Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care (Scotland)
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Description
Social care in Scotland is increasingly multidisciplinary and community focused – requiring a skilled, adaptable workforce to deliver high quality services. The Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care will deepen your insight of social care and social work, and develop the knowledge and skills you need to support vulnerable adults and children effectively in multiple settings. This diploma course places a strong emphasis on working across professional boundaries, with service users placed firmly at the centre. You’ll gain an up-to-date and authoritative overview of care services, drawing on real life case studies with children, older people, mental health communities and people with learning disabilities. You’ll explore key roles, standards and codes of practice – focusing in particular on areas relevant to your own role, such as work with children and families, vulnerable adults and people with mental health difficulties; and social work and the law.
Fees and facts
Key facts
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Flexible, part-time study through distance learning.
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Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
undergraduate.qualification.W31,qualification,,diploma_he,1 A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. DipHEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A DipHE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level. You can use a DipHE to: - change careers or progress your current career
- gain technical and professional skills
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
- gain professional recognition
- achieve a full honours degree through additional study.
The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland. |
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Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements to study this diploma, but it would be to your advantage to work in or have access to a social care agency – for example, through voluntary work. Note that for the module Foundations for social work practice (KYJ113) you’ll need to organise and complete a period of 10 days’ preparation for practice which must involve shadowing a qualified social worker.
Career relevance and employability
The modules that make up this diploma course also form part of the BA (Honours) Social Work (Scotland) (Q41) – so if you’re considering a career in social work, The Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care provides an excellent introduction.
Please note, however, that this diploma course does not give automatic entry to the social work degree programme. You’ll need to meet specific entry requirements, including attending an interview and working in a social care setting. To find out more about entry to the degree, you can download the BA (Hons) Social Work (Scotland) prospectus, or request a copy from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
There’s more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Choose a pathway and register
Pathways allow you to specialise or choose particular topics that interest you. You will need to choose a pathway before registering.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
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 this qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for this qualification.
If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete this qualification. This may also mean that the next start date and the maximum time limit for this qualification are different to those shown above.
Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care (Scotland), and will be entitled to use the letters Dip HE (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the following regulations:
These regulations are also available on our Essential Documents website.
If you have a disability
Choosing the qualification that’s right for you is very important. Depending on your disability, long-term health condition, mental health disability or specific learning difficulty, you may need to consider any challenges posed by:
- the learning objectives: for example, to gain an honours degree in a language you must be physically able to speak the language
- how the modules are taught: for example, some of our science qualifications require that you complete laboratory work
- any work-based competency requirements.
Choosing the right qualification can be a complex mix of the subject requirements and the support you may need. To help you assess whether the qualification you are interested in will work for you, further advice is available from:
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study for this qualification. For most OU qualifications a Microsoft Windows (new since 2007),
Apple Mac (OS X 10.6 or later) or Linux computer should be adequate. However, some qualifications require more specific IT equipment, in which case you
will need additional software to use an Apple Mac or Linux computer. A detailed technical specification for your modules will be made available when you
register. Please note, technical specifications do change over time to match computer developments and the way we teach.
Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities
we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move.
As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed
feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online
tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
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