Health and Social Care (including foundation year)BSc (Hons)

Foundation Year Programme

In this module you will explore a broad range of social science and current affairs issues. You’ll reflect on the qualities needed to be a successful student in Higher Education and identify your own strengths and areas for development. You’ll be guided to investigate and conduct research on a topic of interest to you in greater depth.

1. You will learn to access sources, recognise and analyse arguments, and critically engage with source material.
2. You will explore some principles of research and develop research skills.
3. You will develop digital and academic communication skills, including integrating source materials with your own voice into written work.
4. You will develop oral, written and visual communication skills to produce work in a range of formats.
5. You will critically engage with current, social, and ethical issues, in the context of the Education for Social Justice Framework and your subject area
6. You will contribute to building a sense of belonging, and a respectful learning community, where students collaborate, share knowledge and ideas and work effectively as a team.
7. You will be encouraged to explore and build on prior knowledge and experiences to prepare you for further study in your subject area, professional behaviours and your chosen career
8. You will reflect on your learning journey, build your confidence, and take ownership of your motivation.

Diversity in Health & Social Care

On this module you will study theories and concepts of diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion within health and social care practice, fostering both a theoretical understanding and practical application of these principles. These will be achieved through lectures, seminars and case study simulations and critical reflections, which help bridge the gap between theory and practice. These activities will enable you to explore how your learning translates to real world settings and shapes your approach to working with diverse individuals in health and social care contexts. You will critically engage with relevant policies legislations, codes of practice and professional frameworks relating to issues of social justice in health and social care. Additionally, you will examine professional roles and skills including communication, teamwork and integrated care essential in challenging inequalities and implementing ethical, anti-discriminatory, and anti-oppressive practice.  By examining diverse identities and experiences shaped by class, race, culture, gender, religion, language, sexual orientation, age and disability, you will develop a reflective understanding of the challenges individuals face in accessing and experiencing care. This exploration will also focus on approaches to supporting individuals effectively and working inclusively with people from diverse backgrounds. You will be provided with opportunities to reflect on your own identity, lived experiences and personal and professional aspirations, and will be encouraged to keep a reflective journal of your learning throughout the module.

This module aims to:

- Introduce policies, legislations, professional frameworks and codes of practice relevant to promoting diversity, equality and ethical practice in health and social care

- Explore concepts of equality, equity, inclusion and diverse identities while addressing stigmatisation, labelling, stereotyping and discrimination

- Develop student’s self-awareness and reflective skills to understand how their identities, experiences and values can impact their practice

- Equip students with the tools to implement anti-oppressive and person centred approaches while addressing inequalities in health and social care

- Build academic and professional skills, including critical thinking, communication and reflective practice to support lifelong learning and career development.

Human Growth & Development

Introduction to Health & Social Care

This module offers a foundational understanding of the structure, regulations, policies, organisation, and delivery of health and social care systems and services. You will explore the roles and responsibilities of professionals within the system and examine how services are coordinated to meet the needs of diverse populations. You will be encouraged to analyse specific health and social care issues. By examining real-world scenarios, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to health inequalities, including social determinants such as education, employment, and housing.

A key focus of the module is the practical application of health and social care policies. Using case studies, you will analyse how policies influence service provision, workforce planning, and population health outcomes. You will also explore the impact of social determinants of health, including education, employment, and housing, and how these contribute to health inequalities.

By the end of this module, you will be well-equipped with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and contribute effectively to the health and social care sector.

Research & Academic Practice

This module introduces you to key research concepts and academic practice within health and social care context. We will cover academic skills crucial for producing quality academic work in various formats, including writing, presenting and designing outputs. The emphasis is placed on you developing key academic and digital skills, such as using Microsoft Office tools, podcasting, video recordings, poster design, to engage with research, critically evaluate evidence and effectively present and communicate your academic work . You will be introduced to the core principles of research, including understanding sources of evidence and theoretical frameworks and research approaches.   These research and academic skills are embedded throughout the module via lectures, seminars, and assessments. You will also be introduced to the final year project pathway to begin considering the pathway you wish to pursue and potential topics as you engage with content across other modules.

