Research Methods 1 : Setting Deep Foundations

The core aim of this unit is to enable students to combine existing policy and data with research evidence to develop a critical appreciation of their chosen topic. Students will be able to critically appraise and evaluate the existing evidence base and summarise this learning in the form of a scoping report. These skills are increasingly considered essential for practitioners, particularly those in leadership roles.

The Principles And Application Of Health Economics

Globally, there has been an exponential increase of ageing populations and unhealthy lifestyles and environments, which have invariably led to greater disease burden and health and social care supply and demand, alongside higher expenditure. 

Health and social care is a mature and rapidly expanding sector, which needs economic evaluation to produce financially sustainable systems to meet increased service user demand and inform policy on the most effective strategies to address their ‘emerging health issues’. This has resulted in a steadily increasing demand for people in leadership or senior healthcare roles to have economic expertise.

The principles and understanding of health economics exert an influence on decision making at all levels of care. Consequently, health and social leaders must make calculated and cost-effective choices about the interventions and treatments which their organisations offer with only finite resources though health economic evaluations, which may come into conflict with the ethos of universal health coverage and fairness in the system.   

The aim of this unit is to provide students from non-economic backgrounds with the foundations of cost-effectiveness analysis and knowledge of how economic models can influence and aid their leadership decision-making processes when allocating resources in their current or future health and social care organisation. 

Health Informatics

Improved health outcomes depend on effectively integrating health data sources and various Information and communications technology (ICT) solutions and the field of health informatics is of paramount interest for the workforce in any integrated healthcare setting.  In any well-functioning integrated health care system, a well-managed and robust health information system ensures the capturing, collection, production, analysis, dissemination and use of timely and reliable information to help improve health outcomes and improve the overall efficiency and performance of a system. Capable health information systems are also of vital use when using available data to allocates resources effectively and pool risks from different aspects of a system. With the growing role of digital solutions to health and social care issues, in the form of eHealth, telehealth and artificial intelligence approaches, the unit will aim to equip those who work in integrated care settings with the knowledge and skills to deal with the nature and challenges of collating, managing and sharing data with community and national health bodies and ensuring that such the procurement and contracting of systems are fit for the purpose. Specific attention will explore the role of information systems in undertaking robust surveillance, providing details about vital registration, auditing quality in the workforce information regarding financing as well as overall health outcomes for population and groups etc. As many users are also tasked with managing their health digitally, the unit will also explore how data managers are to effectively incorporate the views of services users as stakeholders in the implementation of such systems. 

Implementing Sustainable Lifestyle Redesigns In Allied Health Professionals Care

This inter-professional unit examines skills, knowledge and strategies to promote and develop effective leadership qualities to work in partnership within diverse teams/agencies across professional and organisational boundaries. 

This unit will develop critical insight and evaluation of individual professional development needs as a preparation for continuing professional development and future employment opportunities, both national and international. 

This unit reflects the requirement for the modern AHP to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to work within NHS environments, in social and community care settings, social enterprises or charities and in private or commercial practice to implement a sustainable Lifestyle redesign.

Leadership and renewal in a post-COVID 19 world: reshaping the relationship between services and communities to tackle health inequalities and help the workforce and communities (citizens) to thrive in the pandemic and beyond 

Health And Social Care Inequalities

This unit aims to develop your critical understanding of health and social care inequalities. Using local, national and international examples, you will:

• Explore theories, concepts and methods used to understand, explain and influence policy and research on reducing inequalities in health and social care. 
• Take an in-depth look at the determinants of health approach social categories (socio-economic, class, ethnicity, gender and age) that are used to understand health and social care inequalities.
• Explore the intersections between these social categories and how they influence the way in which health and social care is experienced by different groups in society such as women, men, older people, ethnic groups, lesbians, gay men those with disability and mental health problems.

Research Methods 2 : Design, Data Collection And Ethics

The core aim of this unit is to enable students to propose research which is grounded in existing evidence, robustly designed, makes appropriate use of data collection methods and is ethically sound.

Collaborative Leadership In Integrated Health And Care Systems

This unit is part of the CMI Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership Practice qualification, which leads to CMI recognition with a pathway to accreditation. 

It has been mapped against the Professional Standard 703 Collaborations and Partnerships. 

