Social Care BA
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Hope Park|UCAS Campus Code: L46Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
There is a growing need for well-trained, multi-skilled graduates able to respond to the changing demands within the Social Care employment and research sectors. As such the Social Care team recognise the great benefit of collaborating with service users, health and social care employers and stakeholders in this sector.
Curriculum content will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of Social Care through an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach. Students will be encouraged to develop a critical approach to a range of social care discourses.
The School has strong links with a range of individuals and organisations in the field who have expressed an ongoing commitment to working with us. The Social Care team build on these long-standing working relationships at all levels of the programme to embed a research informed, evidence-based practice approach to teaching and learning.
Hear from one of our Social Care students
Course structure
In first year, students have three hours of lectures per week, two hours of seminars and an hour of small tutorial group working. There is also a ‘fitness to practice’ week in term two when students are assessed for suitability for social welfare work.
In second year, students have two hours of lectures, two hours of seminars and a one hour tutorial each week. In term two, 50 of the taught hours are via work experience hours.
In third year, students have two hours of formal lectures per week. In addition they undertake two research seminars (one in each term) which are two hours per week. Students also undertake a research project and are supported in this via one-to-one supervision sessions.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a variety of assessments including essays, portfolios and written exams. In your second year, you complete a work-based learning placement and in your final year, you will complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, with guidance from your supervisor.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Year One
In your first year you will study Social and Psychological approaches to Social Care to develop an understanding of the context of social care. Students will explore cultural elements of modern day social care including the basic theories and normative practices that govern its delivery, as well as considering the social organisation of social care provision through institutions of care and care roles.
Students are supported to explore and reflect upon their own value base, before moving on to consider the differences and tensions between personal and professional values. You will be introduced to different methods of communicating in social care and ways of overcoming barriers to effective communication. Students will also develop an understanding of the range of groups who use social care services including children and families, older people, and people experiencing mental distress. Students will have the opportunity to hear from a range of service users.
Year Two
In your second year, you will look critically at institutionally based welfare provision and explore the role of policy in shaping social care provision including the shift from institutional to community care and more recently to person-centred care. You will study the safeguarding of vulnerable groups and develop your knowledge of the legal frameworks that underpin this. You will consider how people and organisations can work together to prevent and stop both the risk and experience of abuse or neglect.
As part of this students will explore the centrality of community working to social care. Students will gain insight into a range of theoretical concepts, methods and approaches applied within care community work, as well as tensions of professional power and accountability within community work approaches.
Students will also undertake a placement in their second year of study.. Prior to their placement, students will undertake a range of activities which will enable them to demonstrate their readiness for practice. This will include, for example, the ability to work with others, to practice safely, to communicate effectively and be aware of the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice. During your placement you will complete a reflective portfolio of your experience.
Year Three
In your final year, you will study key aspects of Management and Leadership in Social Care. Students will develop an understanding of legal, policy and organisational contexts which shape management and leadership in the social care sector.
You will also consider Contemporary issues in adult Social Care. Here students will critically examine the current state of adult social care and consider how adult social care has emerged as a distinct policy area in the UK. You will explore in depth some of the key issues facing adult social care, such as the funding of adult social care, the integration of health and social care services and the personalisation agenda. Students will also have the opportunity to examine the contemporary context of social care in children’s lives. Students will consider the social and economic context of children’s lives and the framing of the modern family. Students will explore ways of working with children and young people in in a variety of contexts, such as looked-after children in fostering and adoption or young people in residential settings.
As part of your final year, you also complete a research project on a topic of your choice.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC or 112 UCAS tariff points |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 28 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
The Health and Social Care sector is undergoing substantial change. A range of private, and not-for-profit, Third Sector organisations are playing an increasingly prominent role in service delivery alongside more traditional NHS, statutory and local authority providers.. As part of this, we are seeing an increasing number of employers in the sector. Developments in the frontline mean there is great demand for well-trained and multi-skilled graduates. Some graduates choose to go on to further study. Postgraduate courses offered by the University include MA Social Policy, MA Social Work, MA Youth and Community Work.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
In your second year, you complete a work based learning project, where you spend 50 hours getting work experience and then produce a reflective portfolio. This project enables you to gain vital practical skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the field of social care.
All students have an opportunity of working either within or external to the university on work based learning. This provides an opportunity to develop their social care interests, ground their knowledge and promote their communication skills.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2022/23 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
Along with your tuition fees, you also need to consider the cost of any core textbooks that you need. This will be approximately £150.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation webpages for further details about our Halls of Residence: www.hope.ac.uk/halls.
Should you wish to undertake an international fieldtrip, this would be self-funded. You will also have to account for your DBS fee.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2022/23 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: