BSc (Hons) Health & Wellbeing with Foundation Year

This module builds on Academic, Personal & Professional Development I: Skills for Study and focuses more explicitly on developing the skills and attributes required when working in health and care settings. The focus is on developing students who are competent, compassionate and effective professionals able to work in partnership with individuals, families, communities and with a range of wider agencies/organisations in order to improve health and social outcomes. The emphasis on “how” you work in partnership with individuals and groups and build effective relationships is vital in ensuring health outcomes are improved and inequalities reduced. In this module you will explore how health and social care is delivered in the UK (the structure, organisation, funding and regulation) as well as the legal, professional and ethical frameworks underpinning professional practice. You will look at the roles of different professionals, reflect on the values, knowledge and skills that are required to work in the sector and consider your own personal and professional development linked to these.

This module allows you to explore and extend your knowledge and understanding of human physiology in health and illness, using a wide variety of sources. You will be able to identify and discuss normal and abnormal physiology to local current healthcare issues.

This module introduces you to the key concepts, theories and models in the discipline of Health Psychology. Health Psychology is concerned with the study of psychological processes in health, illness and healthcare. Health Psychologists study the behavioural factors that are associated with staying healthy, as well as exploring how people who are ill can be helped to adapt to, or recover from, their illness. You will be introduced to four main areas of Health Psychology: the prevention and management of illness, the identification of psychological factors contributing to physical illness, the promotion and maintenance of health, and the use of Health Psychology research to inform interventions. On successful completion of the module, you will be able to explain and evaluate how Health Psychology theory and research has aided our understanding of the influences on health-related behaviour, and how psychological and physiological processes are associated with ill health. You will be encouraged to apply Health Psychology to real-world examples. The assignment seeks to develop your capacity to use Health Psychology to both analyse a significant current public health topic and to provide an evidence-based intervention to address this topic; this will assist you in your present or a future public health role.

The health agenda worldwide has increasingly been shaped by recognition of the crucial importance of social factors in determining health and illness. Wide disparities in health - reflecting divisions in social class, wealth, geography, gender, racial or ethnic background - persist between communities, regions and countries, and are growing in many parts of the world. This module examines the wide range of social and cultural factors that influence individual, community and population health. You will explore the causes and extent of inequalities in health status within and between different social groups and identify how these challenges are being addressed so that the health and wellbeing of all groups in society can be improved.

When thinking about health and wellbeing at an individual, family or community level, it is important to first consider what is meant by the term ‘health’; to explore how ‘illness’ and ‘disability’ are defined and to think about we mean when we talk about ‘wellbeing’? It is only through an understanding of these concepts and of the factors that influence them that we can begin to think about how to improve people’s health and how to support those experiencing poor health. However, the very terms ‘health, ‘illness’, ‘disability’ and ‘wellbeing’ may be defined and understood differently, depending on a range of factors. For example, is ‘health’ something people experience and an end in itself, or should ‘health’ be thought of in terms of the capacity it gives people to function and participate in society? Why is it that some people will regard themselves as ‘ill’ whilst others with similar symptoms do not? Are there differences in how clinicians assess ‘health’ and ‘illness’ compared to how we might think about this as members of the public and if there are differences in all of these, what impact might this have? This module explores the challenges of defining and measuring these key concepts and will support you to develop an appreciation of the bio-psycho-social model of health and well-being. Drawing on a range of perspectives the module also provides insight into people’s health and social behaviours, considers the changing health needs of populations (with a focus on the UK) and introduces you to public health and health promotion.

Health promotion is a powerful and core strategy in the prevention and promotion of key public health issues. Drawing on the disciplines of social policy, psychology, sociology, marketing and communication theory this module will enable you to examine key health promotion practices and appreciate how the theory can be applied to key public health issues as well as other health issues of interest to you and your chosen field of practice. This will include investigating policy, the importance of an appreciation of the social determinants of health and how health promotion approaches are used as part of a comprehensive health strategy. The module explores the theoretical framework, policy implications and practical application of health promotion and will offer you a foundation for practice if you are interested in working on promoting individual health and wellbeing, the health of a community or the health of populations at local and national levels.

Mental, physical and social wellbeing are virtually inseparable. Good mental health is a vital asset for individuals, families and society. It enhances healthy lifestyles, physical health and functional abilities and promotes recovery from illness. It also has important social benefits on educational attainment, economic productivity, social and family relationships, social cohesion and overall quality of life across the entire population. This module provides you with an opportunity to explore the concept of mental health and wellbeing from a range of perspectives. You will gain an understanding of holistic approaches to promoting mental health along with knowledge of mental health conditions, the factors that impact on mental health and look at mental health practice / service provision. The module also explores positive proactive steps to promote recovery and draws throughout on the lived experience, legislative drivers and research to further enhance an understanding of mental health and wellbeing. The module has been designed to allow flexibility of choice for you to focus on a specific area of interest.

Those working in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors work within a range of inter-professional teams, organisations, networks and systems in order to support individuals and communities. This requires practitioners to be able to learn and work together in order to overcome the potential constraints arising from different professional and organisational accountabilities, cultures, values and professional codes of conduct. In addition, there is a heightened recognition now at a national policy level that not only do staff need to work together in the best interests of individuals and communities but local health and care organisations must also collaborate more effectively to make best use of public funding and accelerate the integration of services for patients. This module will introduce you to theoretical, legislative and policy underpinnings of partnership and collaborative working, consider professional roles and responsibilities and explore the key skills and knowledge required to engage and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across health and social care. There will be an emphasis throughout on understanding how partnership / collaborative working impacts individual service users and wider communities and responding appropriately to diversity.

