Health and Wellbeing (X3241)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of a range of factors relating to children and young people's health and well-being. It will begin by addressing key areas of health of particular relevance to work with children and young people, whilst critically examining underpinning theoretical constructions of health and of health behaviour. Throughout, the module will incorporate discussion of key facets of health and well-being in childhood with consideration of corresponding health problems (e.g. in linking discussion of emotional health and of emotional and behavioural problems). Discussion of approaches to work with children and young people's health will be embedded throughout the module, both in relation to health education and health promotion, and in supporting and working with children and young people with additional needs. Through this approach, the module will build on aspects of theory and debate covered in earlier parts of the module, including the 'Contemporary Debates' modules, and modules relating to inter-professional practice and work with children, young people and families.

The module involves regular three hour sessions including  both lecture and seminar discussion within each session. You will also take part in two group tutorials, to support your preparation for the assessment.

Assessment will be a three hour Unseen Examination which accounts for 100% of the module grade. You will be required to select and answer short essay questions. Seminars and tutorials will be used to prepare students for the examination, for example with practice exam questions and peer assessment.

The module content will include:

(a) Critical concepts in health;

• well-being and happiness
• inequalities in health
• global perspectives

(b) Diet and health;

• perspectives on food and family
• childhood obesity

(c) Understanding health risks for children and young people;

• concepts of vulnerability
• risk and play
• sexual health
• drug and alcohol use

(d) Health and happiness;

• emotional health and emotional and behavioural difficulties
• mental health in childhood and adolescence

(e) Complex needs and disability;

• concepts of disability
• identification and assessment of special and complex needs
• children with chronic illness
• children as carers

The module will be assessed formatively by student presentations and summatively by a Long Term Paper, and so teaching will be delivered by a combination of weekly lectures and seminars, with the addition of two group tutorials to monitor progress and provide support with development of the course assigment.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 44 hours of contact time and about 256 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2021/22. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.