The impact of a foundation degree in health and social care from a graduate perspective: implications and considerations for managers

Aim: To gain intelligence on the impact a FD has on individuals personally and professionally, and to share the findings with employers and managers along with consideration of the wider implications.

Background: The FD is becoming more popular as a vehicle to the AP role; to ensure education budgets are used effectively managers need to assess the value of such programmes.

Method: A small-scale mixed method study using a postal questionnaire to gather information from FD graduates. Results: Benefits of the FD included: enhanced knowledge at work; enhanced skills at work; an impact on personal performance and on the service provided.

Conclusion: Employers and managers encouraged to recognise not just the personal benefits of FD education on their employees but also the wider implications: equity of access to education budgets; acquisition of fundamental values; better recruitment and retention of unregistered workforce; diversification and new ways of working.