This module aims to: 

Develop student’s academic study skills and digital literacy. 

Introduce students to research within the health and social care context and how to find academic and non-academic sources 

Develop students’ ability to reason critically and analytically from evidence  

Make connections between work based and academic knowledge, evaluating and appropriately using different sources (academic and non-academic)  

Consider the academic and professional skills required within health and social care including communication, teamwork, partnership working and ethical research and academic practice  

Explore ethical and unethical use of AI in academic work and H&SC contexts, with reference to London Metropolitan University guidance, responsible digital practice and academic integrity.

Develop an awareness and understanding of the cultures, principles and values that underpin research within health and social care 

Leadership in Health & Social Care

This module has been designed to critically develop students’ practical skills of leadership and management in the context of professional practice. Students will develop analytical skills for critical understanding of the role of leading teams in providing ethical and quality service in the context of resource constraints and changing social environment. The module will embed employability skills by simulating the work environment and will employ skills of problem solving and decision making, staff appraisal and professional behaviour required for provision of policy and practice in professional contexts.

The aims of the module are as follows:

You will develop an understanding of leadership styles;

You will gain the opportunity to explore your leadership style in teamwork;

You will be introduced to leadership models to underpin your practice;

You will reflect on your learning from group activities on this module.

Preparing for Practice

This module explores the concept of employability from a theoretical perspective and its practical relevance to your professional future. The focus of the module moves beyond a narrow approach to employability based on skills and attributes to encompass a more inclusive approach reflecting values, intellectual rigour and engagement. You will examine what is meant by being employable from this perspective and how to identify and plan creatively to meet your personal and professional aspirations. You will be encouraged to identify potential career pathways appropriate to your values and strengths and to think strategically about how you achieve these. This will involve equipping you with the personal and professional knowledge and practical skills necessary for career success in health and social care or related sectors. The development of employability skills as a part of your degree studies is a crucial element in preparing you to negotiate successfully the developing social, economic and professional context within which you will pursue your career.

As part of this, you will be expected to undertake a period of work experience in a setting relevant to your identified career aspirations. Workshops in preparation for this will take place early in the seminars.

You will develop key skills and knowledge to enhance your employability as follows:

theoretical and practical understanding of employability

awareness of your own values and strengths and areas for personal development

an understanding of the emerging context of careers in health and social care

the relationship between employability and equality

short and long-term career goals consistent with your individual aspirations

gain an in-depth insight into a work environment aligned to your goals

practical core employability skills (e.g. CV development, online presence, various interview skills and techniques such as the STARR technique)

Please note:

● Students will be contacted prior to the semester to provide support in securing a work based placement in good time.

● Students are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module Team/Work Based Learning teams to assist them.

● The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Team/Work Based Learning Team and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Work Placements.

● Those studying on a Student Visa will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by their line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Researching Health & Social Care

This module will deepen your understanding of research methods and methodologies in health and social care contexts. You will engage with different research principles and research designs. You will also engage with contemporary ethical debates about research and practice. You will be provided with opportunities to apply research and academic skills as well as broaden knowledge related to critical thinking and critical appraisal techniques to evaluate the validity, reliability and generalisability of research findings, enabling you to effectively apply evidence in health and social care practice. You will also continue to refine your research interests and the project pathway you intend to pursue in your final year.You will be required to maintain a weekly log of your learning on key components of the research process and module topics covered through tasks completed on a workbook. These weekly tasks serve as the formative assessment for the module. Contents from the workbook will be used to develop your final portfolio, which serves as the final summative assessment on this module.

This module aims to:

• Develop your understanding of methods and methodologies used in researching health and social care
• Equip you with practical skills in generating research questions, formulating research aims and objectives
• Apply academic critical appraisal skills in evaluating different evidence, research designs and approaches, ensuring ethical evidence based decision making in Health and Social Care
• Enable students to identify codes of ethics in Health and Social Care research while placing research in wider policy and practice contexts · facilitate professional development by enhancing your ability to reflect on your research journey and growth

