Health and Social Care

at Riverside College

Study options

Award

FdSc

Key facts

Location:
Riverside College
Study option:
Full-time
Duration:
2 Years
School:
Health, Science and Wellbeing

Industry-standard Facilities

Work with professional facilities and get work-ready

Expert teaching staff

Our academic team have a wealth of industry experience

Career opportunities

Over 350 career opportunities within different health and social care settings

In partnership with Riverside College, we’re offering you the chance to look at many aspects of health and social care, including life development from birth to older adult and to consider how external factors, such as the environment and policy, influence this development.

You will develop core skills which are relevant to all health and social care areas, such as record keeping, safeguarding, and how you can affect the communication of others.

You will learn about the social, psychological and biological aspects of health through the lifespan, cultural differences in relation to health and social care, society’s influences on the healthy individual and the health impact on social care. You will also learn how health and social care services relate to each other to provide care and develop professional skills and knowledge required in all areas of health and social care.

This is a two-year full-time programme of study. The Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (FdSc) offers you the opportunity to develop core transferable skills and knowledge relevant to health care, social care and public health to enable you to gain employment in an area of your choice. The award is clearly mapped to the 15 standards of the Care Certificate which you may be required to complete when working within health and social care sectors. The design of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care has also been guided by the national subject benchmarks for Health Studies and Social Policy and Administration.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: FdSc Health and Social Care

Course content

The course is continually assessed through methods which include essays, portfolio, examination, presentations, researched report, viva voce and project work.

Level 4 (Year 1)

  • The Context of Health and Social Care (30 credits)
  • Professional Issues (30 credits)
  • Healthy Individuals through the Lifespan (30 credits)
  • Using Communication Skills in Health and Social Care (30 credits)

Level 5 (Year 2)

  • Health Promotion (15 credits)
  • Research Skills for Health and Social Care (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Public Health (30 credits)
  • Basic Counselling Skills in Health and Social Care (15 credits)
  • Understanding Health and Social Care Organisations (30 credits)
  • Understanding Community (15 credits)

Employability skills are embedded throughout the award, with a clear focus on how the modules you study and any experiences you have gained can be applied to the workplace

Entry requirements

You must have obtained a UCAS score of at least 64 points in a subject appropriate to the course. This may include the Edexcel Level 3 (Extended)/Diploma in Health and Social Care, 'A' Levels in Health and Social Care or Biology, or other vocationally relevant qualification such as GNVQs. You should also have GCSE or equivalent qualifications in English at Grade C or above. You will be expected to undertake paid or voluntary work experience in a related health care setting throughout the duration of the course.

 
Careers

With over 350 different career opportunities within different health and social care settings the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (FdSc) provides the underpinning skills and knowledge required for a wide variety of work in these settings, including public or private sector, working for charities in the UK or abroad, working in research centres, public health, health promotion, NHS support services, social services, housing associations, private care homes, offender services, drug and alcohol services, local authority and education support.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that our students learn in different ways. To help everyone get the most out of their studies, we teach through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor (or equivalent) at least twice a year to help support you in your studies. You will be taught in high-quality learning spaces throughout your course, and of course will have access to virtual learning environments to enhance your learning opportunities. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module will give you a variety of opportunities to receive informal feedback from your tutor. These may include classroom discussions, discussions in the virtual learning environment, presentations, milestone assessments, and practice assessments. Informal feedback is developmental and any grades you may receive for these do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on formal coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats, including one-to-one discussions with your tutor. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Fees

For fee information, visit the Riverside College website.

Apply

To apply, visit the Riverside College website.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021