Anglia Ruskin University

Course overview

The aim of this award is to enable staff working within health and social care environments to undertake managerial roles and lead teams of inter-professional staff.

Our course enables you to study for a Foundation Degree whilst remaining in full employment. It also gives you the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills which will enable you to expand you role as a leader/manager within your field of expertise. It also allows you to enhance your lifelong learning skills and will enable you to continue to an undergraduate degree should you wish to in the future.

If you are working in a health and social care setting in a supervisory/team leader role, if you work at first line management level, if you have just started working in the field or you simply want to take your interest in the theory which underpins healthcare practice to the next level, then this is the course for you. Our current students work in diverse health and social care environments; including GP practice management, residential care home management, health care assistants in the NHS or independent sectors, nurses, RAF medics and a range of administrative personnel in NHS Trusts.

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Assessment

You will be assessed on a module-by-module basis via a number of methods; including reports, presentations, essays, portfolios and reflection. Students are able to contextualise their assignments to meet their specific professional and personal needs; this impacts positively on their practice and facilitates their personal development.

Special features

Our course enables you to study for a Foundation Degree whilst remaining in full employment. Funding for the course may be available through your employer. From September 2012 students on part time courses are entitled to apply for a loan - further advice is available from our finance team by contacting 0845 196 2600 or via email at moneyadvice@anglia.ac.uk.

The course is delivered entirely via online distance learning (ODL) within the university's virtual learning environment (VLE) and there is no requirement to attend the university. Students must have access to a computer and the internet and have basic IT skills. Opportunities for collaborative activities are undertaken in the VLE to replicate the traditional 'classroom' and the diversity of the student group leads to a rich interprofessional learning experience.

Work Based Learning is a process of applying knowledge that focuses on people's day-to-day work responsibilities. This means that you will be learning about issues directly relevant to your job and investigating themes within the health or social care workplace in general.

Facilities

You will have access to all online facilities. As a distance learning student there are a vast number of high quality resources available to you through our digital library; including access to electronic journals, e-books, databases and other resources through the internet. This means that resources are available whenever you choose to study, whatever the time of day.

Pre course preparation is provided via an interactive online site with tutor support. You will also participate in an online induction which includes a variety of activities to encourage socialising with fellow students and to introduce you to the university Virtual Learning Environment.

Study abroad options

Students who are based outside the UK are able to apply as long as they meet the entry requirements.

Links with industry and professional recognition

We have links with NHS Trusts, Independent Sector health and social care providers and the Armed Forces.

Work placements

You must be employed within either a health or care sector environment and as such, students are recruited from a wide range in backgrounds; including patient/client facing as well as non-clinical environments.

Associated careers

This course provides a firm theoretical and practical foundation for progression to higher levels of management. Whilst the application of your understanding is in the health and social care setting, the underpinning theory offers highly transferable skills to non-care organisations. In addition, on successful completion of the FdSc you will be eligible to apply for the BSc (Hons) Management and Leadership.

Entry requirements listed are for September 2013 entry. Entry requirements for other intakes may differ.

Applicants require:

• FE Level 3 (A Level or equivalent)
• NVQ Level 3
• Applicants are also required to have a minimum of GCSE Mathematics and English Grade 'C' or above, or equivalent (For example, Key Skills Level 2 in Adult Literacy & Numeracy or NVQ Level 2 in Health Care with Mathematics & English)
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to demonstrate achievement of an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent.
• Applicants without formal qualifications will be considered using an admission portfolio. Evidence of numeracy and literacy skills will be required.
• All students will need to be based in a health and social care setting to allow them to achieve the learning outcomes associated with the pathway.
• Anglia Ruskin has a well established Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process. In accordance with university regulations, candidates can map their Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL) and Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) claims using a vehicle such as a portfolio against existent 'new learning' modules, providing the content is relevant to their learning. Students with accredited prior learning may be able to use the process of APL in order to gain advanced standing within the programme. All claims will be processed on an individual basis with an APL Adviser.
• It will be a requirement for prospective students to have access to a computer and the internet and have basic IT skills.

Additional requirements: certificates of all previous qualifications, employer references.

Please note AS Level points are not counted towards the tariff required for this programme.