Unit information: Introduction to Child and Adolescent Health in 2021/22

Unit name	Introduction to Child and Adolescent Health
Unit code	SPOL20060
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Lucas
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The unit will provide lectures and seminars introducing a range of topics and contexts to illustrate this learning. Students will be expected to read and understand policy documents and research studies linked to these topics, and to apply their learning to a range of health conditions.

The aims of this unit are to:

• Introduce students to core knowledge about child health and development
• Provide descriptions of common health problems of childhood and adolescence and evidence-based responses to them
• Help students understand the health policy context, including how health care provision aims to meet the health needs of children and young people
• Help students understand how our physical and social environment shapes child health
• Allow students to apply their knowledge and understanding to a range of topics and contexts

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be expected to:

1. Recognise the normal patterns of child growth, health and development and common conditions and circumstances affecting them
2. Understand the how health care systems promote child health and development
3. Explain how our physical and social environment shapes child health
4. Be able to access and critically appraise information about the health of children
5. Be able to apply and communicate knowledge of child health and development to new contexts or topics

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions across the teaching block, including weekly lectures/narrated presentations, self-directed exercises and group activities. Weekly synchronous sessions will be scheduled to enable discussion, debate and the sharing of learning. Feedback will be provided for formal assessments, preparation for which will be supported through online activities, study group sessions and in the weekly synchronous sessions.

Assessment Information

Part 1 (25%): Critical reading (500 words)

A structured critical reading of a research article, evaluating a child health intervention (therapeutic treatment or prevention programme).

Part 2 (75%): Policy brief (2,500 words)

A policy brief (including a summary for parents and carers) about a child health topic of your choice.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL20060).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.