Foundation Degree in - Faculty of Health and Life Sciences - Oxford ...

enhance your career prospectsand earn while you learnFoundation Degree inHealth and Social CareLearning in the workplace for health and social care workersThis highly fl exible foundation degree is ideal for local NHS Trust secondees, who have thesupport of their managers to undertake the course, and are Assistant Practitioner Trainees,or Health care and social care workers who do not hold a registration in health or socialcare. There may also be a limited number of places available to applicants who are currentlynot in employment.The course combines both classroom study and work-based learning, and is delivered inpartnership with local health and social care employers.Note: this Foundation degree does not award a registration in health and social care.Whatwill I be studying

Course overviewThis highly fl exible Foundation Degree in Health and Social Careis designed and delivered in partnership with local employers andprovides an exciting opportunity for staff working in health andsocial care settings to gain new knowledge and skills.Our aim is to develop your knowledge and skills, which will enhanceyour role within care and enable you to document the evidence ofthe learning experience for your own career development.The course is primarily aimed at care workers who are takingon new roles such as assistant practitioners, associatepractitioners or team leaders who have already achieveda level of responsibility, but who want to consolidate thatwith evidence of new knowledge and skills to enhance theirpractise. It is, however, open to all who are interested inexploring new aspects of health and social care and whoare in employment in a relevant place of work. Limited studyplaces may be available for applicants who are currently notin employment.About the courseThe course consists of units of study called modules.Your taught sessions will contain core content and you will also havethe opportunity to customise your ‘pathway’ during the course.With the support of your tutors, you will be able to identify work-basedlearning outcomes that refl ect and respond to your individual role andemployment needs.You will attend classes that include:-• study skills• science for health and social care• social and welfare systems• legal and ethical aspects of care• research and evidence.Teaching will mainly be undertaken in seminars and we encouragestudent participation. You will also have the opportunity to useour well-equipped clinical skills suites to learn new skills and workalongside other health and social care students.In addition, you will learn through your own workplace, supported by asupervisor and work-based learning team. The focus of your learningin the workplace will be professional skills specifi c to your individualrole and the completion of a personal portfolio.Course structureThe course runs for two years full-time and combines both classroomstudy and work-based learning. The days are organised as follows:• One day a week per academic year (September - July)attending taught sessions.• Two to four days a week in workplace learning throughoutthe year.Teaching, learning and assessmentIn health and social care no professional group works in isolation.Oxford Brookes teaches a very wide range of pre-qualifi cation andfoundation courses including nursing (adult, children’s and mentalhealth), midwifery, occupational therapy, osteopathy, operatingdepartment practice, paramedic emergency care, physiotherapyand social work. You will share your learning with these otherhealth care students. This is a key component of the course as it isessential in developing your teamwork skills and your understandingof the other roles you will encounter in practice.We offer a very friendly and supportive environment in which tolearn and we consistently receive very high satisfaction ratings forstudent support and learning resources in student surveys. We haveexcellent teaching facilities including classrooms, a 280-seat lecturetheatre, dedicated clinical skills suites and simulation resources,which include a very well-equipped movement laboratory, a family ofcomputerised simulation manikins, an extensive range of anatomymodels and fully networked computer rooms. To view our onlinepicture gallery, go to http://shsc.brookes.ac.uk/picture-galleryWe also have excellent library resources, accessible through boththe web and through a range of locally-based facilities on universityand NHS sites. All our courses adopt a student-centred approach toteaching and learning and are strongly focused on encouraging youto attain your full potential as a lifelong learner. We provide a rangeof support mechanisms for students, such as academic advisers,who will facilitate your academic development, and student supportco-ordinators, who provide a drop-in service for queries about anyaspect of student life, covering both academic and personal welfare.The university’s support services include Upgrade, which providesadvice on study skills such as planning and writing essays,assignments and dissertations, research, or preparing for anexam. They also give advice on statistics and maths. There is adedicated Student Disability and Dyslexia Service, which providessupport for students with disabilities including sensory and mobilityimpairments, dyslexia and other specifi c learning diffi culties, mentalhealth problems and medical conditions. Here, staff offer advice andsupport on a range of issues, including physical access, funding,alternative assessment arrangements and liaison with teaching staffto ensure that they are aware of your requirements.Information technology plays an increasingly important role in healthcare courses and a very extensive range of learning resourcescan be accessed through ‘Brookes Virtual’, an online repository oflectures, handouts, information and learning exercises.

