BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies

Welcome to BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies

Working in this sector addresses a crucial need in society. The programme enables you to develop your academic thinking and learning around a range of issues in health and social care, with a clear focus on service users in the community. A range of topics is covered by the course team which consists of experienced lecturers and practitioners who will equip you with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience for a successful, professional career within this most-needed sector. For more details about the topics covered, please refer to the list of modules on this programme.

Upon completion, graduates have pursued successful careers in a variety of roles, from practitioner roles to management roles and postgraduate study in areas such as social work, teaching and occupational therapy.

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Course IntroductionModulesEntry RequirementsGraduate CareersAdditional

Your profile

You are empathic, trustworthy and want to contribute to the positive health and wellbeing of individuals, their families and wider communities. You are committed to enhancing people’s opportunities and are a passionate advocate for those who do not have a voice.

Your subject

The health and social care industry is evolving. Economic and technological influences are changing the way care is assessed and provided, causing a huge rise in demand for qualified new recruits. The country spends over 18% of its annual budget on healthcare; this is predicted to increase in response to an ageing population with complex needs. As such, the sector is one of the UK’s key areas for employment growth, with Government research suggesting over 275,000 more workers will be needed in the adult social care sector alone by 2025.

Your course

The University Centre Colchester Health and Social Care programmes will provide you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding in core areas of the industry. You will be introduced to key aspects of management and leadership in the context of current policy directions, and become prepared to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency settings.

You will be taught by academics with backgrounds in research and extensive professional industry experience. You will have the opportunity to specialise in areas of the industry that interest you and take part in work placements, which will provide you with an invaluable opportunity to apply theory to practice.

The skills you develop will open doors in the statutory, voluntary, private health and social care sectors.

This programme explores a range of disciplines within the health and social care area and encourages students to develop skills in reflective practice, critical enquiry and independent study.

Undergraduate courses operate on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Each module is worth a specified number of credits, with most modules counting for 30/40 or 15/20 academic credits (depending on the programme), with each credit taken equating to a total amount of study time which includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Most full-time students will take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. A total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits are needed for an honours degree as a whole. Overall grades for the course and degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.

Our teaching is informed by research, professional practice and industry engagement and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.

Course Overview Course Structure Year One (Level 4) Year Two (Level 5) Year Three (Level 6) Pre-2020 Course Information

64 UCAS points
2 GCSE’s (grades A*-C/9-4) including English and Maths or equivalent
Satisfactory interview, written task and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Access to Higher Education qualification also accepted

*UCAS Tariff points where shown, are for entry on to higher education programmes starting from September 2020.

International applicants

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.

Additional requirements for International Students:

You must provide evidence of having been in general education for at least 10 years and of having studied within the last five years
a face-to-face interview is required before an offer is made.

Your future

As a graduate, you will be fully prepared to enter one of the UK’s most rewarding services. 81% of professionals currently working in the sector are satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients, and as the industry evolves, you will have the opportunity to be involved in the development of new and exciting health and social care roles.

You could pursue a career in middle or senior management, use your entrepreneurial skills to establish a social enterprise, or consider a career in the areas of nursing, social work, youth work or occupational therapy, to name a few.

CertHE Health and Psychosocial Studies

Opportunities for graduates of the Certificate of Higher Education exist in health and social care settings and in a wide variety of NHS positions. Our graduates, who were already in employment, have been able to access more senior positions and supervisory responsibilities. Others progress onto level 5 BSc (Hons) in Health and Psychosocial Studies.

Career opportunities

This will enable students in the health and social care sector to provide evidence of continuing professional development and preparation for work progression.

Course progression

Students are able to progress on to level 5 of the BSc (Hons.) in Health and Psychosocial Studies

BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies

Our graduates, who were already in employment, have been able to access more senior positions with management and supervisory responsibilities. Others go on to work as teachers, social workers or in nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, although some of these careers do require additional professional training.

This will enable students in the industry sector to provide evidence of continuing professional development and undertake broader managerial and/or supervision duties.

Course Progression

Further academic studies in professional training such as pre-registered Masters programmes at the University of Essex.
*Please note there is a charge of £44 for a DBS check

Timetables: Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week.

Teaching and Learning: You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practicals. Seminars enable smaller group discussions to develop understanding of topics covered in lectures.

