The UK s European university HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Canterbury Undergraduate study
2 Health and Social Care ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING Health and Social Care explores issues that are important in today s society, asking questions such as should cloning or assisted suicide be permitted? Should fertility treatment be available as a right on the NHS? Should older people pay for their own care? Are services delivered fairly to all sections of the community? Our degree in Health and Social Care gives you the chance to explore these and other topical issues. For instance, why is teenage pregnancy regarded as a major social problem and how should policies respond to it? Is child abuse the product of poor parenting, or is it rooted in poverty and social exclusion? Are the needs of carers properly recognised? Why is it so difficult to provide dignified care for older people? We also look at economic factors such as: what is the best way to deliver health care at a time of economic constraint and rising demands? Why are there still marked social inequalities in health in England, given the existence of a national health service, free at the point of access? You look at the background to social problems, the policies devised to deal with them and the impact of these policies. The emphasis is on people s experiences of health and social care, including policy issues, the delivery and management of services, and the evaluation of evidence. The degree draws on a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, social policy, social psychology, politics, history, law, social work, management, philosophy and economics. You gain knowledge across these subjects and learn to apply this to analysing social and healthcare issues. You can also take modules in areas such as computing and languages as well as wild modules from the selection offered across the University. A supportive community Our academic staff are friendly and accessible, offering support during teaching sessions and in one-to-one meetings. We encourage student participation, giving you the confidence to use your skills and knowledge in real situations. A range of events take place within the School, such as guest lectures and conferences, making you part of the academic community and widening your knowledge.
www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 3 The atmosphere within the School is diverse and supportive. We welcome applications from both school leavers and those who wish to return to education, and we value the contribution that people can make from their own experiences. Many applicants are already working in the health sector or have personal experience of caring. Students who wish to combine working with studying can take the degree on a part-time basis. World-leading research The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research has a very strong academic reputation. Based on our results in the Research Excellence Framework 2014, our research was ranked 2nd for research power in the UK and joint 3rd for research intensity. Of the research submitted, 99% was of international quality. The School benefits from the work of specialist research units working in the fields of child protection, health care, personal social services and disability studies. A global outlook Kent is known as the UK s European university and has partnerships with many prestigious institutions in Europe and around the world. We encourage our students to develop their studies in an international context and there are many opportunities to study or work abroad. We also have an international community on campus, with 42% of academics coming from outside the UK and students representing 158 different nationalities. A successful future Health and Social Care is a practical subject that focuses on real applications. This degree programme is not just about evaluating the issues; we also encourage students to think about solutions and improvements. Health and social care analysts aim to improve people s lives by influencing policy and practice, and the programme helps you to develop the knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution in your future career. As well as providing first-rate academic skills, Kent places great emphasis on developing transferable skills that are useful whatever career you choose to pursue. This puts you in a good position to face the demands of a competitive economic environment. For more details, see p8 or visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability Independent rankings School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research The Times Good University Guide 2017 Sociology ranked 7th overall; 8th for graduate prospects The Guardian University Guide 2018 Social Policy and Administration ranked 12th overall Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Of Sociology students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 90% were in work or further study within six months. University of Kent National Student Survey (NSS) 2016 1st in London and the south-east 4th highest score for overall student satisfaction The Guardian University Guide 2018 22nd in the UK
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www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 5 SUPERB STUDENT EXPERIENCE Based on a scenic campus, you benefit from the University s first-class facilities. Kent also has a reputation for being a very friendly university with a cosmopolitan environment. Excellent study resources Our Templeman Library has extensive print and electronic collections that support the subjects taught at Kent. As a longestablished centre for health and social care research, Kent also has many specialist collections in these areas. As part of your degree, we guide you through these information sources, helping you to use them to the full. IT facilities are generous, too, and teaching increasingly makes use of web-based materials. To help you work and study online, we provide student PCs and Wi-Fienabled study hubs across the campus. For those not familiar with IT, the University provides specific help and support. Kent s Student Learning Advisory Service also provides information and advice on all aspects of effective learning and study skills, and is available to all students from the time they arrive at Kent. See www.kent.ac.uk/learning for more information. Beautiful green campus Our Canterbury campus is set in a stunning location. It has plenty of green and tranquil spaces, both lawns and wooded areas, and is set on a hill with a view of Canterbury Cathedral. The campus has its own cinema, theatre and a student nightclub. There are many restaurants, cafés and bars on campus, as well as a sports centre and gym. Everything you need on campus is within walking distance, including a general store, a bookshop, a bank and cashpoints, a medical centre and a pharmacy. Attractive location From campus it s a 25-minute walk or a short bus ride into the city centre. Canterbury is a lovely city with medieval buildings, lively bars and atmospheric pubs, as well as a wide range of shops. The attractive coastal town of Whitstable is close by and there are sandy beaches further down the coast. London is just under an hour away by high-speed train.
