Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (Visual Impairment Rehabilitation)

The Kent Association for the Blind are offering a Foundation Degree for those who work with visually impaired people, in collaboration with Canterbury Christ Church University.

A new venture for KAB and Canterbury Christ Church University is a part-time Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care. There will be three pathways offered in September 2010, one of which will be for Rehabilitation Workers for visual impairment.

The programme for this pathway has been developed in which employees working with this client group will devote 50 percent of their study to workplace knowledge in health and social care subjects. Students, who must be employed or volunteering in this sector and working with people who are visually impaired, will be released for two days per week and complete their degree in two years. Progression to BSc (Hons) in Inter-professional Care will be offered locally from the University following on from this award. Access to the programme is through employer recommendation and interview, and conventional qualifications for degrees will be waived for suitable mature students. The collaboration has been organised to enable staff in this sector to attain both practical work-based skills and academic credibility.

Canterbury Christ Church University, has been working with KAB to ensure that the work-based modules reflect the contemporary knowledge and skills needed for a quality service. Module content includes current knowledge on subjects such as eye pathologies and rehabilitation interventions and skills such as long cane training.

A first-year core module, which will be undertaken with other health and social care workers and reflects the requirements for all students accessing Higher Education (HE), includes taking the EDCL units 1-4, use of a library resource, practice writing skills for Higher Education and the use of the ‘virtual classroom’. Second-year modules introduce the student to problem-based learning for investigating care in complex situations, critiquing research and developing a project of their choice. This collaboration has been successful to date because the energy, trust and goodwill of both KAB managers and the University Health faculty staff, who have the shared vision that people with visual impairment are entitled to quality care from this dedicated group of workers.

The Foundation Degree will become part of the portfolio of Foundation Degrees at the University in Canterbury, and further widen access to Higher Education to those without conventional academic qualifications who wish to improve their knowledge and skills whilst remaining in work.

Registration details can be requested from Avril Chapman by email at avril.chapman@kab.org.uk or by post at

Kent Association for the Blind
72 College Road
Maidstone
Kent
ME15 6SJ

Telephone: 01622 691357

Further details also from Canterbury Christ Church University

Have you considered a career as a Rehabilitation Worker?