When not attending lectures, seminars and practicals or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-directed study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, learning zone or technical learning resources, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations

Assessment: The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.

There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback: You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

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BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies - Full-time

Level	Level 6
Location	Colchester
Duration	3 Years
UCAS Code	BSc (Hons) L511 \| CertHE L512
Academic Year	2020-2021
Study Mode	Full-Time
Campus	University Centre Colchester
Start Date	September 2020
Fee(s)	2019-20: £8,250 per year
Additional Cost Information	Students are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check through University Centre Colchester. Currently there is a £40 fee for this check.
Awarding/Validation Body	University of East Anglia

BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies - Part-time

Level	Level 6
Location	Colchester
Duration	5 Years
Course Code	ZH2BAHSP01
Academic Year	2020-2021
Study Mode	Part-Time
Campus	University Centre Colchester
Start Date	September 2020
Attendance	1 day a week
Fee(s)	2019-20: £4,950 per year
Additional Cost Information	Students are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check through University Centre Colchester. Currently there is a £40 fee for this check.
Awarding/Validation Body	University of East Anglia

Course Overview

The course gives a good introduction to the variety of options available within health and social care. This programme provides a higher education progression opportunity for individuals aspiring to, or established in, a career in the vocational area of health and social care. It offers students progression opportunity to Honours degree level and includes modules on reflective practice, supervision, and research and enquiry methods. It will also include independent study modules to enable learners to extend their knowledge and skills within their chosen specialism. Students will obtain a critical appreciation of the benefits of supervised practice as part of their ongoing development and participate in discussion on a range of issues and debates confronting contemporary health care and social care practice.

Delivery is through a range of methods including, lectures, seminars, case-study, discussions, and workshops. A variety of assessment strategies will be used including assignments, case studies, work-based projects, patchwork texts, and extended research study/dissertation.

Course Structure

Although designed as a three year full-time degree programme, there are two named routes into the qualification. The Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) allows for study of the first year of the programme and the BSc (Hons) route allows students to study the full qualification.

The CertHE can be used as a stepping stones towards an Honours Degree with progression allowed following successful completion of each stage. All options are available to be studied either full-time or part-time.

The CertHE Health and Psychosocial Studies is a one year programme explores a range of disciplines within the health and social care area and encourages students to develop skills in reflective practice, critical enquiry and independent study.

Year One (Level 4)

Module title: Professional Practice (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will provide sound theoretical underpinnings for professional practice within the health and psychosocial field. The module will focus on the integration of communication theories, group-work psychology and ethical frameworks as core components of professionalism.

What do I learn?

The module focuses on the service user perspective, exchange models of assessment and the management of the power dynamic within the professional supporting roles. Students will be encouraged in their autonomy with the foundational knowledge of the role of the professional, collaborative expectations and the diversity support strategies within health and psychosocial care.

What’s the assignment?

A presentation outlining professional principles and an evaluation of the service user voice within assessment, managing power and collaboration.
A self-reflective feedback report written within a reflective modal template including an excerpt of the student’s personal professional practice, with reference to the theoretical underpinning within professional practice.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Academic Practice (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module seeks to cater for a student community with a wide range of prior experience, both academic and practice based. Students are introduced to the rules of the academic world and their relevance to degree-level work.

What do I learn?

Students will learn how to differentiate between available resources by evaluating texts produced for a variety of purposes, including academic articles, book chapters, reports, newspaper articles and filmed material. They will apply this to managing their studies effectively, working collaboratively, developing emerging critical thinking skills and applying this knowledge to inform their writing.

What’s the assignment?

3) Write an overview of the research methodology and findings from an academic primary research paper related to your subject. Follow a logical sequence in your explanation. (500 words)

2) Provide a critical review of the research methodology applied to the paper summarised in the previous patch. Include a discussion of the ethical considerations of the methodology applied. Use references to support your review. (1000 words)

3) Write a reflective patch that assesses your research and study skills developed over the semester. Include a CSMART development plan that will support you to develop skills beyond this module. (1000 words)

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Human Growth and Development (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module introduces theoretical concepts and processes of human growth and development across the lifespan. Through exploration of the emotional, cognitive, social and physical aspects of development, students will explore contributing factors and how these impact on wellbeing, health and illness.

What do I learn?

Concepts such as attachment, change, loss, family and identity will be examined in relation to optimum human development. Students will explore health and inequality issues (inclusive of aging and disability) and their importance to the identification of risk factors and the shaping of public health and social policy.

