Hear from our Health and Social Care Expert

Before teaching at the University of Bolton, I worked in the NHS as a Health Promotion Officer with a local HIV Prevention Team. In 1997, I worked alongside colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines as we tackled the health inequalities and related health harms faced by those accessing the service. Often, they found themselves on the fringes of society and challenged by discrimination daily. I quickly learned that while it was useful to have a specialist knowledge base it was more important to have a curiosity about the ‘back story’ of the service users we worked with. Getting to know them and understanding what made them tick was an essential part of being able to develop and deliver effective and purposeful interventions. As a team, we took pride in intervening and not interfering. While some decisions and choices they made might have been unwise, such as injecting heroin; the decision was ultimately theirs to make, and we were in an advisory role only.

As a health educator, I have delivered a range of professional development and accredited courses throughout my 22-year NHS career. A core part of my work was to encourage people to know your patient group and try to add a personal touch when delivering care. My passion for informed person-centred practice is one of the reasons I chose to first study and then work at the University of Bolton. In 2009 I decided to formalise my teaching knowledge and skills, embarking upon a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. Bolton University came highly recommended as a place to study by another NHS colleague. I was not disappointed and responded well as a learner in the professional but friendly student-focussed learning environment. In 2018 I applied for a lecturing post and joined the Health and Social Care Team in January 2019. 

My professional values of providing equitable and effective health and social care fit in well with the organisation and have been well received by students. I have found that sharing experiences with others is a fantastic way to keep my practice alive and learn more about the work of others. Our students come from a wide range of disciplines and settings, taking on many different roles in the delivery of health and social care. The teaching team has equally extensive and varied expertise, this is evident in the teaching we deliver, ensuring that it is up-to-date and relevant.

Some students work within NHS led organisations whilst others join us from the private sector and charitable organisations. Some like myself are health educators while others work in social support or more traditional clinical roles. Their commitment and dedication to improving themselves to improve the lives of others never cease to amaze me. They carefully balance work and family commitments alongside studies, and it is a pleasure to be a part of their learning journey. I meet many people who return to learning as mature students and surprise themselves with the progress they make whilst studying at Bolton.

Seeing the opportunities that Higher Education offers is a constant reminder of how important access to this resource is for both the students, their organisations, and the people they serve. Working in health and social care is not for the faint-hearted and this has certainly been highlighted within the past 24 months during the global pandemic. As tutors, we hear of the daily efforts those working in the sector have made to ensure the health and wellbeing of others. We also hear how important it has been for our learners to have access to an enriched learning environment that puts them at the centre. For me, I feel I am doing my bit by teaching our students on the programme and continuing to support their development into professional compassionate health and social care professionals.

Angela Woods
Lecturer in Health and Social Care