FdSc Health and Social Care

This is a full-time equivalent programme, the expected attendance for teaching and assessment in college is one day a week, however students will be expected to carry out work and assessment preparation in their own time.

About the course

Primarily aimed at Health and Social Care workers, this highly flexible Level 5 Foundation Degree course develops knowledge and skills within a care role.

Those who would benefit include Assistant and Associate Practitioners, as well as Team Leaders. The degree course is open to those who are suitably qualified and who wish to explore new aspects of health and social care.

Content in year one includes:

Study Skills for Foundation Degrees
Work-Based Learning 1 – Fundamentals of Care
Bioscience, Growth and Development
Public Health and Wellbeing
Work Based Learning 2 – Assessment of Care
Applied Social Science for Health Care Professionals

Content in year two includes:

Social Policy and Welfare Systems
Embedding Quality in Care Delivery
Work Based Learning 3 – Complex Care Delivery
Applying Evidence to Practice
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Care
Work Based Learning 4 – Management of Care Delivery

A variety of assessment methods will be used within the programme, including coursework consisting of essays, reports, reflective accounts, case studies and the production of educational resources.

Some modules consist of more than one method of assessment. Teaching and learning strategies will encourage student engagement in new areas of knowledge, broadening and deepening existing knowledge, and will provide opportunities to apply theory and new understanding to students own practices, developing individuals as Health and Care professionals. The student Practice Assessment Document (PAD) contains information relating to your work based learning experience through the four Work based-learning modules.

Entry requirements

3 GCSEs, grade 4/C or above. Alternative equivalency testing may be undertaken plus

Level 3 BTEC, NVQ or other appropriate vocational qualification.

IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing) for those applicants where English is not their first language.

Applicants are required to be undertaking a minimum of 16 hours per week in a paid or voluntary capacity, in an appropriate setting.

Where next?

Graduates may wish to continue their studies to Level 6 honours degree in Health and Social Care or have the opportunity to take a further year of more specialist study through the innovative Student Designed Award.

Some health practitioners who achieve the award of Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care may also wish to apply for entry into a Nursing degree, and may be considered for direct entry into Year Two of an Oxford Brookes Nursing Programme. Students wishing to apply to other course to continue to study, are advised to check each individual institutions entry requirements, as these may vary.

Students successfully completing the Foundation Degree may also find opportunities within their current or a new setting, to move into higher or new roles such as Assistant Practitioner, Associate Practitioner or a Team Leader within a Health and Social care setting.