What’s the assignment?

Through the identification of a case study, students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of lifespan theories.

Students will be required to contextualise this by considering factors that influence human development with the inclusion of family, society and wider policy.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Human Health Science (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Within this module students will have the opportunity to critically analyse the contested nature of health and explore the historical perspectives of health through to current models of health promotion, planning and illness prevention, both nationally and internationally. This will be achieved by studying concepts around health and disease, epidemiology and demographics.

What do I learn?

Students will gain knowledge around health promotion through consideration of academic principles such as nutrition and exercise. Issues around chronic and acute health will be considered with the inclusion of dementia. Contemporary issues at the forefront of health policy will be considered including evidence based neuro-science. This module promotes an integrated approach to health issues and consideration of autonomy and life-choice will be considered throughout.

What’s the assignment?

Individual Presentation: Students will select a chronic/acute health condition to present. The presentation will examine historical elements that impact on perception, stigma and access to healthcare. Health condition will be contextualised with knowledge of demographics and epidemiology. Student will conclude with evidence-based health promotion and illness prevention strategies.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Safeguarding and Collaboration within Health and Social Care (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will introduce the health and social work legal framework. Students will explore the UK legal system, the development of law and the framework for health and care delivery.

What do I learn?

The module will focus on the attitudes to risk and the safeguarding requirements for children and vulnerable adults. The module will focus on risk assessment and collaborative practice within the law and the lessons learnt societally about good practice. Advocacy in contemporary society and the policy and legal frameworks within work settings will be explored to prioritise the service user’s needs.

What’s the assignment?

Case study: identify and analyse the risk and share best practice decisions safeguarding within the health and psychosocial field.

Describe and evaluate the role of professionals and the ethical dilemmas that impact on the multi-disciplinary setting when remaining person-centred.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: The Social and Political Context of Health, Psychology and Social Welfare Care (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module develops understanding of the nature of the health, social and psychological developments in the broadest sense. This includes the political, economic and technological influences on policy and practice. The module will look at top down and bottom up pressures of government and the service user as the change agent and the professional position within the UK political and social context.

What do I learn?

Advocacy and social inclusion will be critiqued with correspondence to institutionalism, and care verse control.

The historical developments of the NHS and Social Welfare will be explored within the legal and ethical frameworks, drawing into the formation of modern day health and social welfare constructs. The contextual developments, local, national and international perspectives will be evaluated.

What’s the assignment?

Students are expected to:

produce a patchwork essay covering all Learning Outcomes.
choose a significant historical development and relate this to the progression of the health and social care system.
analyse the perspectives of vulnerability, disability and age, and their implications for practice across the health and social care field.
appraise current developments in relation to a chosen service user group, evaluate current policy and services focusing on best practice of empowerment, advocacy, social inclusion and collaborative frameworks.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year Two (Level 5)

Module title: Introduction to Research (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

The content of this module builds on knowledge and understanding developed in Academic Practice at Level 4.

Students are expected to use the rules of the academic world and their relevance to degree-level work. All sessions contain a mixture of activities, from reading and analysing excerpts of text, to reflecting on spoken commentaries, and learning how to engage critically with writings and any juxtaposing findings.

What do I learn?

Students will learn how to differentiate between texts produced for a variety of purposes, including academic articles, book chapters, reports, newspaper articles and filmed material.

In considering the limitations and/or validity of a text, students will learn how to critique a resource effectively and thus demonstrate the understanding needed to assess information in the public domain, thereby applying the skills gained.

What’s the assignment?

Students must choose research papers that are relevant to their subject, which may include a focus on communities, community groups, education, human development or Teaching & Learning, leading to the submission of a 3000-word report, which contrasts and evaluates the summaries of two research papers.

Students are expected to draw out any opposing or limiting viewpoints from the research papers, and, offer an evidence-based evaluation, which reflects the student’s own viewpoint, thereby demonstrating an emerging critical approach to their work.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Psycho-social perspectives: Forensics issues and criminology (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module facilitates a comprehensive overview of the field of criminology and forensics issues within society. Learning is contextualised within epistemological and academic expertise located within sociology, psychology, history, law and ethics, Rapid societal change challenges existing definitions of crime, perceived causes of criminal involvement and approaches to prevention and resolution of identified issues within the criminal justice field.

