Introduction to Health Promotion

Health promotion is an integral part of the role of social care workers. This module aims to develop a basic understanding of health and wellbeing, determinants of health and principles and methods of health promotion in social care work, along with the development of initial health promoting skills. This aims to improve health and quality of life and quality of care outcomes for service users.

This module maps to the CORU Standards of Proficiency below:

Proficiencies: 1.8, 1.18, 2.4, 2.13, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4.

1. Discuss definitions of and perspectives on health and well-being as applied to self and others, including service users. (Proficiencies 5.1, 5.4)

2. Identify the key determinants of health and the relationship between them, relevant to social care workers, including physical, social and psychological determinants. (Proficiencies 5.1, 5.4)

3. Discuss the meaning of health promotion in the context of social care. (Proficiencies 5.1)

4. Outline the national and international health promotion policy context.

5. Outline the knowledge, values and different philosophies underpinning approaches to health promotion and the conflicts that might occur between social care workers and service users. (Proficiency 5.1)

6. Outline ways of promoting health within social care and community settings, focusing on empowerment, self-management and social inclusion. (Proficiencies 2.4, 5.2)

7. Discuss health promotion issues within specific population groups in social care in a non-discriminatory and culturally sensitive way, respecting different cultural beliefs and practices. (Proficiencies1.8, 5.2)

8. Develop skills in planning and delivering health promotion as a team member, including the range of interpersonal and workload management skills required. (Proficiencies: 1.18, 2.13)