation year provides essential knowledge and skills, making the course accessible to students from all educational backgrounds. However, relevant work experience or a passion for helping others can be beneficial in understanding course concepts.
Get in Touch
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0121 582 4468