Health and Social Care
Health and social care is a broad and inclusive field that sits at the intersection of individual wellbeing and social policy. It encompasses the full range of services through which society supports people who are ill, disabled, elderly or otherwise in need of care and support, from NHS hospital services and community nursing to local authority social care and the work of third-sector organisations. Understanding this field requires knowledge of how human health and social needs arise and are experienced, how services are designed and delivered, and how policy, funding and professional practice interact to shape the quality and equity of care.
At Coventry University, this three-year full-time programme prepares you to work knowledgeably and effectively in the health and social care sector across a range of professional contexts. You will develop the knowledge and skills required of healthcare support workers, community healthcare workers and those in broader health and social care roles, with particular attention to the practical competencies that NHS and local authority settings, private health providers and third-sector organisations demand. A placement year gives you direct professional experience in a relevant care setting, a year abroad adds an international perspective, and work placement opportunities are integrated throughout.
The programme also functions as a continuing professional development opportunity for people who are already working in the sector.
Graduates of health and social care programmes move into careers across the full range of health and social care settings. Support and coordination roles in NHS trusts, mental health services, learning disability services, older people's care, children and family services, and the voluntary sector are all common destinations. Many graduates go on to pursue professional qualifications in nursing, social work, occupational therapy or public health, using the broad health and social care foundation as preparation for more specific professional training.
Postgraduate study in health and social care management, public health or social policy is also a natural progression.