Team

 

 

Dr Sam Birch (She/Her) – Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care. Please email me (s.birch@staff.newman.ac.uk) over the summer if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns before you start in September.

 

 

 

I really hope that you are looking forward to starting your degree with us, and starting the next chapter of your lives. We can’t wait to support you in your achievements over the next 3-4 years.

 

As well as myself, there are 3 other lecturers that you will meet when you start University, and we will all teach and support you throughout your time here at Newman University. I lecture primarily on the Health promotion/Public Health, Health interventions and Research methods modules. My main research areas include Physical activity and health throughout the life course, Obesity and weight management, Heart rate variability during stress.

 

Dr Adam Benkwitz (He/Him) – Reader in Health Sociology
Adam is an exceptional and influential researcher (hence he is a Reader in the discipline). As well as leading the dissertation module (your final year project module), he lectures on modules such as Social Epidemiology and Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care.

 

 

Adam’s main areas of research are Mental Health, Mental illness and recovery, Grief, Physical activity behaviours.

 

Bonnie Bullivant (She/Her) – Senior Lecturer In Health and Social care
Bonnie lectures on the Anatomy and Physiology modules, where you learn about the body’s normal functions in Health and also during different disease states and conditions that affect the normal functioning of the body. Bonnies main research area is Autism in Girls.

 

Phil Harper (They/Them) – Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care
Before working in education, Phil has worked in hospital settings, charities, and care facilities where they specialised in and led dementia care. Phil lectures mainly on the Dimensions of health, Social Policy and commissioning and Sociology of Health modules.

 

 

Phil is currently studying a doctorate, where they aim to explore care staffs understanding of the needs of LGBTQ+ people living with dementia, especially, gender non-conforming individuals. Phil has also been involved in research projects looking at Transgender individuals’ experiences of healthcare and care for people living with dementia.

Brief Summary

 

During your first semester you will be studying the following 3 modules:

 

Dimensions of Health and Social Care/ Academic skills

This module (taught mainly by Phil) is split between developing your academic skills for studying at University (e.g. writing, referencing, reflective practice, searching databases and reading current research) and lectures on the Dimensions of Health and Social Care the basic issues and concepts relating to health and social care will be explored.

You will have input from the library team and well as other Student support services (such as careers) on this module too.

 

Introduction to Social Policy

This module (taught by Phil) will give you the opportunity to explore a range of topics such as; the principles of social policy; health & social care policy in a changing society; the structure of the NHS; the structure of social care; and key health & social care legislation.

 

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

This module (taught by Bonnie) will offer you the opportunity to learn about the structure and function of the human body. You will explore optimal system functions of the body and will also explore the dietary and lifestyle factors that have been shown to contribute to the healthy functioning of the human body.

You will be in the lab for this module and do a range of practical sessions as well as lectures.

 

For each module you will have roughly 3 contact hours per week, and 1-2 assessments at the end of the semester (usually December or January hand-in dates). We will explain these to you and introduce the modules to you during the Induction programme and throughout Semester 1.

 

 

Pre-Course Reading

 

We would love for you to do some general research and reading on current issues in Health and Social Care- so try to find out what the main issues we (as a Country and/or Region) are facing in Health and Social Care. The King’s Fund website is a good place to start: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/

You can use the IT skills you currently have to search for information. You may find articles or have seen a report in the News which you find interesting. See what you can explore and find before you start- but don’t make a worry of it. We will be discussing these issues in the Dimensions of Health and Social Care module throughout the first semester. Also, we will have a couple of online Teams meetings before you start where we can start to explore these findings.

 

If you work/or have worked in Health and Social Care at all before- you may be able to think about some of the issues you noticed when working- such as understaffing! Your experience is important too. We will encourage you to work in Health and Social care settings during your time with us, so that you get more of an understanding of how the Theory you learn links to actual Practice/work.

Planned Online Meetings

 

4th September– 12-1pm online with Sam Birch (Programme leader) General introduction, opportunity to ask questions, suggestions for preparing to starting University.

11th September– 12-1pm online with the Health and Social Care Team (Sam, Phil, Adam and Bonnie)- introductions and small group discussions

Timetable information

Semester 1

Mondays 12.00 – 14.00 and 15.00 – 16.00 or 16.00 – 17.00 (depending on assigned group)
Wednesdays 09:00 – 11.00 and 11.00-12.00 or 12.00-13.00 (depending on assigned group)
Fridays 10.00 – 12.00 and 12.00-13.00 or 13.00-14.00 (depending on assigned group)

Full details of your individual academic timetable will be available via your university email calendar after you have completed online enrolment and set up your student login.

 

Subject Sessions

Mondays 9:00-11:00

Here are the dates and times during our welcome week when your teaching team will be expecting you on campus for welcome activity. Come to main reception and the welcome mentors will get you to the correct rooms:

• 18.09.23 11-1 CH116
• 18.09.23 2-4 HI104
• 21.09.23 2-4 HI104
• 22.09.23 11-1 HI104

Even if your course team are not expecting you to be in during Welcome Week on Tuesday 19th September, we strongly encourage you to come in and participate in our Student Union Fresher’s Fair.

Running between 10am and 3pm, it will give you a great insight into the Student Union, its societies and its engagement with community groups and employers. You can find out more at Newman Students’ Union – Your Voice.