Health Care Studies, HE Cert

Advance your Career in Healthcare

students

Course Overview

The Certificate in Health Care Studies has been designed for Health Care Support Workers to complete a recognised formal level four qualification in keeping with the current Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) strategy ‘Developing Excellence in Healthcare An NHS Wales Skills and Career Framework for Healthcare Support Workers supporting Nursing and the Allied Health Professions.’

The programme has a strong focus on self-development, self-awareness and developing your nursing skills and you will gain detailed knowledge and insight of key aspects within nursing including holistic care, physiology across the ages, family and society and health and wellbeing. You will also explore your own role within your clinical setting.

Why Health Care Studies at Swansea?

You will be studying within the Department of Nursing which is proud to be ranked in the Top 10 in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) for Nursing and 1st in the UK Career Prospects (The Complete University Guide 2024). Our academic staff are qualified nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, many of whom are also practising clinicians, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight, and practical expertise. 

 

Your Health Care Studies Experience

Our blended learning approach, which combines taught sessions with self-directed learning, will give you the flexibility to fit your studies around your other work or family commitments.

Health Care Studies Careers

The programme aims to develop existing HCSWs and care workers into a compassionate and innovative workforce and it is anticipated that these educational opportunities will support the following opportunities:

  • Develop your existing role to promote safe care and service improvement
  • Be eligible for consideration for promotion to a higher band within the knowledge and skills framework operating in NHS Wales
  • Develop the enhanced role of Assistant Practitioner
  • Offer eligibility to apply to undertake pre-registration nursing after Part 1 of the NMC: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018).

Modules

The Programme consists of 3 core modules that all students must complete.

  • SHG 140. Academic Study Skills for Health Care (10 credits) is a lecture based module that will develop the skills required to study at certificate level.
  • SHG 141. Introduction to Health Care Practice (20 credits) is a composite module where you apply health care theory to your clinical practice.
  • SHG 142. Understanding Health and Wellbeing (30 credits) is a composite module developing your understanding of the role of the nurse in health promotion.

Both composite modules require you to undertake clinical competencies based on the ‘All Wales Practice Assessment Document’.

You will also pursue an additional 60 credits of Work Based Leaning modules. You will be profiled by your Clinical Manager, Education Lead and the Programme Director on application to the programme and will be advised which modules should be selected, based on your needs and those of your employer. 

In most cases, this will mean that you will undertake modules, SHG 143 Developing Your Clinical Practice, SHG 144 Context of Practice and SHG 145 Making Changes to Your Practice. These modules consider your current role and how you can develop your practice.

If you have been selected to undertake the Assistant Practitioner pathway then you will undertake modules SHG 146 Making Decisions in Practice and SHG 147 Promoting improvement in Practice. In both modules you will consider your enhanced role and complete clinical proficiencies.

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical A level Offer

See entry

Health Care Studies, HE Cert