Course Summary

The Health Care course adopts a work-focused approach to learning, where you will have the opportunity to apply your understanding of the industry in practice.

Through the course you will gain a thorough understanding of professional, ethical, legal and practice issues in the health care industry. You'll use contemporary evidence and theories to take a critical stance in relation to practice, with the use of research and contemporary evidence being a major theme throughout the course.

You will be encouraged to constantly reflect upon your knowledge and skills in order to help identify a course of action for career progression and specialisation. This practice will also help you to refine your critical thinking and evaluation skills.

Why choose this course?

Throughout the course you will actively reflect upon your knowledge and skills to help define the career path you wish to take. The course equips you with both academic and practical skills which will enable you to compete effectively in the job market. Your knowledge and qualification will also allow you to progress to postgraduate study.

During the course you will:

• Benefit from a practical focus and experiential learning
• Gain a thorough understanding of a variety of issues in health care so that you can take a critical stance when applying theory to practice
• Be encouraged to manage your own career progression with support from our staff

BSHHC-SN

Assessment

This course uses a range of assessment strategies and upon completion you will have been required to demonstrate an ability to:

• Develop action plans to demonstrate a problem solving approach to learning


• Complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate critical appraisal of your practice and pertinent literature


• Prepare essays to demonstrate application of pertinent theory to and evaluation of practice


• Prepare and lead presentations / seminars to demonstrate your ability to communicate knowledge and understanding verbally to a peer group


• Practice assessment of clinical skills

The assessments that are used are designed to help prepare you for the range of activities you will engage in once you finish the course. In particular the notion that professional learning is life long is emphasised. As a health care worker the skill to be able to critically appraise practice of both yourself and others, is essential in maintaining patient safety. Most health care workers are required to maintain a personal portfolio of professional development and the construction of a portfolio of evidence of learning will contribute to this process. The inclusion of presentations as a form of assessment will develop your confidence in conducting formal presentations and discussions, which is important to work effectively within a multidisciplinary / multi agency environment.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Critically appraise the evidence underpinning your practice.

2. Synthesise a body of evidence underpinning your practice.

3. Apply ethical and legal concepts to your practice.

4. Evaluate your practice in relation to national and local policies and guidelines.

5. Evaluate the changing health care arenas in the context of health and social policies.

6. Utilise information technology as a means to communicating ideas.

External Benchmarking

University of Bedfordshire Curriculum descriptors.

NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.

QAA Benchmark statements (Health Care programmes).

Educational Aims

The aims of this programme are to enable you to:

• Utilise existing qualities of enquiry, reflection, innovation and research awareness


• Assume responsibility for learning and professional development


• Adopt a problem solving approach to learning


• Develop an ability to transfer skills to enhance the provision of care in health and social contexts


• Create a student focused learning experience relevant to your own personal and professional development


• Facilitate a student led and self-directed approach to learning


• Promote a critical approach toward practice


• Encourage a sharing of knowledge

The objectives of this programme are to enable you to develop:

• Cognitive and academic skills


• An appreciation of different research methodologies


• Critique the strengths and weaknesses of published research


• Review a variety of approaches to evidence based practice

Student support

For the duration of your course your Course Leader will act as your personal lecturer (Course Leader) who is available to guide you through your selection of modules and provide general academic advice.

Each unit lecturer is available to provide you with specific support to enable you to undertake the various assessment and assignments associated with each unit.

The Professional and Academic Advice Team (PAD) are also available for one-to-one tutorials on how to develop your study skills. For further information log on to BREO (the Universitys online learning facility) go to my sites, my organisations and click on the link to Professional and Academic Development.

Team working

Working in health and social care settings necessitates effective and efficient collegial relationships to enable client centred approaches to the delivery of care. The learning process requires you to engage with others in the development of knowledge and skills. Reflections upon current work practices will enable you to focus upon how you interact with the care team and how organizational systems influence practice in the care environment.

Learning from each other requires teamwork through a commitment to enhance your own learning experience and your peer group. Sharing ideas, both in the classroom setting and through the use of discussion groups will enable you to contribute to a common task.

Career Management Skills

This course will require you to actively reflect upon your own knowledge and skills, allowing you to identify a course of action allowing for career progression. The notion of lifelong learning, as an element of professional practice, is promoted. You are encouraged to use career review / appraisal opportunities as a means of identifying the need for and accessing learning opportunities. Throughout the study of various units, you will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and debate about your role in health care, taking into account Government policies. This will assist you in being able to critically comment upon your role and the delivery of health services.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

This course will equip you with academic and practical skills which will enable them to compete in the job market.

Further study:

The completion of an honours degree course will enable students to access post graduate courses offered throughout the University.

Entry

Additional:

Health care worker.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

A variety of teaching and learning activities are undertaken throughout the course. These include: classroom lectures, student led seminars, discussions, online learning activities via BREO, utilizing the discussion board and the virtual classroom facilities.

Classroom contact will take place throughout the semester and requires attendance on one day per week, although the number of study days does vary depending upon which unit is being studied.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

Learning difficulties support: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/libinfo/dyslexic

Disabilities support: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/libinfo/disabled

Skills Development

You will improve your chances of employment by developing skills in the following areas:

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

Formally present seminars which will require you to demonstrate the ability to verbally disseminate knowledge and understanding. The use of action plans, essays and a portfolio will require you to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

Be required to word process assignments, use electronic resources to undertake literature searches, access online web based learning materials. Additionally you will be required to use email and online discussion in some of the modules, using the Universitys online learning resource BREO, (Bedfordshire Resource for Education Online).

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

Explore and critically evaluate current literature.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

Undertake an assessment of your learning needs, develop action plans where required and to provide evidence of achievement.

Improving learning and performance

The development of knowledge and practice based competencies is integral to this course. Performance is assessed in both practice and theoretical aspects. The units of learning are work based, focusing upon the development of your knowledge and skills in relation to your clinical practice.

Your course leader will act as you personal lecturer throughout the duration of your studies and will be available for academic support and advice. Individual unit leaders will also be available to give specific guidance and support in the completion of assignments. A blended learning approach is taken, over all, which is facilitative and promotes self directedness in your studies.

Progress files

You are encouraged to continue to develop your personal professional portfolio as evidence of your professional updating and development. All evidence of your learning, including assignments and practice assessments should be included.

Professional standards

The course reflects standards as set down by: professional regulatory bodies; the Quality Assurance Agency benchmark statements; and the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

The various standards and benchmark statements have been incorporated into the development of the learning outcomes for the units of study. For example, this course does not require you to undertake a project or dissertation in order to pass with Honours, as the QAA standards for a Health Care / Nursing Practice Honours degree have been incorporated throughout the units of study.