Social Policy & Society

This module offers an in-depth exploration of how social policies and legislations shape health and social care systems. The module will also explore ways in which interdisciplinary theories inform social policies decisions and how these impact individuals, communities and societies. You will develop a critical understanding of how social policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated, with a particular focus on issues such as health, disability, housing, employment, and education. You will explore the intersections between social, cultural, political, and economic contexts and their role in shaping health outcomes. The module aims to enhance students' ability to evaluate health inequalities and the integration of social justice principles in policy-making. By exploring citizen engagement and advocacy, the module encourages students to reflect on the role of grassroots movements in shaping policy and fostering social change. Through comparative analyses such as the exploration of case studies and encouraging you to draw from your own knowledge and experience of policies you are familiar with, you will critically assess how different countries address similar health and social care issues. The module encourages you to reflect on how citizen engagement and advocacy movements contribute to policy development and social change. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to critically evaluate social policies and their impact on health inequalities, and to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and theories to diverse policy issues.

Understanding Public Health

Module description This module is designed to help students develop their knowledge on key theoretical and practical perspectives in public health. The module focuses on a social sciences understanding of public health, centering around the social determinants of health as a guiding lense for understanding health outcomes, inequalities and injustice.

The module also focuses on development of evidence-based public health skills such as using population health datasets, literature review and analysis of key policy and strategy to improve population health.

In this module, you will:

• Develop an understanding of the Public Health discipline
• Develop an understanding and knowledge of population health data and the skills to interpret this data
• Develop a social science based contextual and critical understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health on population health outcomes
• Develop an understanding and knowledge of population health issues and how to take an evidence-based approach to tackle these issues

There are two individual, summative assessments. In the first assessment, you will develop an educational poster presenting a public health issue facing the student population and its risk factors. You will print a physical copy and present your poster in our classroom. The second assessment is report on a public health issue and its potential policy solutions.

Contemporary Approaches to Health & Social Care

This module is designed to critically explore contemporary issues and approaches in relation to health and social care including technological advancements, genetics, non-communicable diseases, resource management and sustainability, inclusive leadership, health inequalities, global health crises, and evolving policies. Emphasis is placed on integrated care approaches, evidence-based practices, and interdisciplinary innovative solutions to service design. By facilitating critical thinking and inclusive leadership skills, this module equips students to approach complex health and social care issue across diverse contexts.

This module also aims to build upon prior learning from core first- and second-year modules such as Introduction to Health and Social Care, Human Growth and Development, Understanding Public Health, and Social Policy & Society. You will explore innovative solutions to contemporary health and social care challenges, developing the ability to design and evaluate practical, ethical, and socially just solutions. The module aims to prepare students to navigate organisational and policy-level changes effectively. Additionally, the module supports reflective practice, enabling students to assess their professional development and identify transferable skills that align with their future career goals.

Health Project

The final-year undergraduate project provides an opportunity for you to work independently on a specific Health and Social Care issue. You will be required and supported to apply critical thinking, research and written communication skills to complete your project of. You will have the option to choose from three project pathways:

Small-scale primary research project (8,000 - 10,000 words): this can be either a quantitative or qualitative research design and will involve the collection and analysis of primary data to address a health and social care issue.

Secondary research project (8,000 - 10,000 words): this will typically involve students conducting a structured literature review. Secondary data analysis may also be undertaken as an option but students must obtain prior consent from module leader and already have the necessary quantitative skills.

Practice-based project (5,000 - 8,000 words): A negotiated H&SC practice based project (e.g., designing a staff or service user focused intervention or programme with a well-researched implementation and evaluation plan, quality improvement for an existing service - past work-based service, current voluntary or paid work - or proposal for new service etc). Submission will include a written or oral project output with an external communication element in an appropriate format (e.g., executive summary, video, PowerPoint slides, podcast, poster etc) tailored for relevant stakeholders and a reflective component.

You will participate in workshops designed to prepare you for any pathway you choose, revisiting key aspects of research such as formulating research questions, aims and objectives. These workshops will also cover aspects such as planning your project, data collection and analysis, critical appraisal and project writing (e.g., focusing on key sections of a project).

