Leaders in Distance Learning

Professional Diploma in Health and Social Care

Course synopsis

This course is aimed at individuals with an interest in health and social care issues, either through a role as an informal or formal carer, for those who wish to work in associated professions, or as a means to build on an existing knowledge base.

Course structure

The material will be presented in 10 individual modules covering a range of related topics and concepts for health and social care in the home, community and formal settings. It will explore legislative frameworks and protocols, look at how care is accessed and provided in the UK, together with examining core approaches to service users.

The course emulates accepted and recognised structure and content which is also empathetic to current practice within the field. Each module will include self-evaluation activities and is concluded with a written assignment. On completion of the 10 modules and assignments, students will be required to undertake an extended essay.

Module titles

• Module 1: Growth and development
• Module 2: Care and communication: part one
• Module 3: Care and communication: part two
• Module 4: Focus on social issues
• Module 5: Focus on wellbeing
• Module 6: Public health and the UK care system
• Module 7: Health promotion
• Module 8: Health and disease
• Module 9: Research in health and social care
• Module 10: Psychology of health and social care

Module content

Module 1: Growth and development

This module is concerned with the physical and psychological processes of growth and development in humans from birth to old age. In addition it will examine the role of genetic inheritance in human development, together with contributing social, environmental and lifestyle factors. Lastly, the concepts of health promotion and wellbeing in relationship to development will be explored.

Module 2: Care and communication: part one

In this module, the types of communication that are relevant and important within different care settings are examined; these include verbal and non-verbal, written reports, confidentiality, listening skills and empathetic approaches. This module will also look at personal values and beliefs of carers and how these may influence behaviour, attitude and approach towards service users.

Module 3: Care and communication: part two

This module looks at the provision of care and the concept of service users in the UK. In addition issues of rights, legalities and responsibilities will be covered, together with the routes to obtaining appropriate care and how carers can ensure a positive experience for service users.

Module 4: Focus on social issues

This module deals with relationships, lifestyle, social class and gender issues, together with exploring how demographics influences care needs and structured provision. The concept and implications of an ageing society, mental health and disability will be explored, and also discrimination relevant to health and social care issues.

Module 5: Focus on wellbeing

This module looks at physical, psychological, social and emotional aspects of wellbeing and what sort of activities within various care settings contribute to awareness and positive recovery and rehabilitation.

Module 6: Public health and the UK care system

This module examines the history the care system in the UK, together with frameworks and service provisions currently in use. It will also introduce the concepts of data interpretation, nutritional standards and recommendations, together with legalities surrounding infectious disease and interventions. The module will look at different care sectors and how individual needs are planned for and met.

Module 7: health promotion

This module examines in detail the concepts of health promotion and wellbeing, and how implementation of strategies, frameworks and recommendations are carried out via various agencies and approaches. It also looks at the dissemination of health promotion information throughout care settings and the influence it has on wellbeing. The module will also give examples of different health promotion activities and how to plan, execute and evaluate these.

Module 8: Health and disease

This module introduces the basic concepts of understanding disease and why they occur. It also describes the diagnosis and treatment of specific conditions in relation to care settings and responsibilities. Prevention strategies and rationale will be examined.

Module 9: Research in health and social care

This module looks at the importance of research within scientific and practice based elements of the field, and describes how this type of research is carried out, methods of data collection and the interpretation of this data which may be used to influence public policy and care provisions in the future.

Module 10: The psychology of health and social care

This module examines the different types of behaviour that may be encountered within care settings and how psychological approaches appropriate to various behaviours may contribute to positive experience and outcomes for service users.

Online Enrolment