Foundation Year in Social Care

This Foundation Year in Social Care is designed to prepare you for degree-level study in the social sciences, with a progression route into Social Work. It provides a supportive entry point if you do not yet meet the requirements for direct entry onto a degree, or if you are returning to study.

During the year, you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand the social, cultural and environmental factors that shape people’s lives. You will explore key issues affecting individuals, families and communities, and begin to consider how society responds to these challenges.

You will build a strong foundation in the social sciences while developing essential academic and professional skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork and independent learning. Through project work and practical activities, you will explore real-world issues and develop your skills in research, analysis and problem-solving.

This provides a strong foundation for further study and progression onto a Social Work degree.

At the point of application, you will need to demonstrate that you have gained relevant social care work experience. We attach importance not only to the amount of experience that you have gained but crucially to the learning that you have gained from it and are able to bring to the course and your professional development. It is helpful if you include the following information in your personal statement:

Your roles and responsibilities
Reflections on the ways in which your experience has helped to prepare you for social work

Relevant social care experience includes direct work with people and could include:
Direct work with people who need practical or emotional help or support either through face-to-face work or on an individual or group basis or telephone work
mentoring or counselling
Care work (such as working as a health care assistant)
Youth work
Working with children or young people who are socially excluded or have additional emotional and/or practical support needs
Placements through school or college which has been undertaken within the last 2 years at the point of application
Personal experience of caring for a relative or friend where you have had first-hand experience of social services or social work intervention; having a parent(s) who is a foster carer
Personal experience as a service-user of social work intervention.

Bradford Care Association and SkillsHouse can help you gain crucial health and social care work experience, to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.
As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making decisions.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an online occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on social work programmes must be able to meet Social Work England standard regarding health and wellbeing. Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness. This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for the protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfill the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS Disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon registration with Social Work England.

Assessment varies across modules and may include coursework, reports, presentations, practical tasks and examinations. You will receive regular feedback to support your development, with assessments designed to help you build confidence and prepare for the expectations of degree-level study.