What do I learn?

Students explore cultural and philosophical perspectives, legal definitions and ethical values relating to the situating of crime within societal discourse, policy and practice.

Factors affecting participation in crime (e.g. Education, housing, cultural expectations) are explored and the impact on vulnerable individuals and groups throughout the life course identified and discussed.

What’s the assignment?

Presentation

Assessment: Students will demonstrate their evolving awareness and knowledge of forensic issues in society by creating a presentation based on a selected research paper on the causes and consequences of involvement in the criminal justice system relating to a chosen societal group. Students will keep records of weekly 20 minute practice sessions with peers in triads/tetrads, a minimum of three of which must be observed and signed by tutor.

Report (2000 words)

Assessment: Situating their chosen research paper within the wider pedagogic literature, students shall demonstrate a scoping overview of existing knowledge. Students shall produce a report with the following focus: Identify a vulnerable societal group critically analysing psycho-social, cultural and economic factors influencing involvement in crime, evaluating the impact of socio-political policy responses to inclusion in the criminal justice system.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Law and Ethics (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will introduce theories of ethics and values. It will focus on the process of law making in the United Kingdom to include statute and case law. The overview of Social Work law and the application of this within case work will be explored, with focus on the shared responsibility to safeguard.

What do I learn?

Ethical dilemmas, ethical decision making and application of practice in direct work with service users and service user groups will be explored across the health, psychology and the social care field of practice.

Professional responsibilities within the legal framework and the ability to identify and apply key legislation will be delivered.

What’s the assignment?

Case presentation – providing clear analysis of the needs of a service user, with consideration of ethical dilemmas focusing on adult frameworks.
A structured report focusing on the legal framework of a child safeguarding case.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Mental Health (40 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will introduce embed theories, paradigms and constructs of mental health. The construct of mental health will be considered from a local, national and international perspective.

Stigma, labelling, discrimination and social exclusion will be addressed with models to offer support and good mental health.

What do I learn?

This module will consider the experience of mental health problems across the life course, as well as the differing manifestations of mental distress, including diagnosed mental health problems, substance misuse and the dementias; and co-morbidity.

Students will critically appraise models of mental health practice and focus on anti-discrimination and empowerment in practice. Risk factors and risk management, including evaluation of policy will be appraised. Recovery, co-production and partnership working are intrinsic to the module.

What’s the assignment?

Presentation: The content of the presentation will include analysing attitudes within mental health within chosen services user group, focusing on stigma, labeling and social exclusion with analytical discussion about models within mental health practice.

Essay: The patchwork essay is expected to include:

– An evaluation of the law on the chosen service user group of the dementias or substance misuse.

– An examination of the impact of partnership approaches on the service user and the risk management of ill mental health.

– An analysis of the impact on the wider network and the systemic considerations to best practice.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Professional Management (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will further develop learning from Professional Practice at Level 4 and firmly build upon the student’s first year of theoretical underpinning and experience. The module will focus on the student’s placement within a professional setting and reflexivity in practice based on the student’s own work experience/occupational practice.

In this module students will be expected to demonstrate a greater degree of autonomy in the management of their learning as this module progresses into the exploration and application of management theories in professional practice.

What do I learn?

The focus on change, management theories and multi-disciplinary settings will be core to the module. Models and theories of professional supervision, requirements for reflexivity, the lifelong student and the integration of evidence based practice holding centrality to the students learning development throughout the course.

The myriad of agencies and core values will be explored, with an in depth analysis of the power management structures within the health and psychosocial field and the position of the professional within this shared safeguarding perspective and the multi-stakeholder. The service user perspective and managerial strategies to engage service users within the consensual field and child protection / vulnerable adult settings will be evaluated.

What’s the assignment?

Self-reflective feedback report: – Including excerpts of the student’s personal professional practice, with reference to the theoretical underpinning within professional practice, holding a critical standpoint when analysing the process of professional practice, leadership and the impact on the service user group.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year Three (Level 6)

Module title.

Research Methodologies (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

The content of this module builds on knowledge and understanding developed in Academic Practice at Level 4 and Introduction to Research at Level 5. Students are expected to deepen their understanding of the rules of the academic world, and to apply these to group activities and individual written work.

What do I learn?

Students will learn how to differentiate between research methods employed in a variety of settings, including academic articles, book chapters, reports, newspaper articles and filmed material.

