BA (Hons) Health & Social Care – Online Degree

Seven Compulsory Modules (120 Credits):

An Introduction to Health & Social Care (Theory & Practice) – 15 Credits

The aim of this module is to provide learners with an understanding of the health & social care frameworks in Ireland from a historical to a contemporary context. The module will look at the progression of health & social care development in Ireland over time with reference to the legal frameworks and policies in place to protect those who are in need of care. The module will also provide insight to learners of the needs and rights of key groups who require care.

Introduction to Academic Study Skills – 15 Credits

This module will provide learners with the theoretical and practical academic knowledge, Skills and Competence necessary for successful completion of the BA (Honours) Degree in Health & Social Care. This module will introduce learners to the fundamental requirements of the academic writing process and the study skills and techniques necessary for participation over the three year degree programme. 

Learners will gain an understanding of the learning process in an online context with facilitated guidance on how to utilise, navigate and source appropriate information from the range of IT and eLearning systems available to them.

Learners will work both independently and in groups to develop their understanding of different learning styles which will encourage reflective practice, open debates and discussions. A review of the different assessment techniques, referencing and research methods will provide learners with the knowledge required to complete academic assessments in a range of contents. Learners will be able to effectively plan, prepare and develop their self-confidence over the duration of their studies which is necessary for those participating on Higher Education programmes. 

Preparing for Placement – 15 Credits

This practice focussed placement module will enable health and social care professionals to explore the standards of professional practice and the requirements set down by the CORU and the standards of proficiencies.

Students will gain an understanding of the elements that support a productive and positive placement experience. The role of placement, expectations of the student, practice educator and the placement supervisor will be explored.

Key concepts underpinning the profession will be examined. This will include areas such as professional boundaries, confidentiality, supervision and reflection in practice. The module will discuss the frameworks for reflection and balancing confidentiality and whistleblowing within the expectations of the standards of the profession.

Practice Placement (1)* – 30 credits

This is the first of four double practice placement modules to be completed over the duration of this three year degree programme. The stipulations of this module will require learners to complete a minimum of 200 hours per module in order to gain experience across a range of care settings. In Year (1) the aim of the module is to introduce learners to the roles and requirements of health & social care in practice and learners will be encouraged to examine a key area of care practice in order to meet the stipulations as set down by CORU – the regulatory body for Health & Social Care workers in Ireland.

Completing this module will provide learners with the opportunity of relating theory to practice through the completion of role-specific competencies. Learners will begin to engage with role specific requirements relative to their area of practice, and over the duration of the three year programme learners will have gained the knowledge, skills and competence in a range of care settings which will allow them to make an informed decision on their preferred pathway in Year (3) and preferred area of practice with suitable employment opportunities established. 

Applied Health & Social Care Studies – 15 Credits

The aim of this module is to familiarise the learner with key areas of discourse in sociology and psychology. The module will be delivered with consideration to key themes relating to Sociology, and Psychology including Globalisation. The aim of the module is to enhance the students’ learning in the area of the development over the life span – physical, social, intellectual and emotional.

Learners will gain an understanding of a range of sociological perspectives and will be encouraged to develop their understanding and awareness of a range of social issues existing in today’s society and the global attributions impacting these issues.

Learners will also gain an introductory insight to understanding psychological theories and concepts with key emphasis placed on the progression of development from infancy to old age so that they will be equipped to relate to people at a level appropriate to their needs.

Specialist Care Practice (1) – 15 Credits

The aim of this module is to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the various groups in need of social care support across various settings.   The first of two Specialist Care Practice modules to be completed. In Year (1) the aim of the module is to facilitate the student to identify   the specific care needs of the specific population groups, examine theories and models of care work and the role of support worker in the provision of care, based on evidence based practice provision.   In addition, the module allows the individual student to focus on the service user’s rights and needs.

In Year (1) learners will examine the needs, rights and supports for each of the following areas/groups: 

• Disabilities
• Children
• Young Adults

In Year (2) learners will examine the needs, rights and supports for each of the following areas/groups: 

• Mental Health
• Aging care
• Working with marginalised groups.

Personal and Professional Development – 15 Credits

Personal and professional development and relationships are integral to the social care profession. The ability to developing supportive relationships with service user groups and relate to other is based on the boundaries and personal attributes the social care work brings to the workplace.

The aim of a personal and professional development module is to support the student to evaluate their values and belief and assess how these values and beliefs affect their practice. The module will explore the responsibilities of the students in maintaining and supporting their own wellbeing and health. Students will identify and  develop self-supportive behaviours that assist with the challenges of the profession.

Six Compulsory Modules (120 Credits):

Social Policy and Welfare Systems (15 Credits):

The aim of this module is to introduce the student to key areas of social policy and its relation to health & social care. The module will equip the student with a broad understanding of local, national and international policies pertaining to, and that have influenced and continue to influence, social care practice in Ireland.

