Social Care and Social Policy BA (Hons)

During this course you will engage with and learn about social care work and the wider social policy that underpins it. This is achieved through the study and critical analysis of key social issues in contemporary society, the impact these social issues have on people’s lives and the social policy responses to deal with these issues.You will learn how social care is provided in England and the core values and ethics that underpin this provision and develop knowledge and skills appropriate to a range of graduate skills in the statutory, voluntary and commercial sector.Year 1 introduces the disciplines of social policy and social care. The development of the post war welfare state and related social changes provide the basis for many of the social policy modules. The social care modules examine the impact of these developments on the social groups most likely to use social care services and changes in the organisation of those services. There are also modules that offer opportunities to enhance academic skills and employability through supervised voluntary work.Year 2 develops the broad understandings of year 1 into more focused reviews. The social care modules examine issues related to social care practice. These include values, assessment, policies, communication and the law, as well as the experiences of different social care service user groups. The social policy modules focus on contemporary welfare provision, including the provision of housing, health and long-term care and how such services are financed. Across both subjects, there is a focus on developing the research skills essential to future employability and year 3 study.Year 3 explores the organisation and management of welfare and 'joined up' policy implementation. The social care modules examine the provision and delivery of social care across European states and focus on issues around quality care, especially with regard to issues such as staff management, health and safety, and financial management. In social policy the key themes are poverty and social exclusion, children and families and governance.The combination of social care and social policy provides a wide ranging interdisciplinary approach. Our teaching staff have hands on experience in a range of related fields. During the course you will have an opportunity to gain academic credits through learning while volunteering in a local agency or social care setting.Graduates gain careers, mostly in the public and not for profit sector including care management, social research, policy writing and community work. Postgraduate courses in Social Work or Social Policy areas are also available.