Social Care and Social Policy

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.

Below you will see an example of the structure and modules you may study whilst at this university.