Transform your Health and Social Care workforce with The Open University

Address staff shortages and provide progression opportunities for your valued employees with the OU’s professionally qualifying programmes in nursing, advanced clinical practice, and social work.

Delivered in partnership with your organisation, your employees will learn through a unique combination of supported distance learning and practice-based learning in the workplace. Approved by the professional regulators and resulting in professional registration for your employees, our qualifications are available across the UK. Several apprenticeship routes are also available in England. 

Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice

Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this Foundation Degree helps learners develop the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality, safe and compassionate care in preparation for this new healthcare role in England.

BSc (Honours) Nursing

Delivered in partnership with healthcare organisations across the UK, the OU’s nursing degree supports employers to develop their healthcare workforce to become Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered nurses in the fields of Adult, Children and Young People, Learning Disabilities or Mental Health nursing. Throughout the course, learners will be empowered to critically evaluate policies and encouraged to challenge their own assumptions. Learners will also discover how inequalities in society can impact individual and community health.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health provides learners with a sound and critical understanding of public health, health promotion and health security. Throughout the course, learners will be empowered to critically evaluate policies and encouraged to challenge their own assumptions. Learners will also discover how inequalities in society can impact individual and community health.

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SOCIAL WORK QUALIFICATIONS

BA (Honours) Social Work (England)

Social Work is challenging and rewarding work, requiring a high level of motivation, commitment and a qualifying degree. Approved by Social Work England (SWE), successful completion of this degree entitles graduates to apply for registration as a social worker.

BA (Honours) Social Work (Northern Ireland)

Approved by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), this practice-based learning programme combines on- and off-the-job learning and development, delivered flexibly around the demands of your workplace.

BA (Honours) Social Work (Scotland)

Approved by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), through completion of this qualification, students will earn a professionally qualifying degree in Social Work and gain practice experience with evidence of assessed competency in the workplace.

BA (Honours) Social Work (Wales)

Approved by Social Care Wales (SCW) this programme provides the opportunity to upskill, develop and retain current staff. Because students study alongside work, they will put their learning into practice immediately, for the positive benefit of service users.

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work

Approved as a social work qualifying award in England by Social Work England (SWE) and in Scotland by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the Postgraduate Diploma provides a route into social work for graduates in your organisation so they can qualify in as little as 17 months.

MA in Social Work

A qualifying award in England and Scotland, this Master’s programme will enhance practitioners’ knowledge of social work theory and legislation, applying learning to practice, and develops critical and analytical skills.

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APPRENTICESHIPS (AVAILABLE IN ENGLAND)

Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship

The Nursing Associate is a highly trained generic support role within the field of Nursing which acts as a ‘bridge’ between unregulated Healthcare Assistants (HCA) and Registered Nurses.

Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship

The Open University’s Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship supports employers to develop their healthcare support workers (HCSWs) towards registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, as either Adult, Children and Young People, Learning Disabilities or Mental Health Nurses.

Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship

Our Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship is a practice-based learning programme that combines on- and off-the-job learning and development, delivered flexibly around the demands of your workplace.

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As well as professionally qualifying programmes, we also offer non-qualifying courses in health and social care which your employees can study independently. Find out more about all of our Undergraduate Health and Social Care courses or our courses available at Postgraduate level. Our OpenLearn platform also offers thousands of courses for free to support the continuing professional development of employees at all levels.

Find out more about developing your workforce with the OU, or get in touch.