This module aims for students to be able to demonstrate:

in-depth knowledge and understanding of a specific aspect of health and social care

appropriate research, evaluation and writing skills required for study at a final-year undergraduate level

critical appraisal skills, use of evidence to support arguments and draw conclusions

the ability to reflect on the experience of working independently and the links between project process and their professional development

Global Health

Global Health is a Level 6 module for the BSc Health and Social Care Course. The Module aims to give students an opportunity to critically study the interconnectedness of key challenges of human development and human health and healthcare across nations within global contexts. It will provide content that will help students understand the key global challenges that affect human health and healthcare and cause health inequalities and inequities across the nations. The Module will also provide an opportunity to study key global actors and global interventions to improve human health of all people across nations and promote health equities. This will require students to critique global co-operation and partnership in fighting key challenges of global human health and healthcare.
Therefore, the Module aims are to:
• develop and produce graduates with global citizenship attributes by embedding the notion of ‘think globally and act locally’ (‘think globally for local actions’) in its curriculum
• develop a critical knowledge base of concepts, principles, measurements and theories of global health and healthcare based on the notion of ‘global health crisis’
• build a critical understanding of the key challenges of the growing global interconnectedness on global human health and healthcare
• identify and critique the determinants and evidence of global health inequalities and inequities
• examine the influence and contribution of health systems in improving human health around the world
• consider complexities in solving global health and healthcare problems found in past and contemporary case-studies and draw implications from them for future research, policy and practice in global health

Managing Health & Social Care

This module is an integral part of the inclusive practice and management theme stream. It aims to equip students with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, and attributes necessary to manage resources effectively and efficiently in Health and Social Care Settings. The module focuses on providing students with the right tools, information, and skill sets to make informed decisions, while considering issues of inclusivity as they relate to service users, staff, and other stakeholders in the delivery of patient-centred care.

Management is a key component of this module, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, resource allocation, and leadership in Health and Social Care environments. Students will learn how to navigate organisational structures, manage teams, and implement policies that promote inclusivity and equity. The module also covers essential management skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making, which are crucial for effective leadership in diverse and dynamic settings across health and social care sectors.

Upon completing this module, students will be confident, resilient, ambitious, creative, collaborative, inclusive, and socially responsible Health and Social Care Practitioners. They will be well-prepared to take on leadership roles and contribute positively to their organisations and communities. The module aims to foster a deep understanding of the principles of inclusive practice and management, ensuring that students are equipped to handle the challenges of modern Health and Social Care settings with competence and compassion. Through this comprehensive approach, students will be empowered to make a meaningful impact in their professional practice, the reflexive insights and continued professional development.

Mental health & well being

This module provides opportunities for students to develop their understanding of key issues in mental health practice and policy, as well as critically discuss relevant theoretical and conceptual issues relating to mental health.

The module aims to:

- Develop understanding of key concepts in mental health and well-being
- Develop awareness of mental health diagnoses and implications of these to the individual, health services, and wider society
- Develop knowledge of key policy and practice issues in mental health through
- Provide opportunities to critically evaluate and reflect upon models and theories of mental health and well-being

Public Health & Health Promotion

This module will give you the opportunity to use the learning gained through Understanding Public Health and intends to build competence and confidence in defined areas of public health. Our sessions will emphasise evidence base and best practice models of public health, with a focus on patients and users’ engagement and participation, the relevance of enabling individuals and communities to have more control over things that affect their lives and their health, especially those individuals/groups with the greatest health problems or at greatest risk of exclusion. The module is informed by the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (2019). You will be able to dentify and define an appropriate public health topic for study within the area of practice or interest. You will gain skills in the use of key public health tools and methods, including population health needs assessment, and steps to intervention development to enhance their employability skills with relevant approaches used within the sector.

This module aims to:

• Develop a deeper understanding, knowledge base and skills for engaging with contemporary public health and health promotion approaches, research methodologies, and practice issues.

• Provide a behavioural science approach to the understanding of behaviour and lifestyle changes as part of attempts to enable people to take control over and improve their own health.

• Evaluate a range of projects and research studies; identify the impact on public health issues.

• Understand and evaluate the key principles and concepts underpinning public health and promotion interventions at the community level.

• To develop students’ capacity to identify current public health challenges for specific groups and to propose strategies of health improvement as a result of independent learning from different sources and experiences