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www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 7 STUDENT PROFILE Poppy Drury is in her second year studying Health and Social Care. Why did you choose to study at Kent? Kent was really friendly but it had a great academic reputation too. I looked at the league tables and my School was high up and that made a difference. Also and I know it s a cliché because everyone says it but the setting is lovely. You have everything you need on a beautiful green campus. So Kent ticked every box for me. What attracted you to studying Health and Social Care? I ve always been interested in health care. My background definitely played a part; my nan is disabled and so I ve always been aware of that whole world. I used to see items on the news about the funding crisis so I wanted to understand the political side of things. What was it like to move into degree-level studies? I found the transition a bit daunting at first but it was also very exciting! I was eager to start it was like a new door opening. I quickly met some lovely people and started to channel my energies into my course. I didn t do an A level in sociology or psychology but the first year lays the foundations for you. They teach you the basics and then you can apply that in your second year of study. At university, there s a shift because you really learn to be independent. You can go off and look at topics in your own way and do your own research. What is the level of support like in your studies? The support is great from both students and staff. All of the seminar groups are small so everyone gets involved all of us share our opinions and it s quite an informal and friendly atmosphere. We email each other about the work and I can also email my seminar leader if I have any questions everyone is very approachable. How would you describe the teaching at Kent? The lecturers teaching my modules are specialists in that area. It means they all have their individual areas of research, which is great. It s not something I thought about before I came to university, but now I realise that this is really important. Which modules have you enjoyed the most? Mental Health has been one of my favourite modules. I found it really interesting. I m planning to do my dissertation on whether our GPs overprescribe mental health medication. It s quite a big topic at the moment and it s an area I feel quite passionate about. What sort of things do you do in your spare time? At Kent there are so many groups and societies that everyone fits in somewhere and feels a part of something. There s loads going on at the sports centre and I spend a lot of time there. I m also the vice-captain of the equestrian team. We train once a week and compete against other universities. Have you had any careers advice at Kent? I m always getting emails about workshops and careers events; there are a lot of things on offer. I recently went to a CV workshop which was really good and I m planning to do a lot more in my final year. Do you have any career plans yet? If you d asked me a year ago, a career in mental health wouldn t have been for me. But now I m thinking about going into psychiatric support work. I m also thinking about healthcare auditing. There are variations and gaps in provision that I d really like to explore. And finally, what advice would you give to students who are coming to Kent? Enjoy it! Even if it seems a bit overwhelming at first, put yourself out there, meet different people and embrace it all.
