Become a health and social care professional, with dual registration in learning disability nursing and social work, with this innovative course.
Understand contemporary nursing and social work practice.
Transform the lives of people who have learning disabilities.
Spend 50% of your course on placement — enhancing your employability.
Collaborate with other professional groups within health and social care.
Gain real-world experience and sought-after credentials — qualifying as a social worker in England and a Learning Disabilities Nurse.

On this course, you’ll gain the skills and experience you need to provide exceptional care to people with learning disabilities. You’ll tailor your studies, and learn from other practitioners and students — understanding where your specialism fits into the wider sphere of healthcare. You’ll graduate with the qualifications and credentials you need to enter practice.

Theory will prepare you for practice learning experiences are designed to help you not only to apply theory to practice, but to develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice in order to become life-long, competent professionals. You are required to attend the practice learning experiences provided on the course to achieve the course practice learning outcomes.

You’ll undertake a range of practice learning experiences, helping you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity. This will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of ways in which services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements alongside real world experience of services delivered face to face to service users. 

The university will ensure that the practice learning element of your course will be compliant with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) governing your chosen profession. This is so that by the end of your course, you will have been provided with the opportunity to demonstrate attainment of the requirements to register as a professional with your chosen profession.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course is comprised of integrated health and social care modules, based around the central theme of learning disabilities which explore and develop your nursing and social work practice. There is also a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary collaborative teaching and learning throughout the programme.

You’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills and values that enhance your employment opportunities, give you a strong professional identity as well as confidence in working with different professional groups and agencies to develop solutions to real world practice issues.

• practice-based learning
• lectures, seminars and workshops
• simulations
• online learning

This course prepares you for a career in

• learning disability nursing and social work
• teaching and academia
• senior management in health and social care

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• NHS
• local authorities
• private and voluntary sector health and social care organisations
• higher education institutes
• government
• schools
• prison services

 

UCAS points

120

This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We do not accept AS levels. For example:

• BBB at A Level
• DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma
• A combination of qualifications, which may include general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• Maths at grade D or 4 or equivalents
• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents
  • Level 2 Key Skills/Application of Number/ Grade D at GSCE Maths/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
  • Equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
  • Level 2 Literacy
  • Level 2 Key Skills

Other qualifications

Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in health studies, health science, social sciences or nursing. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 15 level 3 credits should be graded at distinction level.

FdSc Professional Practice in Health & Social Care - If you are in the process of completing or have successfully completed the above programme at one of our partner colleges (Sheffield College, Barnsley College, Chesterfield College, North Lindsey College, Dearne Valley College, Manchester College, Stockport College and Doncaster College) and are looking to progress your career as a registered professional within the Health & Social Care sector, we would welcome an application from you via UCAS to start in Year 1.

Successful completion of our Foundation Year in Health, Sport & Social Care.

Other equivalent qualifications are considered individually, and include previous degrees that are grade 2.2 or above

IELTS

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.

 

Helping your application succeed

Experience

Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care.  It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.

Reference

You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.

Interview

If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.

View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.   

Course enrolment - professional requirements

Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration forms provided during the admissions process:

• unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
• involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
• enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University

In addition

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check

• you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
• you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the application process
• if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
• where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.

Occupational Health Screening

You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.

Immunisations

You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.

Pre-course Day

After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Other professional suitability information

Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received. 

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.

Disability support

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.

You can contact our disability coordinator on 0114 225 2588 to explore any issues you may have, or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).

The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.

Open day

Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Collaboration For Individual And Community Wellbeing	20	Practical
Essentials Of Nursing And Social Work Practice	40	Exam Practical
Personal And Professional Development	20	Coursework
Practice Placement 1
Sciences And Theory For Nursing And Social Work Practice	40	Exam

 

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applying Sciences And Theory Across The Life Course	40	Practical
Assessing And Addressing Complexity In Practice	20	Practical
Developing Nursing And Social Work Professional Practice	40	Exam
Evidence And Enquiry For Practice	20	Coursework
Practice Placement 2

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
1 Credit Psrb Requirements
Becoming A Learning Disability Nurse And Social Worker	40	Practical
Complexity & Leadership In Professional Practice	20	Coursework
Consolidating The Sciences And Theory For Critical Nursing And Social Work Practice	20	Coursework
Practice Placement 3
The Advancing Professional	40	Coursework