BA/BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care: Work with adults pathway

Stage 1

In Stage 1, you’ll be introduced to the study of health and social care and to either social work or the social sciences.

In An introduction to health and social care (K101)An introduction to health and social care::We all depend on care services at some time in our lives – at home; in hospitals, clinics or GP surgeries; in community and residential settings. As a key introductory Level 1 course, K101 provides an authoritative overview of health and social care underpinned by health and social policy, practice expertise and social science. The learning experience is greatly enhanced by real-life case studies taking you deep into the experience of receiving care and working in care services. This course will help you to build knowledge and understanding of care work and care services, develop skills, and prepare you for further study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,K101,,1 (60 credits), you’ll examine the experience of giving and receiving care in hospitals, clinics or GP surgeries; within the family and community; and in residential settings.

This is complemented by Foundations for social work practice (KYJ113)Foundations for social work practice::Are you interested in social work or social care? Whatever your starting point, this key introductory Level 1 course will develop your knowledge of the key roles of social work, and introduce the social work standards and codes of practice relevant to each UK nation state. You will also build key skills in information and communication technologies (ICT), information literacy and reflective writing. This course includes a minimum 10-day period of verified practice learning in a social care/social work setting, which you will be responsible for organising.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,KYJ113,,1/Foundations for social work practice (KZW113)Foundations for social work practice::This key introductory Level 1 course is a module of the OU degree in social work for students in Wales. It can be studied as a standalone course but to gain the degree you must successfully complete the selection process. The course will help develop your knowledge of the key roles of social work, and introduce the social work standards and codes of practice relevant to each UK nation state. It explores ideas about what social work is – using case studies with children, older people, mental-health communities, disabled children, and people with learning disabilities to apply learning to practice contexts.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,KZW113,,1 (60 credits) in which you’ll use case studies to explore social work standards and social work practice – investigating how they’re applied in relation to children, older people, mental-health communities, disabled children and people with learning disabilities.

Or you can choose to study Introducing the social sciences (DD101)Introducing the social sciences::This key introductory Level 1 course is an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology – through study of contemporary UK society. Using a blend of text, audio, DVD and online materials, you’ll explore a wide range of topics, including questions of society’s relationship to the environment, questions of identity and issues of social order and governance – all considered in their national and international contexts – that will equip you with a range of skills for independent study and for your personal and working life.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,DD101,,1. This 60-credit module explores the fundamentals of psychology, social policy and criminology; geography and environment; politics and international studies; and economics and sociology.

These modules can be studied in any order and together they provide an excellent start to your journey towards a qualification in health and social care. As you progress through your studies, you’ll return to their insights time and time again.

Stage 2

Stage 2 provides a balance between study of adult care and work with children and families. In Adult health, social care and wellbeing (K217)Adult health, social care and wellbeing::Health and social care is everyone’s business. Whether using a service or being cared for by family or friends, we want skilled and understanding people who can work in partnership with us to meet our needs. Using online activities to explore real-life case material with up-to-date research, policy and practice you'll learn about how adult health and social care is organised, delivered, and experienced across a range of sectors. Whether you’re involved in paid or unpaid work, use health and social care services yourself, or simply have a general interest, this course is designed to deepen your understanding and develop your practice.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,K217,,1 (60 credits) you’ll consider how health and social care is everyone’s business – not just the business of care sector professionals. Whether using a service or being cared for by family or friends, we want skilled and understanding people who can work in partnership with us to meet our needs. Using online activities to explore real-life case material with up-to-date research, policy and practice you'll learn about how adult health and social care is organised, delivered, and experienced across a range of settings.

You’ll also learn about the diversity and complexity of children and young people’s lives in Working with children, young people and families (K218)Working with children, young people and families::Would you like to learn more about work with children, young people or families? This course is about the diversity and complexity of children and young people’s (0–18) lives. Taught primarily through online activities the course examines their experience of the places and spaces in which they live – family, community and a range of health, education and care services. You'll develop an understanding of contemporary debates and key skills relating to safeguarding, health and wellbeing, development, inequalities and disability, social policy, multi-agency working, social pedagogy, youth justice, working with parents, foster care, education, and play. You will examine practice approaches and values, policy, and legal and rights frameworks in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,K218,,1 (60 credits), examining their experience of the places and spaces in which they live – including family, community and a range of health, education and care services. You'll develop an understanding of contemporary debates and key skills relating to safeguarding, health and wellbeing, development, disability, multi-agency working, social pedagogy, youth justice, working with parents, foster care, education, and play. You’ll also examine practice approaches and values, policy, and legal and rights frameworks from across the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Stage 3

Stage 3 will deepen your knowledge and critical analysis of adult health and social care. In the twenty-first century, many more adults will live for longer than in previous generations. The emergence of an ageing society can be celebrated, but it also poses many challenges for everyone involved in giving and receiving care. Adulthood, ageing and the life course (K319)Adulthood, ageing and the life course::In the twenty-first century many more adults will live for longer than in previous generations. The emergence of an ageing society can be celebrated, but it also poses many challenges. As workers, carers, or as people receiving health or social care support, this course will enable you to explore diverse individual, environmental, policy, and practice perspectives for adults and for adulthood. It will focus on later life, mental health, long-term conditions, learning disability, and drug and alcohol use. The course incorporates a rich blend of multi-media learning resources, including stimulating case material and opportunities for online collaborative learning.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,K319,,1 (60 credits) will enable you to explore later life, mental health, long-term conditions, learning disability, and drug and alcohol use from individual, environmental, policy, and practice perspectives.

You’ll complete your studies by focusing on frontline leadership and management roles – Leadership and management in health and social care (K313)Leadership and management in health and social care::The delivery of successful health and social care services relies on effective management and strong leadership. This course is designed for existing and aspiring managers or anyone who would like to learn more about management and leadership in health and social care. It will help you develop the necessary knowledge and analytical skills, as well as providing an overview of the organisational, legal and policy contexts within which managers operate, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced in this sector. Throughout the course you apply learning to real-life examples, developing evidence-based strategies for good outcomes for service users.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q18-5,module,K313,,1 (60 credits) – building the knowledge, skills and analytical tools needed to become an effective manager, able to use evidence-based strategies for good outcomes for service users. You’ll also gain an overview of the organisational, legal and policy contexts within which managers are operating, and examine the impact of working with partners in order to integrate health and social care provision.

If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards an Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for your chosen qualification. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.