Opportunities for further studyFurther options depends on what you want to do. Successfulcompletion of the course can lead to the possibility of extendingyour qualifi cation to an honours degree in health and social careor the opportunity to take a further year of more specialist studythrough the `innovative Student Designed Award. Whatever youchoose to do, you have achieved credit that you can use forpossible entry to other higher education courses.Course feesThere is a wide range of fi nancial support available to help you paytuition fees and living costs. You may be able to cover part of thecost of your studies with bursaries, student loans or grants. As aFoundation Degree student, you may be eligible for support withfees through your local authority. Further information about fi nancialsupport is available at: www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/fi nanceOpen daysPlease check our website regularly where details of our open dayswill be advertised. If you would like to have a tour of the universitycampus, please contact the enquiry centre on+44 (0) 1865 484848, to make the necessary arrangements.Specifi c entry requirementsTo start this course, you will normally be in employment as youmust be able to continue working in an appropriate settingwhilst undertaking the work-based learning component.However, there may be a limited number of places available toapplicants who are currently not in employment.Applications will be considered on an individual basis.The university adopts an admissions policy which encourageswidening access to individuals who may not hold the traditionalacademic qualifi cations for degree-level awards.As a guide, the normal entry requirements are:• Maths and English Language GCSE at grade Cor above – or an equivalent vocationally relatedqualifi cation, such as NVQ3 in health and social care• occupational health clearance• where applicable, an IELTS score of 6.5 overall(minimum of 6.0 in any component) is required for allapplicants whose fi rst language is not English.Applicants will be screened for fi tness to practise and aCriminal Records Bureau (CRB) check will be made.How to applyApplications are welcome through UCAS.UCAS code: L510 FdSc/HSCStudent profileName: Kefas JeshuaStudying: Foundation Degree inHealth and Social CareI chose a career in health and social care becauseI see it as a stepping stone for my future and alsoto gain knowledge so that I can be competentat work.I am a strong believer that if you have the rightinformation, there is little chance to be wrong ordo something that is unprofessional.I think that Oxford Brookes is one of the bestuniversities in the United Kingdom, based onwhat I have heard from my work colleagues.The student support is great, as well as the desirefor us to do well in our studies from lecturers.

Useful contactsProgramme AdministratorTel: +44 (0) 1865 488134Email: fdshsc@brookes.ac.ukAddress: Oxford Brookes UniversityJack Straw’s LaneMarstonOxfordOX3 0FLWebsite: http://shsc.brookes.ac.ukSenior Tutor (admissions enquiries only)Tel: +44 (0) 1865 482582Email: shsc_seniortutors@brookes.ac.ukOxford Brookes UniversityWebsite: www.brookes.ac.ukHeadington Campus ToursTel: +44 (0) 1865 484848Email: query@brookes.ac.ukAccommodation Offi ceTel: +44 (0) 1865 484660Email: accomm@brookes.ac.ukUCAS (Customer Service Unit)Tel: +44 (0) 871 4680468Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.ukWebsite: www.ucas.comWhy choose Oxford Brookes?• Top-quality teaching: our lecturers are experienced intheir specialist practice area and maintain excellent linkswith those areas locally or across the region. Many of ourlecturers also have extensive national and international links.• A large, dedicated building in Oxford (Marston Road)and a campus in Swindon (Ferndale) with first-ratefacilities including simulation suites (ward environment,high dependency setting, movement laboratoryand a communication suite), all fully equipped withcomputerised resources and anatomy models. Our FerndaleCampus in Swindon also has a fully functional operatingtheatre and ward environment.• Interprofessional learning with students from a broadrange of health and social work professions, providingopportunities for shared learning and allowing thedevelopment of teamwork skills.• Varied placement learning opportunities working alongsideexperienced professionals in some of the UK’s leadingclinical and community settings including world-leadingOxford-based hospitals and our own osteopathicteaching clinics.• Research expertise in areas like public health, rehabilitationand cancer care. The last government ResearchAssessment Exercise rated 70% of health-related researchto be internationally recognised, with some achievingworld-leading status.• There are excellent sports facilities at Oxford Brookeswith more than 40 sports clubs and six dedicated sportsof excellence.• The opportunity to work overseas: UK-trained health andsocial work professionals are highly valued throughoutthe world.• A huge variety of career opportunities; working in theNational Health Service (NHS), social services, theindependent or voluntary sectors.• Excellent graduate employment: graduates from OxfordBrookes are highly regarded by employers and the majorityof our graduates gain their first choice of post in theirchosen field.• Many graduates go on to further study or enter healthmanagement, education or research roles.To obtain a large-print copy of (or sections of) this publication or to enquire about other formats,please contact +44 (0) 1865 484848 or email query@brookes.ac.ukOxford Brookes University actively supports equality in education and welcomes applications from all people representative of ourdiverse community. For more details please visit www.brookes.ac.uk/services/hr/eod or phone +44 (0) 1865 485929110401-2681