Collaboration and partnerships can have a huge impact on their organisational successes in meeting the current and emerging needs of different communities, leading to stronger and more resilient health and care systems, which can better respond and adapt to the challenges and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The aim of the unit is for current or aspiring leaders to understand how collaborative and partnership arrangements are established through a leadership culture which instils compassion and high-quality performance and works within policy and legal frameworks.at every level of health and care.     

It will equip students with the critical leadership knowledge and capabilities to strengthen partnership and collaborative working arrangements in the public, private, third sector and cross-sectors, considering how they provide opportunities for their staff to develop higher performance and collaborative work practices

Students will also appraise the importance of recognising and responding to the challenges and conflict of different agencies/professionals in promoting a shared vision and purpose in care, providing a strategic direction of communication, trust, and engagement amongst them to overcome these barriers duly.  

Students will also examine the ‘value’ that their strategic direction has in protecting and improving the health and social well-being of the families, carers, communities that they serve, which forms part of the ‘levelling-up’ agenda. 

Strategic Management And Leadership Of Organisational Mental Health And Wellbeing

This unit is mapped to the CMI Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership Practice qualification, which leads to CMI recognition with a pathway to accreditation.  
 
It is recognised that in view of the changing nature of work in post-pandemic era and multiple layers of work-related stress, strategies for mental health and wellbeing must be a priority for all organisations seeking to improve their productivity, capability, reputation and quality of outcomes. 
 
Thus, prioritising mental health and wellbeing in the workplace is rapidly gaining traction through political and social campaigning. People are challenging the ‘always-on’ 24/7 culture, and the term ‘work-life’ balance is emerging as a requirement, rather than an aspiration. There is also the need to be more conscious of diversity and inclusion as workforces become more diverse.  
 
The aim of the unit is for leaders to understand the impact of mental health and wellbeing on organisational performance. Leaders will critically assess the complexities of managing wellbeing and will appraise contemporary approaches for the creation of healthy work systems. The unit culminates in leaders being given the opportunity to propose a series of recommendations to create and sustain a positive culture of mental health and wellbeing within an organisational context.  

The aim of the unit is for leaders to understand the impact of mental health and wellbeing on organisational performance. Leaders will critically assess the complexities of managing wellbeing and will appraise contemporary approaches for the creation of healthy work systems. The unit culminates in leaders being given the opportunity to propose a series of recommendations to create and sustain a positive culture of mental health and wellbeing within an organisational context. 

Research Dissertation In Integrated Healthcare Practice And Strategic Leadership

In this unit you will actively engage in researching a question of organisational or practice importance that is relevant to an integrated health and social care context. The research may be based on primary or secondary data but must present original analysis. In consultation with an allocated dissertation supervisor, you will provide an in-depth study of a core topical issue facing integrated healthcare settings, aligning the work to appropriate theoretical framework(s) gained through engagement in core units in semester 1 and 2 and providing extended critical appraisal of the literature, and of the findings from their own investigation, and applying this learning to policy and/or practice. The unit aims therefore to support you in honing your specific subject knowledge and in gaining experience of conducting original research applied to the broad field of integrated healthcare

Work-Based Dissertation In Integrated Healthcare And Strategic Leadership

This capstone experience provides an opportunity to join a health and/or social care organisation during semesters 3 and 1 over a minimum of 100 hours to deliver a work-based project that will create change for integrated healthcare services. In particular, the intention will be to create a greater understanding of the challenges associated with the integration of health and social care services in the post pandemic landscape where policy and research is signalling the urgent need for this development. The student will also be expected to identify the solutions to address the identified challenges.    
 
It aims to encourage students to be reflexive about their leadership role in the health and social care workforce.  They will also develop additional skills through relevant in-house induction/CPD as well as project management, research and presentation skills which will make a positive impact to service users or the organisation and community it serves more widely. By undertaking this unit you will have an opportunity to negotiate, plan, execute and evaluate your work, whilst monitoring your personal development against an agreed Personal Development Plan (PDP) in order to hone your employability skills with reference to leadership roles in the sector.  
 
In order to complete this unit successfully, students will need to have identified and approached a relevant organisation and presented a Project Proposal which receives approval as assessment 1 before the project is undertaken. Alongside this, the Student-Sponsor Agreement (including the agreed final method of assessment and evidencing a clear risk mitigation strategy) and the Personal Development Plan are required at the end of the first 6 weeks.