Integrated Health And Social Care
Integrated health and social care is a degree that prepares you for the increasingly important challenge of providing joined-up support to people who need both health services and social care, particularly older adults, people with complex needs, and those living with long-term conditions. Effective integrated care requires practitioners who understand both the clinical and the social dimensions of wellbeing, who can work across organisational and professional boundaries, and who bring a person-centred approach to the design and delivery of support. The discipline draws on health sciences, social work, psychology, and policy to build this kind of integrative understanding.
At Edge Hill University, this part-time degree blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice, preparing you for impactful roles within integrated health and social care environments. You will explore current understanding of mental health and wellbeing from multiple perspectives, examine the policy and organisational frameworks that shape integrated care, and develop the professional and interpersonal skills needed to work effectively in complex multi-agency settings. Practice placement experience is firmly embedded in the programme, ensuring that your academic learning is grounded in real-world care environments from early in your studies.
The degree includes a sandwich year and work placement opportunities, giving you extensive professional experience alongside your academic development. Studying part-time allows you to balance your degree with existing work or caring responsibilities.
Graduates of integrated health and social care degrees move into roles in NHS community health teams, social care organisations, mental health services, local authority adult social care, housing support, and third-sector organisations working with people who have complex health and social needs. The integrated focus is particularly relevant as health and social care systems work to deliver more joined-up support to people in the community. Many graduates go on to further professional training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or mental health practice, where the integrated care knowledge developed in the degree provides a strong and distinctive foundation.