Social Policy and Health and Social Care

Social policy and health and social care is a combination that connects the academic analysis of how welfare systems are designed and governed with the practical and professional dimensions of health and social care delivery. Social policy examines how societies distribute resources and develop services to meet need, addressing questions of poverty, inequality, housing, education, healthcare and criminal justice. Health and social care as a field of study examines how services are organised, what good care looks like in practice, how individuals and communities are supported through illness, disability, mental health challenges and social exclusion, and what the policy and ethical frameworks are that underpin professional care.

At the University of Bedfordshire you will study social policy and health and social care on a part-time basis, allowing you to build knowledge and professional understanding alongside other commitments. You will examine the structural dimensions of health and social policy alongside the practice-based and ethical questions that arise in care settings. The programme has a strong foundation in student learning and support, and care-related courses at Bedfordshire have achieved high student satisfaction scores across teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, and academic support.

Graduates work in social care management, community health services, local authority care coordination, voluntary sector organisations, housing support, mental health services, policy and research, safeguarding and the NHS. Many use the degree as a route into or through a career in health or social care, either alongside current practice or as a re-entry or development pathway. Postgraduate study in social work, public health, health services management or social policy is a natural progression for many graduates, and the combination of policy analysis and care practice knowledge positions graduates well for leadership roles within public services.