Health, Wellbeing and Social Care

Two women in discussion

We transform lives through health and social care education and research.

For over 30 years, we have been delivering supported and open distance learning in the field of health and social care, and developing highly-respected materials for multi-disciplinary and multi-professional use. Today, we are one of the largest and most innovative providers of educational opportunities and learning solutions in this sector.

We offer a wide range of practice-related courses and awards, from single modules for professional development to qualifying and post-qualifying routes, and from vocational training to undergraduate and research degrees.

The School is characterised by a vigorous intellectual life fostered through shared research interests, collaborative teaching, flexible study arrangements and a strong external focus. We currently have 100 members of academic staff, 28 academic related staff and 14 postgraduate students. Our work is organised into three areas – Health and social care, Social Work, and Nursing:

We work in partnership with employers to provide learning programmes that meet their changing needs. Over 50% of our students are sponsored by employers – mainly in the NHS, Social Services and the voluntary sector.
As a provider of part-time social work training across the UK, we support a large student population who study a diverse range of open modules and awards in the field of wellbeing, health and social care that are relevant to practice and work.
We also offer a unique work-based pre-registration nursing programme which delivers a flexible qualifying route for staff working in healthcare practice in a caring role across the UK, together with a range of modules and awards for professional development.

Our teaching materials are underpinned by the excellence of our research as well as by high quality scholarship in the area of teaching and learning – focusing on the delivery of an excellent student experience. We are deeply committed to the principles and practice of equality and diversity and to the pursuit of social justice.

We have a strong track record in applied health and social care research. We are in receipt of funding from Research Councils (ESRC and AHRC), the National Institute for Health Research, and a wide range of trusts, charities and commercial organisations.