BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care

This module explores the complex health and social care needs of adults and older people, with a focus on ageing, long-term conditions, identity and social circumstances across the life course. You will examine how factors such as inequality, culture, housing, migration and life experiences shape health, wellbeing and access to support in adulthood and later life. You will explore person-centred and strengths-based approaches that promote independence, dignity and wellbeing, alongside key policy and legal frameworks such as the Care Act 2014, safeguarding responsibilities, mental capacity and ethical decision-making. The module also considers end-of-life care, anticipatory planning and supported decision-making. Learning is based around realistic case scenarios, including global and cross-cultural examples, which encourage critical thinking, reflective judgement and the application of evidence-based practice. You will engage with research, policy and lived experience to understand how services respond to complex needs, long-term conditions and health inequalities. If you have career aspirations in working with adults and older people, this module provides a strong foundation that you can build on through practical placement opportunities in adult health and social care settings. At Level 6, you can further deepen your subject specialism through an independent research project and modules focusing on mental health, leadership and service improvement, supporting strong employability and a clear professional focus for your CV.

This module explores how children, families and communities function within wider health, social care and policy contexts. You will examine the factors influencing wellbeing, including social inequalities, family structures, safeguarding and early intervention. You will develop an understanding of how services work together to promote safety, health and resilience, and how social policy and legislation shape professional practice. Through real‑world examples, case studies and professional scenarios, you will build confidence in working directly with children, young people and families across different settings. The module emphasises practical professional skills, including communication, assessment and interpersonal skills. You will explore risk assessment, safety planning, therapeutic conversations and family support work, alongside reflective and ethical practice grounded in equality, inclusion and anti‑oppressive values. If you aspire to work with children, families and communities, this module provides a strong foundation that you can build on through placements in the children’s sector. At Level 6, you can deepen your specialism through a research project focused on children and families and by choosing the optional Applied Trauma‑Informed Practice in Family Settings module. This pathway strengthens employability and gives your CV a clear professional focus.

This module deepens your understanding of how research is designed, conducted, analysed and applied within health and social care. It builds directly on the Level 4 Introduction to Research and Evidence-Informed Practice module and prepares you for more independent study at Level 6.  You will explore and develop your understanding of different research methodologies, ethical frameworks and data-collection techniques used to investigate issues affecting health, wellbeing and service provision. The module places strong emphasis on interpreting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data, helping you develop the skills needed to judge the quality, relevance and usefulness of research evidence. Ethical principles are embedded throughout, including the ethical approval process and ethical considerations for both primary and secondary research.  You will strengthen your practical research and analytical skills, enabling you to read, critique and apply research findings with confidence. By the end of the module, you will be able to design a small, enhanced practical research proposal, drawing on the research knowledge and skills developed at Levels 4 and 5. You will learn how to select appropriate data-collection and analysis methods and present your ideas in a professional, ethical and academically sound way, preparing you for your Level 6 independent research study. 

This module develops your knowledge, skills, and professional identity (Knowing, Doing, and Being) in leadership and management within health and social care. It equips you with the confidence and practical tools to lead effectively in complex and changing environments. You will explore key leadership theories and management approaches, examining how policy, organisational structures, and governance shape service delivery across the NHS, local authorities, and the voluntary sector. The module focuses on leading teams, managing resources, driving service improvement, and promoting ethical, inclusive, and anti-oppressive practice. Through critical reflection and real-world case studies, you will examine leadership in safeguarding, risk management, and multi-agency working. You will also develop skills in supervision, communication, conflict resolution, and change management. The module is informed by current research and professional practice, ensuring learning is relevant and applied. By the end, you will be well prepared for leadership and management roles, with enhanced employability and the ability to make a positive impact on service users, staff, and organisations.

This module introduces you to trauma-informed practice and how it can be applied effectively across health and social care settings. You will explore how trauma, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment disruption and life-course adversity, can impact individuals, families and communities, and how professionals can respond in ways that promote safety, resilience and empowerment. You will develop an understanding of trauma theory, including psychological and neurobiological responses to trauma, and explore recovery-oriented and strengths-based approaches to practice. The module places strong emphasis on reflective practice, empathy and effective communication, helping you recognise and reduce the risk of re-traumatisation while supporting wellbeing and recovery. Practical application is a core feature of this module. Through case studies, discussion and skills-based activities, you will build confidence in applying trauma-informed principles such as safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment in real-world contexts. You will also explore the role of supervision, self-awareness and emotional regulation in sustaining safe and ethical practice. This module builds on Level 4 modules Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan and Level 5 Professional Practice with Children, Families and Communities. By completing this module, you will graduate with enhanced specialist knowledge that strengthens your employability in areas such as children and families services, mental health, adult social care and community-based support.