Research is important for all health professionals as it enables them to investigate and understand how their practice can be improved to benefit the populations they serve. You will examine research throughout your programme of study but this module will strengthen your knowledge by providing you with an understanding of the research process and means of gathering, analysing and drawing meaningful conclusions from academic literature in a coherent manner. In this module you will examine the most common qualitative, quantitative, and desk-based research designs and methods in health so you can demonstrate an understanding of the process and the respective data collection methods. You will understand what can be achieved through the use of different methods and how they can work alongside each other as well as a step-by-step understanding of how researched is planned and carried out.

Where we live and our communities are inextricably linked with our health and life expectancies. This module explores the impact that community environments have on health and wellbeing from a multi-disciplinary perspective, investigating both the theory and the practical applications which aim to improve health and wellbeing; empower communities to realise their potential and which contribute to building healthier, resilient and sustainable communities. Community development principles which you will explore and apply to the grassroots dimension of this subject area reflect an inclusivity and diversity framework, as social justice, education, sustainability, partnership and equality are fundamental principles embedded within. The module will support you to work within community settings by looking at local policy and provision and you will be expected to discuss and reflect on your own knowledge and experience to understand and challenge current theories, polices and practice. You will gain an understanding of how community development approaches seek to challenge the power relations embedded in professional contexts and you will be expected to synthesise and evaluate research, policy and practice evidence regarding community development and health.

Climate change is becoming a major health threat of the 21st century. This module outlines the implications for health from an array of perspectives which are embedded within the concept of Environmental Management. This module will help you to develop an understanding of sustainability and the environmental impacts in relation to health. You will explore how climate change threatens human health both directly and through the reduction in biodiversity, how healthcare organisations can better deal with these issues and how we and the public can be encouraged to engage with this important agenda and move from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution. You will be introduced to, and critically examine, the basic principles in environmental management, current global policies linked to climate change and the term sustainable development.

This module explores health and wellbeing issues in a contemporary global context. The module will equip you with a critical understanding and working knowledge to analyse the impact of globalisation on health, using in-country and between country comparisons. You will be introduced to the process of globalisation with its spatial, political, economic, cultural and cognitive dimensions and the subsequent influence of these on the determinants of health, inequalities and health perceptions in different populations. The module examines the theoretical pathways to explain such inequalities and considers how researchers are attempting to identify the influence of people’s individual characteristics (composition) or the place where someone lives (context) when analysing the reasons for globally patterned health inequalities. This includes specific issues such as urbanisation, ageing, migration, multi-cultures, conflict, and the changing patterns of global health. You will have an opportunity to study global health actors (such as the World Health Organization), to look at wider agencies involved and to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions being taken to improve health globally. Throughout there is an emphasis on developing you to work in an increasingly connected world with diverse communities.

In the continually changing health and social care environment it is imperative that all staff are able to adapt and review how they understand and undertake leadership and management within their roles. Leadership in the health and care sectors is considered to be ‘shared’ and ‘distributed’, requiring the efforts of staff at all levels to maintain high quality care and to deliver change and improvement. However, leadership is challenging. It requires a complex set of skills - from motivating and engaging others and working collaboratively to dealing with uncertainty and supporting colleagues. This module will support you to develop an in-depth understanding of leadership and management in contemporary health and social care contexts, whilst considering your own role and future development. You will explore both the theoretical background to leadership and management and the practical skills which required to be an effective leader. You will leave with greater insight into your own leadership style and your impact on others, how to engage others to bring about change and improvement and a deeper understanding of how all those involved in delivering care/services can take on leadership roles.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of research methods of relevance to your degree discipline. This knowledge will then be drawn on in order to compile a research proposal (incorporating an appropriate data collection instrument) for a ‘real world’ project.

Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time. Beyond biological and physiological differences, gender roles, norms and behaviour have an influence on how women, men, girls and boys access health services and how health systems respond to their different needs. The different and often unequal abilities of women, men, girls and boys to protect and promote their health require recognition so appropriate health interventions can be planned. Gender is an important determinant of health in two dimensions: 1) gender inequality leads to health risks for women and girls globally; and 2) addressing gender norms and roles leads to a better understanding of how the social construction of identity and unbalanced power relations affect the risks, health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes of men and women in different age and social groups. This module explores concepts of gender, masculinity and femininity applied to health issues, considers the usefulness and relevance of binary categories such as male/female within contemporary societies and looks at the implications for those providing care and support.

Law and ethics in health is a fascinating area to study, dealing with some of the most contested and controversial issues of our time. In a changing moral climate, debates about abortion, about stem cell research, about withholding treatment or about assisted dying are very much alive and attract considerable political, media and public interest. There are also challenging ethical and legal questions about psychiatry, about capacity issues in relation to treatment decisions, about the allocation of scarce medical resources, about autonomy and public health, and many other issues. This module will provide you with an understanding of how law and ethics apply when working in health and care settings. It will give you an appreciation of relevant legal and ethical issues, terminology, sources of law and the ways in which law and ethics work in practice.. You will explore the philosophy and principles of ethics and look at the legal requirements of safe practice, using case studies to help you apply this knowledge. You will have the opportunity to deliver a coherent and reasoned solution to resolve a specific dilemma in a healthcare setting in the summative assessment.