In considering the limitations and/or validity of a source, students will demonstrate how to critique the material effectively and thus evidence their preparation ahead of writing an undergraduate dissertation.

What’s the assignment?

Critical Evaluation: The critical evaluation of the research methodology chosen for the subsequent writing of the undergraduate dissertation, enables students to review and critique a methodological approach, thereby enhancing their understanding of a research tool prior to applying it.

Dissertation Proposal: The including of the dissertation proposal in this module helps students to make a direct connection between the validity of a research methodology and their own design of a substantial piece of written work.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Therapeutic Approaches to SEND (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of Special Educational Need and Disability. Students will identify the support required for the promotion of independence within the caring, therapeutic and educational setting. Students will expand on their understanding of lifespan development and the social and health implications associated with sitting outside these normative developmental milestones. Students will gain an understanding of current national SEND legislation and policy and its delivery.

What do I learn?

Consideration of the wider impact on family, housing, income and multi-generational living will be explored, along with the psychosocial impact on the service user and the promotion of independence and projected outcomes.

Consideration will be given to ethical dilemmas and values. The student will gain knowledge of therapeutic approaches and collaborative practice across within a multi-disciplinary health and social perspective. Students will research the co-morbidity of mental health and SEND.

What’s the assignment?

Presentation:

Students are expected to present for 17 minutes on a specific issue surrounding SEND and its co-morbidity with mental health.

Students will choose and area of SEND to present on and its direct relationship with emotional well-being, with specific reference to the DSM-V.

Presentation must either be about a child or an adult (and then vice versa for their report).

Care-plan report:

Each student will write a care plan within a relevant framework for the child or adult case study provided.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Contemporary Innovations in the health and social sectors (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Health and social care provision exists in a dynamic world of new technologies and concepts of care prioritisation and delivery. Societal change means that health and social care provision faces challenges requiring interdisciplinary and translative responses. Increasing complexity creates opportunities for integrating diversity in health and social care philosophy and practice across spatial and temporal arenas of engagement extending beyond traditional boundaries.

What do I learn?

This module provides a rigorous overview of the changing philosophies and context of health and how societal developments shape the values, ethics and context of healthcare delivery for and with individuals and communities.

Students will engage in reflective exploration of research questions and innovatory paradigms in response to scientific and societal developments, exploring theoretical, empirical, and policy research, seeking to gain pedagogical and evidence-based knowledge from which to assess the field and improve innovation – from the individual to global level of human welfare.

What’s the assignment?

Presentation

The co-production task will follow defined stages of engagement and students will co-produce and design a presentation. This can utilise imaginative approaches drawing on digital technology in addition to more traditional approaches to disseminating knowledge

Report

Students will identify an area of healthcare provision suitable for improvement and critically evaluate emergent innovations for their potential contribution to the field. (2500 words).

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Sociological Studies: Local, National and International Perspectives (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary discourse shaping health and social care prioritisation and provision in response to rapidly evolving local to global contexts. Global health is a growing area that reflects the increasing interconnectedness of health and its determinants.

What do I learn?

Students will examine and evaluate the relevance of historic and emergent theoretical perspectives, frameworks and approaches impacting conceptualisations of health and illness, philosophies of engagement and practice from a sociologically informed perspective.

Learning is contextualised within epistemological and academic expertise located within sociology, politics, economics, science, history, law and ethics. We critically reflect on the implications of the perception and construction of societal themes such as neighbourhood, locality, region, country, transnational regions, and the world as an entity.

What’s the assignment?

Patchwork: Generation of a patchwork text relating to a chosen area of focus in relation to the module learning.

This will evidence a growing knowledge base, awareness of and ability to identify sociological concepts and factors relating to the chosen theme.

Patchwork task: Students will identify a sociological theme impacting health and social care provision from a local to global context. They will critique a contemporary societal health/social care issue in relation to the chosen theme identifying ethical issues and potential societal impact arising from their analysis and evaluation.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Undergraduate Dissertation (40 Credits)

What’s it about?

Building on the skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the Level 6 Research Methodologies module, the writing of an undergraduate dissertation enables students to conduct a detailed study of a topic relevant to their discipline.

The undergraduate dissertation is a document that is a substantial piece of critical writing which evidences its author’s ability to apply the analytical research skills learnt to date.

What do I learn?

The Undergraduate Dissertation is an opportunity for students to explore a topic by using a methodological approach relevant to the dissertation title.

The delivery structure of the module enables students to move gradually from structured group sessions towards individual supervision.

Students will have identified and agreed a research topic as part of the L6 Research Methodologies module. It is expected that the research focus chosen is pertinent to their expertise, interests or development, and it is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the topic and methodology adopted are appropriate to Level 6 study, within the given word count and time scale.

What’s the assignment?

Dissertation

The dissertation may take one of the following formats:

a) A critical literature review
b) An analytical essay or study
c) An original research project with critical analysis of its process, outcomes and implications.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Pre-2020 Course Information

This programme was previously validated by the University of Essex as BA (Hons) Health and Social Care. Students who commenced study on the course prior to September 2020 will complete modules approved by the University of Essex and upon successful completion will be awarded a University of Essex validated degree.

Please find below a list of modules for each year of the BA (Hons) Health and Social Care.

Year 1:

Module title: Anatomy and Physiology – 15 credits

What’s it about?

This module looks at the different body systems in connection to human performance. It also provides the underpinning knowledge to develop a rational, critical approach to physical illness and conditions. It develops students’ ability as preparation for academic work at level 5 and to apply their knowledge in practical situations.

What do I learn?

All about the different systems within the body such as homeostasis, cells and tissues, muscular and skeletal systems, and nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive and urinary systems.

What’s the assignment?

1.5 hour exam

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Childhood in Society

What’s it about?

This module will introduce you to the concept of childhood and how it has changed over time. We explore how attitudes and values have historically shaped what it means to be a child. In addition, you will examine and challenge your own attitudes about childhood.

What do I learn?

This module is sociologically challenging as much as it is reflective. You will explore the origins of childhood and the differing cultural views of childhood as well as examine the factors that impact childhood such as gender, race, and class.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word assignment on the social construction of childhood.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Ethics and Values (15 credits)

What’s it about?

The module explores the values and theories which inform how Health and Social Care professionals make ethical decisions.

What do I learn?

You will learn how socialisation contributes to the development of personal values as well as the role of education and professional codes of conduct in shaping professional values. There will be discussion of the potential for conflict between personal, professional and societal values. You will learn a number of ethical approaches and consider how to apply them in practice.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word essay based on a case study.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Health and Wellbeing

What’s it about?

What is health and what does it mean to have a good sense of ‘wellbeing’? This module explores the complex and multifaceted nature of health and wellbeing in contemporary societies, questioning the social, cultural and political factors that influence an individual’s health.

What do I learn?

Different concepts and definitions of health, illness and disability, how social inequalities create health disparities, health interventions, and forms of empowerment.

What’s the assignment?

A 4,000 written assignment in the form of a patchwork text and a presentation summarising the patches (15 mins)

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Human Growth and Development (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module introduces students to the process of development that individuals go through during their lives, providing a holistic approach. It looks at anatomical and physiological changes, psychosocial development and issues of culture, class, race, gender, ability and sexual orientation, applying them to human development. It also looks at how development influences individual identity.

What do I learn?

Nature versus Nurture, holistic development, stage theory and comparing theories of growth, child development, family systems, old age, and disability.

What’s the assignment?

Essay based on case study

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Research and Study Skills

What’s it about?

Students entering Higher Education will need a specific set of study skills for successful completion of their degree. This module equips you will the necessary skills to succeed and includes learning how to Harvard reference, structuring and writing essays as well as research methodologies

What do I learn?

Harvard referencing, research skills for books, journals and academic websites, analytical and evaluative skills, and Quantitative and Qualitative research methods.

What’s the assignment?

A 3,000 word patchwork assignment, which is made up of three individual patches that you will complete over the duration of the module.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Safeguarding and Risk (15 credits)

What’s it about?

Understanding risk in Health and Social Care in the context of safeguarding children and adults.

What do I learn?

You will appreciate the nature of risk as well as differing perceptions of risk and attitudes to risk taking. The module includes law and policy in relation to safeguarding and health and safety at work, and evaluates a range of risk assessment and risk management strategies.

What’s the assignment?

The assignment consists of two parts. (1) A 10 minute presentation on chosen health and safety topics. (2) A 2,000word essay based on a case study.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: The Social & Political Context of Health and Social Care (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module explores the social, economic, and political factors and scientific advances which have influenced the development of health and welfare over the centuries.

