This course acknowledges that the rights and needs of people with a learning disability are not clearly divisible into health or social care services. While recognising that some distinct teaching of nursing and social work is necessary, this course adopts a holistic approach and emphasises the need for training courses to develop transferable skills and strategies for caring.
Your time will be split equally between theory and practice. You will study a number of related topics including sociology, psychology, social policy, law and ethics, risk and abuse, health promotion and human growth and development which is applicable to working with people with learning disabilities and their families and communities.
Placements represent a fundamental aspect of the course and you will gain a wealth of experience in a diverse range of settings including NHS, Local Authority, secure settings and the independent sector. You will complete over 2,300 hours on placement which will give you valuable insight and experience of supporting people in the real world.
Foundations in Nursing and Social Work
To enable the student to acquire essential knowledge, skills, values and attitudes in order to best meet the needs of individuals, families and communities and develop key principles and concepts underpinning professional practice.
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Law and Social Policy in Health and Wellbeing
To provide students with an understanding of the historical development of health and welfare services and how this has shaped the legislative framework relating to the delivery of health and social care today. In addition, students will develop an awareness of factors that impact on health and wellbeing across society and develop and apply concepts and approaches to health promotion within a diverse society.
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Nursing & Social Work in Learning Disabilities
To enable students to identify the nature of learning disabilities including causation, impact, complexity and the support needed by individuals, families and communities, taking into account relevant bio-psycho-social perspectives. In addition, students will develop an understanding of the role of Nurses, Social Workers and others professionals who support people with a learning disability, and ways in which discrimination, oppression and exclusion can be addressed whilst promoting empowerment inclusion and person centred thinking and practice.
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Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan – Theory
To enable students to identify and respond to the changing mental and physical health needs of individuals, families and communities across the lifespan and to recognise specific social phenomena such as class, poverty, unemployment, disability, age and gender impact on mental and physical health. Students will specifically consider service systems in relation to children and families and those in need of support to achieve and sustain mental health as well as develop assessment skills that clearly identify ongoing and developing health needs from childhood through to end of life care.Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan – Theory
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Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan - Practice
To enable students to achieve key roles and outcomes in practice
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Decision Making in Learning Disabilities - Theory
To enable students to work collaboratively across inter-professional settings and boundaries in order to maximise the health and social wellbeing of children and adults who have a learning disability irrespective of the degree or complexity of their impairments. To maximise the student skill set in relation to working in partnership with individuals, families and other professionals in order to develop and sustain a person centred focus on the individual child or adult who has a learning disability.
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Decision Making in Learning Disabilities - Practice
Demonstrate the competencies outlined in the Practice Assessment document that is commensurate with Year 2 Semester 3 Demonstrate the outcomes outlined by the NMC/GSCC for progression point 2
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Comparative Perspectives
To provide an opportunity for students to study and reflect on historical, political, social and economic factors in service systems from a European and International perspective and to critically review differing perspectives. In so doing, students are better able to locate and critically analyse contemporary British provision within a wider international context.
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Developing Evidence - Based Practice within Learning Disabilities
To introduce students to different ways of defining research problems; acquaint them with key principles of research and evidence based practice; to explore a range of research methodologies and skills and to enable students to undertake, analysis of research data and consider the implications for professional practice.
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Integrated Professional Practice
Facilitate students to utilise their acquired knowledge, skills and values in the transition from student to qualified professional practitioner; to prepare for a career in learning disability services by providing them with opportunities to further develop their understanding and skills so central to working sensitively and responsively with people who have a learning disability and their families and to enable them to become professional and autonomous practitioners, managing themselves and others effectively through personal and professional reflection and supervision.
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