University of Derby launches online Integrative Health and Social Care HE Diploma

The University of Derby has launched a new course aimed at supporting health and social care workers into higher education while they continue to work and earn.

The Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care has been developed by academics at University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) to offer care workers online access to a Level 4 and Level 5 integrative health and social care course that they can study while working and earning.

Integrative health and social care has experienced significant development in the UK. Recent reports stress the need for a greater integration and the Government has committed to integrating services across England by 2020.

Dr Pauline Green, Academic Lead for Social Work and Social Care at UDOL said: "We receive lots of enquiries at UDOL from care workers who know that gaining qualifications will help them to progress their career but don’t want to give up a job that they enjoy and find rewarding. With our Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care there’s no need for them to do that"

"The course is 100 per cent online and very flexible in terms of when and where you choose to study. Therefore it can fit around any other commitments that students may have, and they will receive plenty of encouragement and support because everybody here wants them to succeed."

Students have the option to exit the Diploma with a Certificate of Higher Education in Health and Social Care by achieving 120 credits at Level 4 or to progress automatically to degree level with a BSc (Hons) Integrative Health and Social Care top-up degree.

It has been developed with school leavers who are working in the health and social care sector, or experienced workers who are now seeking the academic qualifications to further develop their skills, in mind.