Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care)

Overview

• Gain essential knowledge in health and social care
• Learn the skills to care for others in the community
• Understand the challenges facing at-risk individuals

• Earn a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification
• Go onto university
• Dedicated tutor guided learning

About your Diploma

Health and social care workers work in our communities supporting individuals who are at risk, unwell or have specifical medical needs. They support families, young people, the elderly and the seriously ill in several ways including maintaining good physical and mental health, and independent living.

An Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health & Social Care) provides an alternate route to university. Where you can study a range of related degree subjects that allow you to help others, professionally, in a fulfilling and rewarding career.

With the knowledge you gain through this course, you could pursue many important roles that relate to Health and Social Care. Support Work, Community Development, Health Promotion and Nursing are just a few of the options that would be available to you.

This becomes possible by learning about human health in topics that explore Cell Biology, Nutrition and Illness. How human health can be adversely affected by Poverty, Drugs, Mental Health Disorders and other issues. Plus, the importance of the National Health Service and Social Work.

Getting Started

learndirect is a leading UK distance learning provider. This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care) is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). It is also a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification that can stand in place of A Levels.

By studying this course, you will become prepared to study a range of related degrees at university. Exploring topics like Health and Social Care, Health Care, Social Work, Nursing or Midwifery at the undergraduate level.

Throughout the course, you will learn all about Biology, Health Studies, Law and Social Policy, as well as issues prevalent in the field like Dementia and Social Drugs. With this knowledge, you’ll begin to understand the many factors involved in Health and Social Care. Which will help you to prepare for a career in the sector.

This course is studied online, from home, at a time that suits you. No need to re-organise work or family commitments to fit in your studies. Simply log on and learn when you can.

You’ll be provided with an individual learning plan to help keep you on track. On average, learners take 9 to 12 months to complete their Access to Higher Education Diploma. Often resulting in students completing their studies and being on the way to university within a year.

What’s more, you’ll receive support and feedback from our team of dedicated tutors, so you stay focussed on your progress. Plus, there are flexible payment methods available. So there’s less in the way of you and a fulfilling career in Health and Social Care.

Modules

The units are broken down for you here so that you can see what your qualification will include. However, the assignments you complete have been designed so that you can complete multiple tasks together where possible and you will see a different number of assignments in your personal portfolio; you will still be completing the whole qualification.

Unit 1: Preparing to Study

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback

 Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas

Unit 3: Preparing a Written Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand note-making methods
• Understand how to plan, draft and produce a written assignment

Unit 4: Cell biology 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and organisation of cells, including stem cells
• Understand cellular metabolism
• Understand how cells grow and divide

Unit 5: The History of the National Health Service

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the background to and the founding principles of the National Health Service
• Understand how political reforms have shaped the National Health Service

Unit 6: Introduction to Social Work

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the historical development of social work
• Understand the role of the social worker
• Understand how social work services are organised in the statutory, voluntary and independent sector
• Understand the main purposes and values of social work

Unit 7: The roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the changes to the roles and responsibilities of a healthcare professional
• Understand the role of professional/regulatory bodies for a healthcare professional, for example, HCPC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Understand the current multidisciplinary approach to healthcare

Unit 8: Social Work Methods

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the concept of planned intervention
• Understand the purpose and principles of social work assessments
• Understand the range of methods used in social work assessments
• Understand social work intervention methods

Unit 9: Human Rights, the Individual & the Law

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the general scope and application of the European Convention on Human Rights
• Understand the impact and interrelationship of specific Convention Rights
• Understand the status and effect of the Human Rights Act 1998

Unit 10: Introduction to Social Work

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the historical development of social work
• Understand the role of the social worker
• Understand how social work services are organised in the statutory, voluntary and independent sector
• Understand the main purposes and values of social work

Unit 11: Human Nutrition & the Digestive System 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and functions of the organs of the digestive system
• Understand nutrients and their sources
• Understand the components of a healthy diet and the consequences of an unhealthy diet

Unit 12: Understanding Dementia

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand dementia
• Understand types of dementia
• Understand the medical and social models of dementia
• Understand an individual’s experience of dementia

Unit 13: Poverty & health

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand approaches to poverty and health
• Understand approaches to the social distribution of health choices

Unit 14: Contemporary Issues in Social Policy

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand current issues in social policy
• Understand current legislation in relation to current issues in social policy
• Understand the economic context of a contemporary issue

Unit 15: Classification and Use of Social Drugs and Medicines

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand why different types of social drugs are used
• Understand the classification of medicines and controlled drugs
• Understand the impact of the use of social drugs and medicines on the individual and society

Unit 16: Personal Social Services

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the varying nature of social work provision for children and adults
• Understand the roles of the voluntary and private sector in the provision of welfare
• Understand the welfare needs of various groups

Unit 17: Mental Health and Illness

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the difficulties in defining normality and abnormality
• Understand a psychological disorder
• Understand treatments used to treat people with psychological disorders

Unit 18: Morals and Ethics in Social Work

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand ethics and ethical issues in social work practice
• Understand moral dilemmas and social work practice

Unit 19: Equality and diversity within healthcare  

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand equality and diversity within healthcare
• Understand the rights of the individual in a healthcare setting
• Understand the impact of equality and diversity legislation for healthcare

Requirements

Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE Grade A-C in maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2 or new GCSE Grade 4-9) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.

Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees and can be used in conjunction with the standard UCAS application process. In short, Access to HE Diplomas have a track record of helping learners get to the university and degree of their choice. Learners must bear in mind each university has its own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:

1. Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level.
2. Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the University.
3. Passing a University’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments.
4. Completion of specified work placements or work experience.
5. GCSE Grade A-C (new system 4-9) in maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills).

Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their Diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.

Assessment

A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (Health and Social Care). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

Qualifications

Open College Network West Midlands

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: 40012384).

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.