The module will look at the development and origins of social policy in Ireland historically and socially. The learners will be encouraged to develop appropriate social policy responses to issues and challenges arising for service users and social care practitioners at local and national level.

Legal & Ethical Issues in Health & Social Care (1) (15 Credits):

This is the first of two modules that aims to inform learners of the legal and ethical aspects and implication to care in various settings. The aim of the module in Year (2) is to provide learners with an understanding and exposure to cases that have been affected as a result of the Irish Legal framework and the ethical and legal principles.

These cases will be from a variety of health & social care settings. The aim of the module in Year (3) is to further explore the complexities of the legal and ethical aspects of care in various settings with reference to a range of case study examples. Learners will evaluate the effectiveness of ethical and legal principles in the application of their day to day work and be able to recognise the challenges and make recommendations for future care provision and practice.

Practice Placement (2) (30 Credits):

This is the second of four double practice placement modules to be completed over the duration of this three year degree programme.

The aim of this module is to build on the previous year’s theoretical and practical knowledge and experience. The module is designed as a steppingstone which is used to build on the learners previous and current learning; it will provide learners with the opportunity of setting objectives and identifying new competencies to be carried out over the duration of their third placement block.

Through the completion of reflective writing learners will have the opportunity to overview their practice and link with the requirements of their chosen profession as per CORU standards of Proficiency for Health & Social Care Workers.

Research Methods (15 Credits):

The aim of this module is to provide the student with a broad understanding of research methods and research design, analysis and interpretation of collected data (prior to the completion of their dissertation module in year 3). The final year dissertation will be undertaken using secondary research methods. 

Learners will have the opportunity to explore the steps involved in the research process, methods, data analysis and the ethical considerations associated with health and social care research. The module focuses on issues, techniques and skills for data collection and analysis in quantitative, qualitative or mixed mode methods to research.

Specialist Care Practice (2) (15 Credits):

The second of two specialist skills modules that builds on the skills and understanding of supporting theories for a variety of conditions in health and social care across the lifespan. In addition, the module allows the individual student to focus on the service user’s rights and needs.

In Year (1) learners will examine the needs, rights and supports for each of the following areas/groups: 

• Disabilities
• Children
• Young Adults

In Year (2) learners will examine the needs, rights and supports for each of the following areas/groups: 

• Mental Health
• Aging care
• Working with marginalised groups.

Practice Placement (3) (30 Credits):

This is the third of four double Practice Placement modules to be completed over the duration of this three-year degree programme. This module will be completed in semester (2) of Year (2) and consolidates the learning over the previous year’s study enabling learners to link the application of theory to practice.

This module will build on the previous placement with more of an emphasis on interventions and ethical considerations appropriate for practice. In this final semester of Year (2) learners will be expected to become a more independent, self-directed learner who can identify and fulfil their own learning needs and objectives with the support of co-workers/supervisors. 

Six Compulsory Modules (120 Credits):

Health Promotion – 15 Credits

The purpose of this module is to equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to raise community awareness of health related issues, holistic approaches to health and to establish and evaluate health promotion programmes. The module will examine a variety of theoretical approaches to health education, public health and health promotion relative to health & social care practice. The module is designed to develop awareness and understanding of both the philosophies and concepts that are fundamental to health promotion for individuals, groups and communities.

Public policy, the importance of healthy alliances and evidence-based health promotion are explored as strategies towards empowerment for use by public health and health promotion specialists working within a changing health and welfare context. 

Legal & Ethical Issues in Health & Social Care (2) – 15 Credits

The second of two Legal & Ethical Issues in Health & Social Care modules. In part one Year (2) learners are introduced to the Irish Legal framework and the ethical and legal principles that are appropriate to their area of work/discipline. In part two Year (3) learners further explore the systematic approaches for effective care delivery. Learners will critically analyse the Irish Legal Framework and the influence of the EU with reference to gaps/issues/problems and the implications for individuals through case study analysis.

Learners will also evaluate the effectiveness of ethical and legal principles in the application of their day to day work and be able to recognise the challenges and make recommendations for the improvement of future care provision and practice. Learners will identify current work practices in their areas of speciality and the impact of the legal and ethical on that specific area.

Practice Placement (4) – 30 Credits

This is the final of the four double practice placement modules to be completed over the duration of this three-year degree programme. On completion of this module learners will become independent reflective practitioners – learners will have progressed from a supervised role in Year (1) and will build on their continuous development with gradual independent practice from Year (2). This module enables learners to gain academic recognition and credit for learning accrued over the duration of their professional practice. Recognising the workplace as a site of learning and development and acknowledging the often-tacit knowledge and professional expertise of practitioners, the module provides a framework within which learners can integrate academic and practice learning by reflecting upon and analysing a retrospective, current or prospective work-based learning project. 

Using their knowledge and experience gained in Years (1) and (2) learners will have been exposed to a range of experiences and settings and will select their preferred area of work in Year (3) that will link directly to their chosen Dissertation topic. This provides learners with a specialised pathway that links with their preferred industry/area of work, routes for possible further study progression and potential employment opportunities.