8 Health and Social Care A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE Kent equips you with essential skills to give you a competitive advantage when it comes to getting a job. Many career paths can benefit from the analytical and writing skills you develop during your studies. Six months after graduation in 2016, more than 96% of Kent students have found a job or are going on to further studies. Good career prospects Health and social care is a major sector of the economy with a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates may wish to work directly with users of services such as children and families, older people and those with disabilities or mental health problems. There are also many opportunities in areas such as management, research or policy. Potential employers in the social and health care sectors include NHS management, social services departments, trusts, social research, health promotion, community work and the growing voluntary and private social care and healthcare fields. But, of course, it is not essential for graduates to go into careers in health or social care; a wide range of employers value the skills gained as part of a social science degree. Postgraduate study The degree programme provides a good basis for professional training or further study, such as a postgraduate qualification in social work, teaching or counselling, or study at postgraduate level in social policy or a related social science subject. Many of our undergraduate students continue to study with us after their graduation. We offer one-year Master s programmes (two years part-time), allowing students to add a further specialisation to their undergraduate qualification. This can be in areas such as learning disabilities, methods of social research, international social policy, sociology or criminology. We also offer a two-year full-time programme in social work. To find out more, see our website at www.kent.ac.uk/pg Employability skills A degree in Health and Social Care gives you a range of transferable skills for your future employment, whatever field you go into. Writing well and gaining confidence in expressing your ideas to others are important skills and we help you develop these during your studies. You also learn to analyse and interpret complex data and to devise imaginative solutions to problems, with sensitivity to the values and situations of others. Many Kent students also develop their professional skills and gain hands-on experience through a wide range of voluntary work opportunities. Kent s Q-Step Centre Kent s Q-Step Centre can help you to improve your skills in handling data and statistics and using numerical evidence. These are all skills that are highly prized in the job market; for more information, visit www.kent.ac.uk/qstep Careers advice The University s award-winning Careers and Employability Service can give you advice on how to choose your future career, how to apply for jobs, how to write a good CV and how to perform well in interviews and aptitude tests. It also provides up-to-date information on career opportunities before and after you graduate. For more information on the careers help we provide at Kent, please see www.kent.ac.uk/employability
www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 9 GRADUATE PROFILE Mahmut Osman graduated from Kent with a BA in Health and Social Care. He went on to work as a social worker for Hertfordshire County Council social services. Why did you choose Kent? I am from London and wanted to be far enough away from home to experience university life but able to return easily if I needed to. I fell in love with the campus when I came to visit. There was so much going on, it was exciting and vibrant. Kent is also a well-established university. How did you find the course? I enjoyed it because it was so broad; it allowed me to explore a variety of areas, which made it interesting because we focused on the diversity within the health and social care sector. I particularly enjoyed looking at topics that do not get discussed much within social media, such as palliative and therapeutic care and the way policy does not always reflect the needs of the service users. What was the level of support like in your studies? I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I started studying at Kent and I was given software support to help me. Did the course live up to your expectations? Yes, I enjoyed it. The topics were fun and I liked studying them. You choose a number of wild modules from other programmes within the University. This allows you to be creative. Which part of the course most interested you? I really liked the modules that were heavily based upon health and social care and policy development. I also appreciated the fact that during seminars we could all provide our unique insights into the source material. The course was right up to date so we were discussing current policy and not outdated source material. What about your lecturers? The lectures were interesting and engaging. It was rewarding to hear from academics who have written extensively on their subject. Also, having guest speakers was exceptional because it allowed us to gain first-hand information and knowledge of the field. The topics were well explained and provided us with a wealth of information and detail. How did Kent help with your future career plans? Kent made me question my career options and what I wanted to do with my life. So while I was in my final year, I worked with adults with challenging behaviour to gain further experience before graduation. After I left Kent, I did an MA in Social Work at Royal Holloway, University of London. What are you doing at the moment? Right now, I m doing my Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) certification with Hertfordshire County Council s Health and Social Care department, in the Community Learning Disabilities team. How do you see your career progressing? I would like to gain further experience and perhaps do a doctorate because I enjoy studying and learning. I want to focus on building my career to become an experienced practitioner. What would you say to someone thinking of studying at Kent? If you want to study at a vibrant university with lots of character and truly experience the student life, then I would definitely recommend Kent. The staff are great and the teaching is of the highest standard.
