Health and Social Care FdSc

Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE): Health and Social Care

The Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) offers University of Worcester and partner college students the opportunity to complete a one year course, studying at level 4.

This course has become a recognised route into careers within the NHS, independent and third sector organisations, including Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Social Work, for students who did not meet the initial entry criteria. Progression onto such professional programmes is subject to successful application and therefore not guaranteed.

Students registered for the Cert HE who successfully complete the requirements for the award, may choose to continue to study in the following year towards the Foundation degree rather than exit with the Cert HE. This will enable students to undertake the two year Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care, after which they may then choose to then complete a top-up degree.

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Course timetable

The course is one day a week at University and one day in placement. We have designed the course to be flexible enough to be accessible to those with work, caring or parenting responsibilities.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for academic achievement, lifelong learning and future employment. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support through the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will enable you to flourish and be successful.

Employability

Progression and Employability

There are also opportunities to progress via a third year of top-up study to a BA (Hons) in Applied Health & Social Care or BSc (Hons) in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Graduates also have the opportunity to progress into a variety of nursing courses.

A number of our students use the course as a route into the BSc (Hons) Nursing programme, as satisfactory completion of this meets the academic entry requirements to the programme, subject to selection and recruitment processes.

The option also exists for students who complete the Foundation Degree, who are also working in a health care setting with access to a nurse mentor, to complete a 2+2 route. Gaining direct entry to year two of the University of Worcester BSc (Hons) Nursing (adult or mental health) programme. This is subject to selection and recruitment processes, availability of places and completion of Recognition of Prior Learning.

Graduates can expect greater employability and enhanced promotion prospects. There should be opportunities open to you in health and care sectors, voluntary and private organisations.

Skills gained:

• Practical skills developed through work-based learning
• Values, knowledge and skills relevant to working in health and social care services
• Assess, plan, implement and make sound judgements in care delivery
• Develop skills and strategies necessary for working in partnership with a range of service users and their families, services, professionals and groups across the health & social care settings
• Evaluation and application of research
• Wide variety of personal and transferable skills including assessing and planning, problem solving and decision making, mental health promotion, interdisciplinary working and interpersonal skills
• Reflective practice