What do I learn?

You will identify significant turning points in policy and service development such as the Victorian Poor law and the introduction of the post war welfare state. You will explore how scientific progress and challenges to attitudes to the poor and vulnerable have influenced models of understanding of disability and ageing and evaluate these in relation to current policy and practice.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word patch work essay

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year 2

Module title (15 credits) Counselling Skills in the Workplace

What’s it about?

This module offers students the chance to develop their skills and knowledge in any role associated with mentoring, counselling skills and active listening. It will also help students understand when a service user might benefit from these skills in a professional capacity.

What do I learn?

Active listening, role of the counsellor, different therapeutic models and their origins, values and ethics in counselling, self-reflection, evaluation, peer review/support, mentoring and supervision.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word essay.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Domestic Abuse (15 credits)

What’s it about?

The nature and impact of domestic abuse and current responses by Health and Social Care and the criminal justice system.

What do I learn?

You will learn about the different manifestations of coercive and controlling behaviour associated with domestic abuse and the impact on victims in relation to gender age, culture and sexual orientation. You will develop an understanding of different theories of domestic abuse with particular reference to patriarchal societies. You will appreciate the experience of survivors in the criminal justice system and evaluate current practice and services.

What’s the assignment?

Written assignment (3,000 words)

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Effective Communication (FdA)

What’s it about?

To be an effective care practitioner, you need to be able to adapt and adjust your communication skills when necessary. This module allows you to examine key communication theories and strategies. Moreover, you will reflect on you own communication skills in your professional practice and assess your strengths while recognising your areas for development.

What do I learn?

Theories, concepts, and techniques of communication. This includes: assertiveness strategies, questioning techniques and understanding emotional intelligence. You will identify and evaluative barriers to communication as well as analyse your own skills in this area.

What’s the assignment?

3,000-word essay based on the above.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Gender and Society

What’s it about?

What is gender? What is sex? This module examines the often complex and contradictory terrain of sex and gender and its implications for men, women, and non-binary individuals in society.

What do I learn?

How gender and sex are both a social construct and material practice – we often perform our gender in given cultural and social constructs. What implications does this have for society? Politically, how does sex and gender reinforce and intersect with other social inequalities such as class, race, and species?

What’s the assignment?

A 3,000-word essay on a topic of your choice, making links to gender and health and wellbeing.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Law and Ethics (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module builds on the Ethics and Values module in the first year with a focus on the law and how it contributes to ethical decision making.

What do I learn?

You will develop a detailed understanding of relevant social work laws and the principles underpinning them. You will evaluate the legislation with reference to anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and learn how an understanding of the law relates to ethical decision making. You will appreciate the ethical dilemmas arising from conflicting principles and legislation.

What’s the assignment?

The assignment consists of two parts: (1) a 2,000 word essay based on a case study. (2) A 1.5-hour open book exam.

Module title Loss in Health and Social Care (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module looks at the different types of loss experienced in care practice. It considers the similarities and differences between the types of loss and the way we experience it. It looks at the potential impact it has on self and practice, avoidance, and the way we deal with it.

What do I learn?

Identification of situations of loss in Health and Social Care, personal experience of loss, theoretical perspectives on grieving (both individual and social), personal and professional boundaries, your own experience, support/supervision, and networks.

What’s the assignment?

3,000-word essay based on theory and experience in practice.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Mental Health (60 credits)

What’s it about?

The module promotes an understanding the nature and development of mental health problems, substance misuse, and the dementias, and evaluates current service provision and practice issues.

What do I learn?

You will understand different models of mental health problems, substance misuse, and ageing, and their implications for professional practice. You will develop an appreciation of risks associated with mental health problems, substance misuse and the dementias, including risks posed by service users and risks to service users arising from the mental health system. You will be able to evaluate the complex issues arising from service users with overlapping needs and consider the effectiveness of current service provision.

What’s the assignment?

6,000 word patch-based essay. You should choose to write about one of the following: mental health problems, or substance misuse, or the dementia’s.

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title Promoting Health in Health and Social Care (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module introduces the concepts of health and illness and develops an understanding of the importance of promoting health in all care capacities and practice. It introduces key themes such as advocacy, empowerment, and effective communication.

What do I learn?