This module will afford the learner to apply their academic study into day to day practice and give them the understanding of the importance of working within their specific codes of practice, relevant legislation and associated standards.

Dissertation – 30 Credits

This dissertation module is designed to support the final year student complete a research dissertation exploring an area of interest to them within health and social care. The module will allow the student to use past knowledge to critique and evaluate with reference to published literature the area chosen for their dissertation.

The student will undertake an in depth literature review as part of the overall dissertation.

Collaborative Practice & Professional Leadership – 15 Credits

The aim of this module is to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge, skill and competence to work as an effective team player as part of a multi-disciplinary team, in both an independent and supervisory capacity. The module will explore perspectives on collaborative and inclusive leadership within complex private and public sector organisations.

It aims to help learners apply the propositions of leadership theory to their own practice environments and to establish which of the generic leadership approaches and modalities are most fit for purpose within health and social care organisations.

The module explores the influential distinction between ‘transactional’ and ‘transformational’ leadership and enables learners to review, consolidate and extend their knowledge within their current practice role. The module also explores how the leadership influences the quality of the care provision and practice, team building, conflict resolution, application of codes of practice, implementation of legislation, regulation, policies, procedures and guidelines and standards.

Quality Improvements in Health & Social Care – 15 Credits

This practice-focussed module will enable health and social care professionals to critically explore the conceptual foundations of quality improvement and governance in the context of their own working environment nationally and internationally.

Learners will gain an understanding of the broader theoretical concepts of quality and will be able to demonstrate how these are translated and demonstrated in practice through the clinical governance initiative. 

The module will challenge accepted measuring of quality and performance in complex situations and explores how practitioners can develop more appropriate and effective frameworks. Learners will be introduced to the complexity of change management and the dilemmas in achieving organisational change through clinical governance.  Learners are encouraged to critically analyse their own practice/organisation’s approach to managing quality improvement within the clinical governance agenda.

This module gives the learner the skills to critically analyse their professional healthcare area and implement the relevant core quality improvement and risk management structures that are required to deliver safe healthcare services. This module will provide the learner with the skills to implement the relevant safe healthcare structures based on regulation, legislation and robust health intelligence which in turn will support competent decision making in order to deliver safe high-quality care in their field of expertise.

* A minimum of 800 hours in placement will be completed over the duration of this three-year programme. Students will complete a minimum of 200 hours in the first year, 400 hours in the 2nd year and 200 hours in the 3rd year as part of the Practice Placement blocks to be undertaken over the duration of this three year programme. Suitably appointed placements, which have been carefully selected and vetted by the college will be assigned to students accordingly.

Assessment Strategies:

The overall summative assessment strategy centres around using a combination of continuous assessment through coursework and final assessments. For the suitability of online learning final examinations have not been considered as part of the overall assessment strategy.

The continuous assessment portion will consist of a series of tasks that aim to evaluate learning progress continually over the teaching period of a module. The methods used to achieve these aims include but are not limited to the following examples; online quizzes, forum contributions, short papers and presentations.

Within each module, there is the opportunity to avail of group assessments when employing some or all of these methods. A collection of these tasks will make up the students’ portfolio assessment which has been embedded as a strategy across most of the modules to be completed over the three year programme. These tasks may be lecturer or systems graded depending on their nature. While the actual methods used to evaluate learning differ from module to module, all modules will contain an element of continuous assessment in the example of the portfolio task to be completed.

Final assessments contribute the majority of weighting and are generally longer assignments that aim to assess more learning outcomes. These assessments are lecturer graded and completed individually by each student. Academic integrity is preserved using Turnitin which is embedded in the online learning environment students will use to submit their assignments.

Throughout the course, lecturers have opportunities to informally assess students and provide formative feedback through live online lectures and tutorials as well as through ongoing communications with students. Students may also avail of the opportunity of submitting a draft assessment that is also intended as another outlet for formative assessment and feedback.

Practice placement learning:

A minimum of 800 hours in placement will be completed over the duration of this three-year programme. Students will complete a minimum of 200 hours in Year (1), 400 hours in Year (2) and an additional 200 hours in Year (3).

Each placement will be undertaken in contrasting settings with different service user groups in order to link practice to theory for discussion throughout the dissertation.

Over the duration of their placement students will be required to demonstrate the Standards of Proficiency across the five domains of professional care practice, including;  1) Professional Autonomy and Accountability, 2) Communication, Collaborative Practice and Teamworking, 3) Safety and Quality, 4) Professional Development and 5) Professional Knowledge and Skills.

• Semester (1) – 12 weeks: 

• Semester (2) – 15 weeks from Jan 2027

• Semester (1) – 13 weeks: 

• Semester (2) – 13 weeks from Jan 2028

• Semester (1) – 13 weeks: 

• Semester (2) – 13 weeks from Jan 2029.