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www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 11 CHOOSING YOUR PROGRAMME The Health and Social Care programme gives you the chance to study the subject in depth and develop interests in other areas, for example business studies, politics, law, sociology, social anthropology and languages. For full-time students, this is a threeyear degree programme. If you are still considering which degree to apply for, it s worth bearing in mind that health and social care modules can be taken as part of the following programmes: Social Policy Sociology Criminology Social Sciences (Medway campus). For more details, please refer to the relevant subject leaflet or to our website at www.kent.ac.uk/ug Part-time study Part-time students take the same modules as full-time students, but they usually study half the number of modules each year. Kent International Foundation Programme If you are applying from outside the UK without the necessary English language qualifications, you may be able to take the Kent International Foundation Programme (IFP). It is possible to progress from the IFP to the Health and Social Care degree programme. For more information, see www.kent.ac.uk/ifp Teaching and assessment Teaching takes place during the autumn and spring terms. The shorter summer term is used for revision and examinations. Teaching is via a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-toone sessions with academic staff. In addition, all students need to read for seminars and pursue independent study outside the classroom. Your work is assessed by coursework essays, seminar presentations, projects, group work and examinations. Most modules are assessed on a basis of 50% coursework and 50% exams, although some are assessed entirely by coursework. Students must pass Stage 1 (the first year of full-time study) in order to progress to Stage 2 of their studies. The final class of degree is based on marks for Stages 2 and 3. I enjoyed all my modules and the mixture between essays and presentations, individual work and group work, which meant you really got to know people on the course. Alex Hoile Health and Social Care graduate
12 Health and Social Care YOUR STUDY PROGRAMME Your studies are divided into three stages, each equivalent to one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. We use a variety of teaching methods including lectures, case studies, group projects and individual and group tutorials. Please note that the module lists given here are not fixed as new modules are always in development and choices are updated yearly. See www.kent.ac.uk/ug for the most up-to-date information. To read a description of any of the modules listed, please go to www.kent.ac.uk/courses/modules and type in the module code. Stage 1 Stage 1 represents the first year of full-time study and gives you a solid foundation in social sciences. The first year is designed to help you get up to speed with the subject at degree level through the study of health, care and well-being, as well as some of the related social science disciplines that are relevant to the subject. At each stage, there is a balance between compulsory modules in the core parts of the degree and the opportunity for you to develop your own interests with a wide variety of specialist options. You take the following compulsory modules: Critical Thinking (SO341) Fundamentals of Sociology (SO337) Health, Care and Wellbeing (SA301) Social Policy and Social Control (SA300) Sociology of Everyday Life (SO336). You also choose one of the following: Introduction to Criminology (SO305) Modern Culture (SO334). You may choose additional modules from a wide selection in the social sciences and other subject areas (for example, psychology, politics, social anthropology, cultural studies and media). Stages 2 and 3 Stages 2 and 3 represent the second and third years of full-time study. You take a module in research methods and have a choice of modules to give you the flexibility to create a degree that reflects your individual interests. The following modules are taken by all students: Caring for Vulnerable Adults: Understanding Social Care (SO678) Health and Health Policy (SO603) Social Research Methods (SO602) Welfare in Modern Britain (SO601). You also choose at least two of the following optional modules: A Future for the Welfare State? Social Change, Challenge and Crisis (SA503) Mental Health (SO532) Reproductive Health Policy in Britain (SO595). Your remaining modules are chosen from a wide selection in the social sciences, such as: Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering, Platinum Award (SO670) Poverty, Inequality and Social Security (SO575) The Social Politics of Food (SA519) Social Sciences in the Classroom (SE556) Sociology and Social Politics of the Family (SO702) Sociology of Religion (SO736) The Third Sector: Charities and Social Enterprises in Modern Societies (SO645). You also have the opportunity to write a dissertation on a subject of your choice.