Students will gain an understanding of theories of health and illness, analyse the impact of inequality on health and access to health improvement, and analyse how theories of health promotion can be used to plan health promotion strategy.

What’s the assignment?

Group Presentation and 2,500-word essay

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Research Appreciation and Critiquing

What’s it about?

Every day we carry out some form of research, whether it is for train times, seeking out our next holiday destination, and even looking for appropriate courses at University! This module introduces you to the research process in academia, and examines why research is important to Health and Social Care. How does research on health inequalities or research into the experiences of living with schizophrenia inform your practice? This module will help you understand these connections.

What do I learn?

You will be learning new terminology as well as examining the process of quantitative (research by numbers) and qualitative (research by text) inquiry.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word critique of a research paper.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year 3

Module title. Advocacy (15 credits)

What’s it about?

This module offers the opportunity for participants to explore the purpose, principles, and models of advocacy. Advocacy is now embodied in legislation relating to children and people with mental health problems, and is an important method of raising awareness on a variety of issues that may lead to improvements in policy, legislation and service development and delivery.

What do I learn?

You will Identify and critique the purpose and principles of advocacy and critically examine and compare the various models of advocacy. You will critically reflect and review the role of advocacy in relation to children and people with mental health problems.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word written essay.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Collaboration and Change in Health and Social Care (15 credits)

What’s it about?

The role of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency collaboration, as well as working in partnership with service users in safe and effective service delivery.

What do I learn?

You will learn about factors driving the need for collaboration in the context of inquiries, Serious Case Reviews and legislation and policy. You will understand factors contributing to effective working relationships at an individual, group and organisational level, as well as identifying barriers to collaboration. You will appreciate the progress towards integration of Health and Social Care services and the implications for organisational change. You will understand theories of change including the role of collective leadership. You will have reflected on the experience of service users as experts by experience and their role in collective leadership.

What’s the assignment?

3000 word patch work essay.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Undergraduate Dissertation

What’s it about?

This module will allow you to independently conduct your own literature review (with or without a research proposal), or extended essay. You can choose your own topic on whatever aspect of Health and Social Care interests you.

What do I learn?

You will explore a specific topic in more depth and critically examine it. Writing a dissertation is both challenging and fun, as you independently shape your own assignment.

What’s the assignment?

This module is divided into two parts. Part one is a 10-15 minute presentation on your chosen topic, assessing what you have found out so far. Part two is writing an 8,000 word literature review, or literature with research proposal, or an extended essay on your chosen topic.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: 15 credits – Looked after Children and Young People

What’s it about?

This module looks at the impact that care has on children and young people and the systems that deliver this care to them. The module examines attachment and resilience theories giving an understanding of the needs of this group. Rights of children will also be explored as well as the difficulties and dilemmas they may experience.

What do I learn?

To understand the needs of the children and young people in care and critique the roles and responsibilities in relation to children and young people in care, and evaluate theories relevant to the needs of children and young people in care.

What’s the assignment?

3,000 word essay.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Supervision: models, process and practice

What’s it about?

You will learn to understand the value of supervision in your professional practice, learning about the theoretical models and concepts which underpin the process. You will reflect on processes involved from both the recipient’s and provider’s perspectives.

What do I learn:

You will learn about the benefits reflective and collaborative practice brings to the Health and Social Care environment, alongside the ethical implications and importance of supervision. You will critically evaluate and compare and contrast the models of supervision.

What’s the assignment?

A written assignment based on knowledge, understanding and experience of supervision either as a recipient or provider. The assignment will consist of a balance of theoretical perspectives on supervision, reflective accounts of the supervisory process, and critical awareness of the role of supervision within professional practice.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Module title: Youth and Crime

What’s it about?

What does it mean to be a criminal? What is deviance? This module explores the social construction of crime and its implication for young people.

What do I learn?

Amongst many things, you will examine the criminological literature on young offenders in relation to a host of social factors such as gender, race, and class. Are young people who commit crimes offenders or victims? You will analyse the complex social and political contexts of crime and deviance in relation to young people and education.

What’s the assignment?

A 3,000 word essay on youth and crime.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Disclaimer

All Fees and prices shown on the website are for courses starting in the 2018-19 or 2019-20 academic year and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

The course information describes programmes offered by University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.

BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies

CertHE Health and Psychosocial Studies

BSc (Hons) Health and Psychosocial Studies

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