Cert(CPD) Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
Course Overview
The human body is highly complex. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology are vital building blocks for understanding health and disease. This professional development programme will support you in learning the core concepts of human anatomy and physiology. You'll explore the systems of the human body and learn about some of the key conditions and diseases that occur when these fail.Our expert team ensures your learning is relevant to your health and social care role. A large proportion of your learning and some of the delivery will occur in your workplace through recognition of the skills and knowledge you develop on the job.
We'll guide you in reflecting on your practice and how the skills and knowledge you gain in the workplace relate to the academic theory you've learned. You'll then take your learning back into the workplace, enhancing your practice further.
We'll also focus on helping you build stronger academic and study skills so that you can learn more effectively. This will prepare you to study in greater depth in the future if you choose.
Highlights
- You'll examine the signs and symptoms of key conditions and the care and treatment that they may receive.
- You'll explore physiological measurements and develop your observation and monitoring skills for blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature. You'll also learn to apply these skills in practice.
- We'll outline relevant legislation, local policy, and guidelines concerning your specific work practice and service users.
- We'll also consider the importance of effective record-keeping.
- You can benefit from the purpose-built health and research facilities here on campus, including our Clinical Simulation Suites.
- When you successfully complete this course, the University of Bolton will award you a Certificate of CPD in Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care worth 20 credits at Level HE4.
Key Features
- This short course is taught one day a week and involves lots of practical and work-based learning. On-campus study is preferable. However, distance learning opportunities can be discussed.
- The University of Bolton has been offering high-quality courses designed to meet the health and social care sector's needs for over 30 years, so we have the knowledge and experience to anticipate and respond to health and social care changes.
- Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we'll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
- You'll benefit from our teaching and research team's vast professional experience in health and social care and our close links with the social care sector, the NHS, and several voluntary and charitable organisations.
- Your employer may give you financial support to undertake this course, or you may be self-funded.
Entry Requirements
- You’ll need to provide evidence of your ability to work at level HE4. For instance, you might provide copies of your level 2 and 3 qualification certificates or a portfolio of work that demonstrates your academic potential.
- You'll be required to attend an interview, and depending on your qualifications, we may ask you to undertake an additional assessment(s) as part of the application process. You'll also need to meet the other non-academic entry requirements listed below.
- Admission to this programme is only available to candidates who meet the following criteria. 1) You must be employed in a role relevant to the programme. 2) You must have the right to live and work in the UK. 3) Your employer will need to agree to your participation in the programme.
- This course involves regulated activity so you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service. (Normally your sponsoring organisation will organise this.) Please note that your DBS must have been completed within three years of the course start date.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This course offers fundamental skills and knowledge in anatomy and physiology for health and social care. Your learning will be of great value in the workplace, supporting you to improve your practice and the care you provide to service users.
The academic and study skills you gain through this course will also support you if you wish to undertake extended study at university-level, for instance a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
We use various learning, teaching and assessment methods to make this course as engaging and beneficial as possible. These help you gain the skills, knowledge and competencies you need and support you in developing the values and attitudes essential to good health and social care practice. Learning focuses on your workplace environment, and you can expect to participate in a mix of face-to-face, online and work-based education.
We'll deliver theory sessions at the University or in practice on a dedicated study day each week. You can expect a combination of lectures and group-based activities, including demonstrations and using the clinical skills lab as appropriate. Completing workbooks will develop your knowledge and skills, and you'll have an individual tutorial to consider your assessment.
We emphasise learning at work and through work, so learning in your workplace will complement and enhance your university studies. The theory-practice link is of great importance, and we'll encourage you to reflect on your practice and draw from your practice experience. You'll benefit from considerable one-to-one support from University tutors and work-based education facilitators, who will work alongside you in both the workplace and the University.
We use a variety of assessment methods. Some assessments contribute to your final module marks, while others help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and where you can seek extra support from course tutors. We’ll expect you to complete a written case study essay. This allows you to demonstrate your core learning and understanding of basic anatomy and physiology. We'll also assess your competency in understanding observation skills on blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature. This assessment combines coursework and portfolio elements (that take your work-based learning into account). We'll also assess your completion of competencies in practice.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 70% Practical exams 30% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 60% Placement/study abroad 100% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 40% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
