BA (Honours) Health and Social Care Practice

Attendance

Part-time

Normally part-time – typically three years, maximum five years

At a glance

About this course

This course enables health professionals to upgrade their qualification and enhance their professional practice.

It is a very flexible course allowing you to choose how you learn and gain recognition for your knowledge. Methods include
• taught modules
• accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL)
• accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL)
• work-based learning
• independent study modules

You can choose modules specific to your profession or take a more general route. You can also take the full course or use credit from other courses to top up your existing qualification.

We take account of what you already know and do, this is central to the course. This allows greater flexibility in what you learn and how you gain academic credit. But you must complete the course within five years, and take a level six dissertation and research module.

Health and Social Care Practice Framework
This course is part of the wider Health and Social Care Practice Framework, a broad and flexible programme of professional courses for healthcare practitioners.

Whatever your specific needs, the framework’s flexibility allows it to deliver a focused programme of accredited professional development based on your interests. For details of other routes in the framework please contact us.

Study individual modules
You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Associated careers

This course is relevant to all registered healthcare professions including • nursing • midwifery • health visiting • physiotherapy • occupational therapy • radiography • paramedic practice • pharmacy technician training. It helps you to develop your skills, knowledge and career potential.

You will benefit if you have
• a professional qualification and would now like an academic qualification
• recently converted from enrolled to registered nurse
• been in practice for a couple of years and want to extend your studies
• some academic qualifications but wish to extend your studies to graduate level
• completed an advanced diploma and would like to gain a degree

Course content

Modules are continually added and updated to reflect the changing needs of health and social care. The list given here provides a flavour of the modules available but the full selection is available at www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/hwb/cpd/modules.html

Modules are worth 10 or 20 credits. Some modules have prerequisites that you must satisfy before studying them. If you choose any of these, you must have studied at a lower level or have appropriate experience to ensure you begin with the relevant background knowledge.

Level five modules

Modules include • developing and enhancing academic study skills • infection management and control • valuing your professional experience • research informed practice 2 • communication and learning with IT • mentoring and facilitating your own and other professionals

Level six modules

Modules include • minor illness management • non-medical prescribing • post-qualification anaesthesia • principles of effective pain management • global perspectives of health promotion and public health • contemporary issues in health and social care • infection management and control • valuing your professional experience • caring for children and families in the emergency department • critical and intensive care of the child • intermediate adult trauma care • mentoring and facilitating your own and other professionals • recognition and management of the acutely ill child • V150 nurse prescribing • health and social care research • dissertation

Assessment

We assess each module separately, normally by continuous assessment. This includes for example • essays • reflective diaries • portfolio • project work.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements may vary depending upon your knowledge and experience.

Typically, you need to be a registered practitioner with a recognised body, and hold a GSCE pass in English (or equivalent) and level 2 numeracy (or equivalent), plus one from
• BTEQ National Qualification or equivalent in a health related subject
• an approved access course in a health related subject – 36 credits at level 3 and 12 credits at level 2
• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care
• FdA Health and Social Care
• FdA Working with Young People and Families
• Advanced Diploma in Nursing Studies
• existing credit gained through study at Sheffield Hallam University. If you have completed a relevant foundation year here you will be guaranteed an interview.

Experience of working in a health, social care or community setting is advantageous.

Course enrolment – professional requirements
Before enrolling, you must fully declare during the admissions process any
• unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on convictions that must be declared see the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) website.
• disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or educational establishments
• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations

You also need to complete
• a DBS Enhanced Disclosure, and provide us with a copy of your DBS Enhanced Disclosure Certificate if requested. Enrolment also depends on the DBS check being deemed suitable for professional training.
• occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course and an approved programme of immunisation, as recommended by the Department of Health. Health screening and immunisation are provided by the University.

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements  – from when you apply to the end of your course – you must tell the Professional Issues Team immediately by calling  0114 225 3995 or 0114 225 5786.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £4,500 a year based on 60 credits. Some modules on this course may be funded by the Department of Health.

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form

Contact details

For further information contact the Post-experience and Postgraduate Office, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Collegiate Crescent Campus, Sheffield, S1 1WB. Phone +44(0)114 225 2372, fax +44 (0)114 225 2394 or e-mail NursingandMidwifery@shu.ac.uk