Master of Science in Health and Social Care Management

This module provides students with a detailed and contemporary understanding of qualitative and quantitative research activities, as applied in a business and management context. The module will not only support students prior to commencing their dissertation but also help students to understand how data interpretation can support their role in effectively managing organisations at a senior level.

• Be able to monitor complex circumstances within and around an organisation to determine when to recommend research projects be developed and approved;
• Be able to authorise the commissioning of appropriately complex organisation-relevant research projects;
• Be able to manage complex projects if so commissioned by the organisation.

Successful and effective strategic planning and management is essential for any successful organisation. Middle to senior managers must be able to formulate robust and realistic strategic plans. This module explores high level strategic planning concepts and practices. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Be able to critically analyse the internal and external environment of the organisation;
• Be able to create a detailed strategic plan for a chosen organisation;
• Be able to represent complex views underlying the strategic plan to the most senior decision-making team of an organisation; and,
• Be able to produce a detailed monitoring report on the progress of the strategic plan based on research of the detailed circumstances.

The study of organisational behaviour and Human Resource Management underpins Strategy, Leadership and Change Management. The module will provide the learner with a detailed understanding of current and emerging global practice in respect of managing and developing an organisation’s human capital. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Have the competency to effectively supervise a staff team;
• Be able to identify, set, and achieve complex personal and staff goals;
• Have the competency to be able to manage a department or section of an organisation, including the personnel within it;
• Have the competency to be able to select an appropriate person(s) to recruit to an identified organisational post; and,
• Have the competency to be able to select an appropriate person(s) to undertake a successful project.

In the absence of effective leadership organisations will fail. This module explores the attributes of what makes an effective organisational leader, the techniques they employ and how effective leaders are essential to sustainable succession planning. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Be able to effectively apply higher level leadership behaviours in different organisational circumstances;
• Be able to effectively collaborate with colleagues to ensure the development of complementary and appropriate leadership approaches across the organisation; and,
• Be able to critically monitor leadership behaviours across an organisation through a formal and continuing research process.

The module explores the current international healthcare agenda, examining the need for constant change and evolution in order to meet the contemporaneous needs of a changing and growing global population. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• examine the key elements of the current global health and social care agenda;
• explore innovative new ways of working and how revised management practices could potentially improve the quality of care received by patients, clients, carers and the public; and,
• reflect upon and justify the need for effective change management and implementation in healthcare settings.

Students will explore contemporary issues in international health and social care policies and systems. Socioeconomic and political drivers to variations in health and social care trends, policies and provision will be addressed by comparing high and low income countries and global challenges to health and social care systems will also be addressed. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Effectively analyse health and social care issues, trends and systems in relation to a range of different countries;
• Critically reflect on the implementation of international health and social policy by national governments;
• Critically appraise different schools of thought in relation to healthcare business practice and strategic management;
• Critically explain and analyse a range of strategies linking theory to practice; and,
• Have an understanding of the ethical framework around strategic decision-making.

This module is focused on underpinning theories of implementation science and change management designed to support change in practice. Students will consider the barriers to change and opportunities to mitigate against these. Students will develop a clear understanding of the process of effective change management. The module assignment will enable students to demonstrate the depth of their understanding and insight into effective application of implementation science. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate in depth knowledge and appreciation of quality improvement and implementation science theory (CK);
• Critically evaluate, challenge and present data and research evidence in a format that will persuade staff of the need for change (CK);
• Develop innovative and effective presentation skills to influence and support change (CKPT).

Students will critically explore and evaluate the relationship between patient safety policy and its influence on local guidelines and policies. Additionally students will develop their critical judgements of the legal and ethical issues impacting on patient safety and the role of accountability for managing safety and risk in the workplace critically. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the concepts of patient safety and risk and how Governmental and local patient risk and safety policies impact on their practice (CTKP);
• Evaluate the importance of carrying out root cause analysis and developed experience applying different analytical tools to real life scenarios (CTKP);
• Critically reflect upon how this learning can be used to improve patient safety and minimise risk in their own health and social workplace setting (CTKP); and,
• Systematically and critically judge the mechanisms for escalating and communicating concerns within the legal and ethical frameworks required for safe practice (CTKP).

This module is designed to allow students the opportunity to engage in a rigorous piece of personal and independent research arising out of their programme of study and allied to their professional field, and to present their findings through a dissertation.

• Critically monitor and assess the circumstances within and around an organisation to determine when to recommend research projects be developed and approved;
• Have the knowledge, understanding and authority to authorise the commissioning of appropriate organisation-relevant research projects;
• Be able to implement research projects if so commissioned.