Young people today experience rapid social, cultural, economic and digital change, creating both challenges and opportunities for health and social care practice. This subject-specialist module explores the contemporary issues affecting young people and examines how services, communities and professionals respond to support safety, wellbeing and empowerment. Building directly on your learning from Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan and Children, Families and Communities, this module deepens your understanding of adolescence and emerging adulthood. You will examine issues such as poverty and inequality, exploitation, serious youth violence, mental health, digital risk and online harm, alongside opportunities for youth voice, participation, belonging and resilience. You will critically explore how policy, education, social care, community services and digital spaces shape young people’s lives, and how professionals can work ethically and effectively using trauma-informed, rights-based and anti-oppressive approaches. Learning is practical and discussion-based, using case studies, media, policy texts and youth voice materials to develop your confidence in analysing complex situations and proposing evidence-informed responses. This module prepares you for roles working with young people in social care, education, youth justice, health, early intervention and community settings, and supports progression into advanced practice and Level 6 research specialism.

This module explores critical and contemporary issues in mental health, focusing on how social, cultural, political and systemic factors shape mental health experiences and service responses. You will examine how inequality, discrimination and the wider social determinants of health influence mental wellbeing across different communities and life experiences. Through engagement with theory, policy, lived experience and applied case studies, you will develop advanced critical thinking and analytical skills relevant to complex mental health practice. The module encourages you to question dominant approaches to mental health, exploring medical, psychological and social models, alongside intersectional perspectives that recognise the impact of race, gender, disability, sexuality and socioeconomic status. You will examine key practice challenges, including trauma, risk, safeguarding, ethics, consent, capacity and autonomy, and consider how professionals balance care, control and rights within mental health settings. Contemporary debates around digital mental health, surveillance and emerging technologies are also explored. The module places strong emphasis on person-centred, reflective and recovery-oriented practice, supporting you to develop cultural competence, ethical awareness and professional judgement. By the end of the module, you will be well prepared for roles requiring high-level decision-making, critical reflection and evidence-based practice in mental health, social care, community and wellbeing services.

Health Promotion is an increasingly important discipline focused on preventing ill health and reducing inequalities. It includes health development, improvement, and protection, forming a key part of modern public health practice. This module develops the knowledge and skills needed for effective health promotion. You will be introduced to core concepts and principles underpinning health promotion in England, using a population-based approach. The module draws on disciplines such as psychology, sociology, health sciences, economics, and social policy to provide a broad understanding of health and wellbeing. The module explores both theoretical and practical aspects of health promotion, including models, strategies, and behaviour change theories. You will learn how to assess community health needs, plan interventions, and evaluate the benefits and challenges of community engagement in promoting healthy lifestyles. You will also critically examine evidence-based approaches to public health and consider how wider determinants, such as inequality and social factors, influence the health of individuals, families, and communities. Case studies will be used to demonstrate health promotion in practice across different settings, helping you apply theory to real-world contexts.

This module explores how innovation, with a particular focus on telehealth and telecare, shapes service improvement and the quality of care across health and social care settings. Students will examine how evidence, digital technologies, and multi-agency collaboration support practice developments that enhance independence, wellbeing, and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. The module introduces students to telehealth and telecare systems used by service users and organisations, exploring how these technologies support prevention, remote monitoring, risk management, and continuity of care. Students will critically assess service effectiveness, identify digital gaps affecting both service users and organisations, and evaluate how these gaps influence access, experience, and equity. Students will learn to evaluate how telehealth interventions can reduce avoidable hospitalisation and how telecare solutions support people to live safely and independently at home. The module also examines how health and care organisations use digital technologies, including AI-enabled systems, to improve efficiency, coordination, and decision-making. Consideration is given to the current digital climate and how technological developments are reshaping professional roles, organisational processes, and service delivery models. Ethical and legal frameworks, including GDPR, data protection, consent, and information governance, are central to the module. Inclusivity, digital accessibility, and person-centred values underpin all learning and assessment. By the end of the module, students will have the knowledge, critical awareness, and professional confidence to engage with telehealth and telecare innovation in practice and contribute meaningfully to digitally enabled service improvement within contemporary health and social care systems.