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14 Health and Social Care VISIT THE UNIVERSITY Come to an Open Day or an Applicant Day and see for yourself what it s like to be a student at the University of Kent. Open Days Kent runs Open Days during the summer and autumn. These provide an excellent opportunity for you to discover what it is like to live and study at the University. You can meet academic staff and current students, find out about our courses and attend subject talks, workshops and informal lectures. We also offer tours around the campus to view our sports facilities, the library and University accommodation. For further information and details of how to book your place, see www.kent.ac.uk/opendays Applicant Days If you apply to study at Kent and we offer you a place (or invite you to attend an interview), you will usually be sent an invitation to one of our Applicant Days. You can book to attend through your online Kent Applicant Portal. The Applicant Day includes presentations in your subject area, guided tours of the campus, including University accommodation, and the opportunity to speak with both academic staff and current students about your chosen subject. For further information, see www.kent.ac.uk/visit Informal visits You are also welcome to make an informal visit to our campuses at any time. The University runs tours of the Canterbury and Medway campuses throughout the year for anyone who is unable to attend an Open Day or Applicant Day. It may also be possible to arrange meetings with academic staff, although we cannot guarantee this. For more details and to book your place, see www.kent.ac.uk/informal Self-guided tours You can explore the Canterbury campus in person or from the comfort of your home. Our selfguided audio tour gives you a real flavour of the campus and you can hear from people who help make Kent such an inspiring place to study our staff and students. To get started, go to www.kent.ac.uk/ courses/visit/informal/audio-tour.html Alternatively, we can provide you with a self-guided tour leaflet, which includes the main points of interest. For more details and to download a self-guided tour, go to www.kent.ac.uk/informal
www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr 15 More information If you would like more information on Kent s courses, facilities or services, please contact us on: T: +44 (0)1227 768896 www.kent.ac.uk/ug To download another subject leaflet, go to www.kent.ac.uk/courses/ undergraduate/leaflets On the web For updates and news stories from the School, please see: www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr www.facebook.com/kentsspssr www.twitter.com/sspssr www.youtube.com/sspssr This brochure was produced in June 2017. The University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in its publicity materials is fair and accurate and to provide educational services as described. However, the courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, see www.kent.ac.uk/ug and for full details of our terms and conditions, see www.kent.ac.uk/termsandconditions For the University to operate efficiently, it needs to process information about you for administrative, academic and health and safety reasons. Any offer we make to you is subject to your consent to process such information and is a requirement in order for you to be registered as a student. All students must agree to abide by the University rules and regulations at: www.kent.ac.uk/regulations Location Canterbury Award BA (Hons) Degree programme Health and Social Care (LL45) Programme type Full-time and part-time. Three years full-time, or up to six years part-time. Entry criteria BBB at A level. IB 34 points overall or 15 points at Higher Level. Access to HE Diploma: applications are considered on an individual basis. If an offer is made, candidates typically will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma with 50% of Level 3 credits at Merit. DDM in Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care or Public Services. Applicants can also apply with combinations of BTEC Diplomas and A level or AS levels, or with an HND or Foundation Year. These qualifications are assessed on an individual basis, as are those with international qualifications. All applicants with A levels or Level 3 BTECs should normally hold five GCSEs at grade A*-C, or grade 9-4, including English Language. The School has a long and successful tradition of admitting mature students. We welcome applications from students on accredited Access courses. We always consider students with non-standard qualifications or with relevant work experience individually and we particularly welcome applicants who have experience in the field. Kent also offers an International Foundation Programme, which can be used to gain the entry qualifications. For details, see www.kent.ac.uk//ifp Required subjects A social science or humanities subject. Offer levels and entry requirements are subject to change. For the latest information, see www.kent.ac.uk/ug
COME AND VISIT US DPC 124699 06/17 PUB993 To find out more about visiting the University, see our website: www.kent.ac.uk/visit University of Kent, The Registry, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ T: +44 (0)1227 764000 www.kent.ac.uk/ug