FdA Community Care in Practice

Shape your future in community care – gain experience, build expertise, and make a difference.

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Course Information

Course Type

Subject Area

Type
Full Time

UCAS Code
C1P2

Institution Code
G80

Credit Level
5

Credit Value
240

Start Date
09/2025

End Date
06/2027

Tuition Fee
£999

Exam Fee
£999

Duration
2 Years

Course Leader
Pam Osman

Study Mode
On Campus

Location
Scarborough TEC

Curriculum Area

Attendance Days

Attendance

About this course

Make a real difference in people’s lives with the FDA Community Care in Practice at Scarborough TEC. This two-year, full-time foundation degree is designed for anyone passionate about health and social care — whether you’re starting out, already working in the sector, or looking for a new career path.

Scarborough TEC offers the best of both worlds: a supportive, close-knit college community combined with the innovation and resources of the wider TEC Partnership. You’ll study in modern facilities, including a purpose-built hospital ward, and benefit from strong links with local employers and community organisations.

This programme has been created in response to the changing needs of society. The impact of Covid-19 highlighted rising vulnerabilities such as poor health, domestic violence, poverty, and social isolation. Community care roles are evolving, and this degree equips you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to meet those challenges head-on.

What you’ll gain:
– Practical experience through at least 80 hours of work-based learning in real care settings.
– Skills in multi-disciplinary working, safeguarding, leadership, and research.
– A strong foundation in sociological and psychological theories to understand human behaviour.
– Transferable skills in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and professional practice.

Programme highlights:
– Year 1 focuses on study skills, care theory, sociological perspectives, and industry experience.
– Year 2 builds leadership, management, research, and specialist knowledge in areas such as mental health and victimology.
– Teaching combines seminars, workshops, and placements, ensuring you can apply theory directly to practice.
– Support is tailored to your needs, with tutorials, employability guidance, and access to specialist resources.

Graduates leave as confident, ethical practitioners ready to work in diverse roles across health and community care — from personal care to professional practice — or to progress onto a top-up degree or professional qualification.

By choosing Scarborough TEC, you’ll join a college committed to student success, community impact, and preparing you for a rewarding career. This is more than a qualification: it’s your chance to shape healthier, stronger communities and build a future you can be proud of.

What you Will Learn

The FdA Community Care in Practice is a two‑year, full‑time programme worth 240 credits in total. Each module carries 20 credits. All modules listed below are core (mandatory) and must be passed in order to achieve the award. There are no optional modules in this programme; the structure is designed to ensure every student develops the full range of skills and knowledge required for community care practice.

Level 4 (Year 1) – 120 Credits
– Study and Research Skills – builds academic confidence and introduces research conventions.
– Multi‑disciplinary Working – explores collaboration across health and social care agencies.
– Sociological Perspectives – applies sociological theory to community care contexts.
– The Study of the Human Lifespan – examines development across the lifespan.
– Industry Experience – placement‑based learning assessed through logs and reflection.
– Empowerment and Equal Opportunities – focuses on rights, equality, and ethical practice.

Level 5 (Year 2) – 120 Credits
– Mental Health Awareness – develops understanding of mental health issues in community care.
– Theoretical Models of Care – critically evaluates care models and their application.
– Industry Experience and Professional Practice – extended placement with professional reflection.
– Leadership and Management – builds leadership skills underpinned by management theory.
– Research Methods – independent research project using qualitative and quantitative approaches.
– Victimology – explores victimisation and its impact on individuals and communities.

Entry Requirements

Standard offer

Standard entry requirement for the degree will be 80 UCAS points, with a minimum of grade ‘4’ in GCSE English or equivalent (Functional Skills Literacy Level 2 or Adult Literacy Level 2), and grade ‘4’ in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent (Functional Skills Numeracy Level 2 or Adult Numeracy Level 2).

Non-standard offer

TEC Partnership also encourages applications from non-traditional learners who lack formal academic qualifications for the standard entry route. All such non-traditional applicants will still require L2 Maths and English but will be interviewed and set an essay which will demonstrate both academic and technical aptitude within health and social care. Applicants already working with this field will be asked to provide evidence of relevant work experience/reference and a judgement made considering their academic potential and relevant experience.

Recognition of prior learning

Applicants may be admitted with credit for prior certificated learning (RPcL) or work/life experience or other uncertificated learning (RPeL). Please refer to the HE21 Student Transfers and the Recognition of Prior Learning Admissions policy.

Learning & Teaching Methods

On the FdA Community Care in Practice, you’ll learn through a mix of classroom teaching, practical workshops, and real‑world placements. Lectures and seminars introduce key theories, while interactive workshops and group discussions help you apply knowledge to real scenarios. You’ll also benefit from Scarborough TEC’s purpose‑built hospital ward and breakout spaces for collaborative learning.

Work‑based learning is central to the programme, with at least 80 hours of placement experience across two years. At Level 4, the focus is on building study skills, understanding legislation, and applying theory to practice. At Level 5, you’ll take on more independent learning, developing leadership, management, and advanced research skills.

Throughout, you’ll gain transferable skills in communication, teamwork, problem‑solving, and professional practice, supported by tutorials, access to online resources, and tailored support for individual learning needs.

Programme Benefits

The FdA Community Care in Practice gives you the skills, confidence, and experience to succeed in health and social care. You’ll benefit from small class sizes and personalised support, while studying in Scarborough TEC’s specialist facilities, including a replica hospital ward. Work‑based learning is central to the programme, with at least 80 hours of placement experience, ensuring you graduate with real‑world practice.

You’ll develop transferable skills in leadership, communication, safeguarding, and research, alongside specialist knowledge in areas such as mental health, victimology, and multi‑disciplinary working. With strong employer links and a dedicated Student Employability Team, placements are safe, relevant, and career‑focused.

Graduates leave ready to progress into diverse roles across the care sector or continue onto top‑up degrees and professional qualifications, making this programme a direct pathway to impact and opportunity in community care.

What Next?

Graduates of the FdA Community Care in Practice are prepared for both further study and employment. Many choose to progress onto a one‑year top‑up degree to achieve a full BA/BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care or related subjects, while others move into professional qualifications such as social work, counselling, or youth work.

Employment opportunities are wide‑ranging across the health and community care sector. Graduates can work as community support workers, care coordinators, health and social care practitioners, or in specialist services such as domestic violence, substance misuse, and youth and family support. Roles are available in the NHS, local government, charities, care homes, and social enterprises.

This programme equips you with transferable skills in leadership, safeguarding, collaboration, and research, opening doors to diverse career paths and progression routes in health and social care..

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