Health & Social Care Doctorate (DHSC)

Program Overview

The Doctor of Health and Social Care (DHSC) program is designed for experienced professionals in social care fields who wish to pursue research relevant to their work. The program emphasizes individualized learning, critical reflection, and the development of advanced research skills. Graduates typically become researching professionals in higher education or their professional settings, advancing practice and knowledge in their field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Doctor of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

program is designed for professionals in social care fields like housing, welfare support, residential care, or disability support. The program caters to individuals with several years of professional experience, ideally at a senior level, who desire to pursue research relevant to their work. The ultimate goal is to generate new evidence-based knowledge, practice, and understanding that benefit both the individual and the broader professional community.

Key aspects of the program:

• Strong emphasis on individualized learning and critical reflection.

• Engaging with complex academic and professional issues relevant to participants' own practice.

• Developing advanced skills in independent learning, independent research, and sustained critical and self-reflexive analysis.

Program Structure:

The DHSC program is divided into two phases:

Phase One: Taught Phase (2-3 years)

• Comprises three strands of taught study, organized into six 20-credit modules.
• Students write a substantial research proposal (60 credits) during this phase.
• The proposal forms the basis for Phase Two research.

Phase Two: Research Phase (3-5 years)

• Students undertake a supervised thesis project, similar to a traditional PhD.

Assessment:

• Focuses on independent learning and self-directed learning.
• Teaching and assessment promote individualized learning and personal critical reflection related to professional identities, values, and contexts.
• The program provides a structured environment for students to engage with academic and professional issues relevant to their practice.
• Learning and teaching strategies aim to develop independent learning, independent research, and sustained critical and self-reflexive analysis.
• Major emphasis is placed on encouraging independent, self-reflexive, and active learning with appropriate direction, support, and challenge from tutors.

Teaching:

• Part one of the doctorate is delivered through five weekends per year, starting in October and continuing through May.
• Each weekend begins at around 1 pm Friday and continues until 5 pm Saturday, with a mix of interactive workshops and seminar discussions.
• Admission to the DHSC program is limited to a small cohort each year.
Sharing independent reading and professional expertise is a crucial part of the learning experience.
• All modules and assessments are designed to support the development of students' independent research proposals.
• An annual conference is held in the summer, bringing together students on all phases of the professional doctorate at Liverpool Hope, St Mary's University Twickenham, and Newman University Birmingham.
• At the end of Part One, students' research proposals are assessed at a Confirmation of Doctoral Study Interview, after which they are allocated a supervisory team.
• Supervisors meet with students in the research phase of their doctorate on a monthly basis, providing advice and guidance as they prepare their doctoral thesis.

Careers:

• DHSC graduates are typically experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds, ranging from mental health to dementia care, education, housing, and addiction services.
• All students are expected to reflect on their experience and the broader working environment.
• The DHSC program focuses on enabling graduates to become researching professionals.
• Career paths may include positions in Higher Education or taking a critical, evidence-informed perspective within their professional setting.
• Many graduates aim for promotion and advancing professional practice and knowledge in their area.

Other:

• The program is designed to meet the needs of social care professionals.
• Students are likely to come from occupations within areas such as housing, welfare support, residential care, or supporting disabled children or adults.
• Candidates should have several years of professional experience, perhaps at a senior level.
• They should desire to pursue an area of research related to, and drawing on, their professional work.
• Their research will create new evidence-based knowledge, practice, and understanding that will benefit both them and their wider professional community.
• The teaching and learning are of the highest quality found in the UK.
• Students are taught by experienced academics who are active researchers.
• The School of Social Sciences is a global hub for research and teaching in Sociology, Criminology, Disability Studies, and Health and Social Care.
• The school encourages applications from students whose research interests fall within expertise areas such as social determinants of health, critical analysis of social problems, and children's lives and participation.
• The program is also aligned with the school's two Research Centres: the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies and the Socio-Economic and Applied Research for Change Centre.