HND Health and Social Care

Program Overview

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Course Details

The health and social care sector is vast, and this HND course gives you an excellent opportunity to begin developing the values, skills, and knowledge essential to good health and social care practice in the UK. These can support your initial development in providing valuable support for people of all ages and walks of life who have disabilities or mental health issues, or are vulnerable in other ways.

The course is linked closely to the UK government’s health and social care agendas, so we offer you the chance to experience a current and carefully considered balance of policy, practice, and academic training. Join us as we explore the principles of care, person-centred health and social care, the ethical aspects of care, and areas such as health promotion and safeguarding, among many more – with learning that focuses on the workplace environment.

We’ll support you every step of the way as you learn how to collaborate across professional boundaries, use evidence to support your professional decision-making, and enhance your understanding of critical issues in health and social care.

Our focus is on helping you become a knowledgeable, compassionate, and person-centred care professional.

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Highlights

Our Health Studies courses are top in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2022.

The course features guest lectures and talks by health and social care service providers and users, offering you balanced, real-world perspectives that help put your learning in context.

You can benefit from the purpose-built health and research facilities at the £31 million Bolton One centre here on campus, including our Clinical Simulation Suite.

Our extensive network of health and social care contacts means we can offer you access to a wide variety of hands-on, real-life experiences in health and social care settings.

In addition, you’ll have the chance to develop your skills in research, data evaluation, critical reasoning and analysis, and in professional communication, teamwork, problem solving and self-reflection.

We’ll support you as you develop your study and critical thinking skills in preparation for potential further learning, including postgraduate study.

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Key Features

Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we’ll work with you as an individual and provide tailored help and support throughout your studies.

You’ll benefit from our teaching and research staff’s vast range of professional experience in health and social care, as well as our close links with the social care sector, the NHS, and several voluntary and charitable organisations.

You’ll also get to take full advantage of a placement in a health and social care setting.

We’ll encourage and support you in taking voluntary work placements in health and social care environments throughout your studies. These can contribute significantly to your portfolio of evidence ready to impress potential employers.

By studying alongside students who are already health and social care professionals, you can benefit from their knowledge and experience.

By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.

Program Outline

Our HND in Health and Social Care offers a sound understanding of policy, theory and practice in health and social care. You can gain the experience and learning needed to follow a career in health and social care. It's also ideal if you're not yet committed to one particular career and want a generic course. It offers an excellent basis for more specific vocational training, such as social work or occupational therapy.

Some of the key skills you can gain include communication, teamwork, time management, people management, organisation and problem-solving.

What can I do with this qualification?

After successfully completing this programme, you’ll be well placed to seek a career in health and social care. You could choose a front line role, helping vulnerable people directly. Alternatively, you could pursue roles in human resources, healthcare analysis and planning, or more managerial jobs in health and social care settings in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Some health and social care employers include the NHS, drug and alcohol agencies, mental health organisations, hospices, social care agencies, and charities.

Many students choose to pursue honours level study after completing this HND. You'll be able to apply for the University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care (top-up) degree, which can be completed in one year by full-time study or in 18 months part-time.

Successful completion of this course may also allow you to gain entry into nursing and social work degrees and be relevant to charitable organisations with a focus on health or social care.

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Alternative career options

Diploma holders can also use the qualification as a stepping stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Career areas include:

Counselling

Writing and journalism

Mental health

Social work

Teaching and education

Health promotion

Mentoring

Armed forces

Community support

Youth work

Care home management

Health services management

Child protection

Health administration

Early years

Occupational therapy

Residential care