Foundation Degree (FdA) Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Leadership

This course is delivered at our University Centre (UCCL) at the Rhos-on-Sea campus, which provides degree-level students with bespoke teaching and learning facilities. The Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art lecture theatres, seminar rooms, specialist library resources, IT facilities and study areas.

Year 1 - Level 4 Modules:

Sustainability in Health and Social Care
This module explores the vital intersection of sustainability within the context of health and social care. As professionals in these fields, understanding and incorporating sustainable practices are crucial for promoting wellbeing, both for individuals and the broader community. Through this module, students will delve into sustainability principles, examining their implications for health and social care practices.

Introduction to Research and Study Skills
This module aims to develop the study skills of learners, enabling the production of sound academic writing, the introduction of critical thought and basic research skills. The module enables students to develop skills in academic writing, using academic conventions, information research, reflection and the management and organisation of academic work.

Leadership and Management Skills
This module is designed to equip learners with a comprehensive understanding and practical application of leadership and management principles within the specific context of health and social care. This module aims to foster the development of essential skills and knowledge required for effective leadership and management, emphasising the promotion of inclusivity, safeguarding, compassionate leadership, wellbeing and mental health of employees and the individuals using the service and upholding dignity and respect.

Professional Development
This module aims to enable learners to extend their knowledge and skills relating to practice, developing reflexivity, enhanced confidence and decision-making skills. Learners will be encouraged to develop autonomy and personal responsibility within their professional role and for their personal development to enable them to make a positive contribution to the lives of individuals, their learning, development and wellbeing.

Fundamentals of the Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Sector
This module delves into the fundamentals of leadership and management concerning the health, wellbeing and social care sectors. The module aims to comprehensively understand the multifaceted aspects of sector systems and structures, focusing on key components essential for effective and sustainable health and social care delivery. Through a holistic exploration of various dimensions, learners will gain insights into the complexity of health and social care services, organisational values, policy, quality assurance and workforce dynamics.

Interprofessional Collaboration and Communication
The purpose of this module is to examine the importance of communication when working with diverse groups of people accessing services (service users) and professionals within the fields of health and social care. Learners will be introduced to a variety of models of communication and communication theorists and how they can be used to enhance practice. Additionally, there will be an analysis of communication methods, to support barriers to communication that people accessing services (service users) and professionals experience, including those of interpersonal communication skills along with those which originate from organisational practice and the wider social environment.

Operational Management in Health and Social Care
This module encompasses leadership, organisational behaviour, financial management, and quality improvement. Core topics covered include resource management with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable practices, human resource management and workforce planning to enhance the wellbeing of individuals. The module delves into change management theories, strategies for overcoming barriers and resistance to change, and quality improvement methodologies. Additionally, it examines innovation in health and social care.

Year 2 - Level 5 Modules:

Personal and Professional Development
This module synthesises skills from previous and current learning, and begins to prepare the student for career development and postgraduate study, whilst focusing on professionalism and how it can be understood and defined in a number of ways. The process of professionalisation will also be explored along with the impact of this on both the delivery of care, experiences and the organisation. Students will also be supported to work independently towards identifying potential opportunities in the chosen job sector, and prepare a CV and related content, prior to participating in a mock interview.

Leading the Workforce to Provide Quality Care
This module aims to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effectively lead and manage a workforce within the health, social care and 3rd sector in Wales. By focusing on key areas such as performance management, crisis response, supporting staff in embracing change, and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. This module aims to equip learners with the tools they need to enhance workforce performance, recognise the importance of compassionate care and ensure the delivery of high-quality care services.

Advanced Research and Learning
The module aims to enable students to apply a range of research skills appropriate to the appropriate subject discipline of study. It will require students to demonstrate enhanced skills in academic writing and information research and to apply a range of valid research methodologies and instruments. Students will also develop an understanding of ethics and learn how to give consideration to the importance of ethics in research. In addition, the module will focus on the construction of convincing arguments through the application of valid research, analysis and evaluation.

Delivering Excellence in Health and Social Care
The module aims to develop the knowledge and skills that enable students to analyse and evaluate contemporary leadership methods and theories used in the management of teams and individuals. The impact of poor management will be analysed, and the possible solutions available to rectify problems and promote innovation. Furthermore, issues surrounding conflict within teams and with individuals will be explored, illustrating possible resolutions. Recognising leadership theories, practices, and knowledge of effective teamwork, students will develop methods of practice that contribute to the effective delivery of services for users.

Public Health and Health Promotion
The purpose of this module is to illustrate the importance of public health and health promotion for the advancement of health and wellbeing. Central to this module is an illustration of the difference between macro and micro approaches to public health and the relationship between them.

The different approaches to public health influence how it is understood, the role it is perceived to have in society and how health promotion campaigns can offer positive interventions for individuals every day.

Promoting Resilience and Wellbeing
The aim of this module is to critically analyse and evaluate concepts of well-being and resilience. Students will explore factors and influences that both positively and negatively impact on well-being and resilience. The module will provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate a critical awareness of theories and models of well-being and resilience and provide them with the opportunity to appraise and evaluate the effectiveness of the available and most appropriate national and local resilience strategies.