Integrated Mental Health and Social Care, FdSc

Overview

Mental health and emotional wellbeing are increasingly recognised as being of vital importance to patient health, so this course has been designed in partnership with key organisations, including the NHS, to provide those who aspire to be assistant practitioners with the skills and knowledge required to help those in need of professional
support.

Building upon the proven track record of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care at UCW, this course is also mapped to Higher Apprenticeship standards, and is one of the first in the region to specifically address the shortage of mental health skills in healthcare and social care.

Course length:

Full-time: 2 years (1 day a week)

Start date:

13th September 2021

Location:

Knightstone Campus and Loxton Campus

Course codes:

Institution: W47
Course: L451
Campus: -

Awarding institution:

UWE Bristol

Find out more

Course detail

As well as the training in topics related to mental health, the classroom elements of the course also include studies in physiology, anatomy, disease and complex conditions and studies in transferable academic areas such as sociology and communication.

The course is taught by our expert and experienced lecturers in the University Centre in our Knightstone Campus, with studies also occasionally taking place in the new Health and Active Living Centre at Loxton Campus. You will also be able to take advantage of everything on offer in our multimillion pound redevelopment of the Winter Gardens on Weston seafront.

As a Higher Apprenticeship, this course involves assessment by work-based mentors, so you must be employed in a health or social care setting and also have access to such a mentor before applying. UCW employs a specialist facilitator to guide students and employers on workplace practices. Please read the workplace suitability guidance to find out more.

Please click on the next tab to find out more about what you’ll learn on this programme and how it is taught and assessed. The dropdowns below deal with our partnership with UWE Bristol and what is and isn’t included in the tuition fees.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the course leader Louise Lynn or UCW’s HEART student services team. It would also be great to meet you and show you around at our next Open Day.

All of the modules on this course are compulsory and worth either 15 or 30 credits. Successful completion of all of the modules in the first year is worth 120 credits at Level 4 and equivalent to a Certificate of Higher Education. Successful completion of the second year is also worth 120 credits and will lead to the award of the Level 5 Foundation Degree.

Year 1:

Communication for Healthcare Practice (30 credits)
Introduction to Psychology and Sociology and Integrated Practice (30 credits)
Physiology, Health and Disease (30 credits)
Skills for Healthcare Practice 1 (30 credits)

Year 2:

Integrated Approaches to Complex Needs (15 credits)
Introduction to Research Methodologies and Methods (15 credits)
Mental Health and Wellbeing (30 credits)
Skills for Healthcare Practice 2 (30 credits)
Supporting People in Crisis (30 credits)

This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice, presentations, case studies, group workshops and work-based practice. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students. When not in scheduled lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

This course has an average of 7.5 hours of scheduled teaching per week.

Assessment is via a combination of written exams, practical exams and coursework. The assessment breakdown is 5% written exams, 15% practical exams and 80% coursework.

Please click on the Course Handbook button to find out more.

Assessment

Written Exams

5%

Coursework

80%

Practical Exams

15%

A related Level 3 qualification such as A Levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or equivalent. Applicants will also need Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths at grade C/4 or above, and are also required to attend an interview.

Applicants must be employed in a suitable health or social care setting where they can be supported and assessed by a work-based mentor and compile a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the achievement of workplace competencies. Please read the workplace suitability guidance to find out more.

Quick Stats

This course has been designed with employer input to enhance the practice of multidisciplinary health and social care practitioners in the field of mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Find out more

Quick Stats

This course has been designed with employer input to enhance the practice of multidisciplinary health and social care practitioners in the field of mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Find out more

Meet the Team

Lindsey Scott

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Lecturer in Health and Social Care

Lindsey worked in the NHS for 38 years. She is a registered nurse, has trained as a midwife, and has also held Director of Nursing and other leadership roles. In 2011, she moved into the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust as Director of Quality and Governance. Prior to beginning lecturing, her interest in education saw her gain a Further Education Teaching Certificate, post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Manchester Business School.
Meet the Team

Sue Day

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Lecturer in Health and Social Care

Sue has been a qualified General Nurse since 1983, specialising in medical and surgical nursing and orthopaedics. She was a Ward Manager of a rheumatology unit in King’s College Hospital alongside research and staff development posts. Sue was a Senior Lecture in Nursing at the University of the West of England for 14 years, teaching undergraduate nursing students and acting as link lecturer for hospitals in Bristol, Bath, Swindon and Taunton. She also taught in a secondary school for four years, where she supported students with additional needs. Sue holds an Honours degree in Nursing from Chelsea College, London University, and a Certificate in Education from Garnett College. She is working towards her Master’s degree in Education.
Meet the Team

Louise Lynn

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Curriculum Coordinator in Health and Social Care

Louise has been a Registered General Nurse since 1997, specialising in coronary care. As well as working in the UK, she also has experience of working internationally in Portugal and in a military hospital in Cyprus. Louise holds an Honours degree in Health and Social Care from the Open University and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education, and is working towards a Master’s degree in Education, with a focus on audio feedback.