You will gain a basic overview of anatomy and physiology with reference to physiological measurements. You will gain knowledge of:

Structural Organisation of the body
Homeostasis
The Skeletal System
Cardiovascular System
Respiratory System
Nervous System
Brain
Digestive and Urinary System

You will learn following skills / competencies: BP, height, weight, respiration rate, BLS, infection control, oxygen saturation, temperature and heart rate. You will learn how to accurately record and document findings. You will be able to recognise signs of deterioration. You will learn how to carry out these skills whilst respecting a person’s privacy, dignity and allowing for cultural sensitivity.

You will re-examine reflective practice, with a focus on reflective theory e.g. Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, Kolb’s Learning Cycle, Schön’s Reflection-in-Action and Reflection-on-Action.

You will learn how to create personal development action plans.

Your will discover additional opportunities to allow you to continue to develop your skills and competencies in relation to a career in health and social care.

You will be able to define workplace culture and its impact on care quality. You’ll examine values-based practice and professional standards. You will understand the link between staff culture, safety, and service user outcomes.

Assessment 1

Reflective Portfolio

Weighting: 75%

Assesses module learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

You will produce a 1500-word portfolio that reflects on your demonstration of skills in your job role, voluntary work placement, or simulated setting. This should identify areas of strength and improvement. It should also suggest opportunities to enhance your transferable skills via CPD. Your portfolio should include the following:

A reflective log – this will showcase how and when you demonstrated the skill, will offer a comment on your performance of that skill and make links to frameworks associated with the delivery of that skill e.g. NICE guidelines. There will be a template available for you to use, or you can construct your own.

A SWOT Analysis.

A personal development action plan.

The portfolio will require referencing in Harvard format.

Rationale: This assessment will help you to demonstrate the development of your skillset in health and social care context and your ability to reflect upon those skills and suggest areas and ways for improving them. It will also give you the opportunity to showcase the skills that you have been able to demonstrate during simulation, on placement, or in your job role.

To evidence your job / volunteer role – you will be expected to complete paperwork that details health and safety information and contact details of your placement / job, so that assessors can telephone to confirm attendance / skills development.

Assessment 2

Professional Discussion (12 mins)

Weighting: 25%

Assesses module learning outcome 3.

In this assessment you will participate in a professional discussion that communicates the importance of establishing a positive workplace culture in health and social care. It should reference theory (e.g. establishing a just culture) and case study (e.g. Mid Staffs) to demonstrate this importance. It should explore how leaders and managers can set the organisation’s culture. You will be able to bring notes into the discussion on a template provided by the academic team. You will complete the template in a group tutorial prior to the professional discussion. You will be required to provide a reference list in Harvard format at the end of the discussion.

Rationale: This assessment will help you to articulate that you understand the importance culture plays in creating a safe and professional health / social care setting and how leaders can facilitate this.

The module will employ a range of teaching and learning approaches appropriate to Level 5 study, designed to support your knowledge acquisition, skills development, and your engagement.

Teaching will include interactive lectures to introduce key concepts and seminars to consolidate understanding through structured discussion. Small group work tasks, case studies, and problem-based learning activities will promote collaboration and application of theory to practice-based contexts.

You will engage in directed independent study, supported by guided reading and resources available via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Digital tools will be used to facilitate learning, communication, and formative assessment activities.

Opportunities for formative feedback, including draft tasks and peer review, will support academic development and progression. Collectively, these strategies aim to develop your subject knowledge, critical thinking, professional skills, and independent learning appropriate to undergraduate study.

A key feature of this module is the encouragement to participate in a voluntary 70-hour work placement opportunity. This will allow you to gain experience with the professional skills required for a health and social care career. This module acknowledges that for a variety of reasons, some of you may not be able to undertake a placement. To resolve this – the module will utilise simulated activities in its teaching, and as a method of formative assessment, to enable you to develop these skills in a safe environment if placement / a job role is impossible for you.

1. Demonstrate practical skills linked to physiological measurements of health within a social care context.

Application and Problem Solving
Digital Literacy

2. Reflect on your knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes to identify areas for continued growth.

Reflection

3. Actively pursue professional development aligned with your career goals in health or social care to enhance transferable skills and competencies.

Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

4. Communicate the importance of establishing a positive workplace culture in health and social care settings.

Communication
Leadership and Management

Access to simulation spaces to allow for basic health measurements to be taken e.g. BP, height, weight, respiration rate, BLS, infection control, oxygen saturation, temperature and heart rate.

Peate, I. and Evans, S. (eds.) (2026) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology: For Nursing and Healthcare Students. 4th edn. Wiley.

This book delivers a clear foundation in human structure and function tailored to the needs of today's learners in nursing and healthcare.

Philp-von Woyna, L. (2026) Unravelling Workplace Culture in Healthcare: A Guide for Practitioners to Explore, Understand and Change. Cham: Springer Nature.

This book explores what factors create or sustain the toxic or problematic workplace culture and what can be done about it at the individual level. The book aims to equip individual healthcare workers with the knowledge and understanding to challenge social and cultural practices that contribute towards health inequalities and poor experiences of healthcare.

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. (2025) Critical Reflection in Practice: A Guide for Health and Social Care Professionals. 3rd edn. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

This textbook analyses and explores the significance of reflection in professional health and social care practice. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, it presents a structured method that empowers you to both challenge and develop your own practice.

Webster, J.G. (ed.) (2021) The Physiological Measurement Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press

This handbook describes the use of instruments and techniques for practical measurements required in medicine. It covers sensors, techniques, hardware, and software as well as information on processing systems, automatic data acquisition, reduction and analysis, and their incorporation for diagnosis.

What practical skills and professional qualities do you need to thrive in a health and social care career?

This module prepares you for effective practice in health and social care settings by developing both practical and professional competencies. You will gain hands-on experience in taking and interpreting key physiological measurements and learn how these observations support the health, safety, and wellbeing of service users.

The module also encourages reflective practice, helping you recognise your strengths and identify opportunities to further develop your knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours. Through this process, you will build important transferable skills and begin to plan your future career pathways within the health and social care sector.

You will also explore what makes a positive and supportive workplace culture. By examining the role of communication, teamwork, and inclusive practice, you will understand how professionals work together to create safe, respectful, and high-quality care environments.