MSc Health and Social Care
Factfile
| Typical Entry Requirements | Applicants will normally be graduates with a relevant professional qualification, working in the area of health or social care studied as their speciality. All candidates are invited to attend interview. Non-graduates must demonstrate potential to achieve at postgraduate level and submit an entrance essay. Students enrolling for the Specialist Practice award must be registered nurses named on Part One or Two of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register and will normally hold an accumulated credit volume of 360, of which at least 120 should be Level 3 credits. To commence the Specialist Practice programme the applicant must secure sponsorship from a Primary Care Trust. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above (or equivalent). |
|---|---|
| Programme length | Non-Specialist Practice: the academic award is normally 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time. Students must complete within five years. Specialist Practice award: normally 12 months full-time, or 24 months part-time. As specified by the NMC, 50 per cent of learning takes place at the University and 50 per cent in the practice setting. After completing the Postgraduate Diploma one year is taken to consolidate the specialist practice role prior to completing the MSc. Students should complete within three years. |
| Planned intake | Up to 40 |
|---|---|
| Start date | September |
| Programme Director | |
| Fees | Fees for this programme can be found on our fee rates 2010/2011 page. |
| Self-study hours | 150 hours per 15-credit module (30 hours taught) |
| Download course brochure |
The Health and Social Care programme has been developed by health and social care practitioners and educationalists to meet the needs of professionals wishing to further develop their leadership and research.
The programme enables the practitioner to advance standards of care through exploration of contemporary health and social care issues. This requires not only an extension of practice knowledge, change management and decision making skill, but an understanding of how to instigate development through creativity and innovation.
The programme is suitable for students from a wide range of health and social care settings. The shared learning with other pathways and programmes provides the opportunity for interprofessional and inter-agency networking, with the time to learn from one another whilst exchanging knowledge and experience.
You will develop the ability to critically analyse and evaluate complex health and social care issues in the changing workplace while also advancing the skills to plan and implement innovation and change at a professional level.
Prior to commencing a programme leading to an award, you will be given individual pathway advice in order that you access the appropriate modules. During the process, individual needs will be recognised as well as prior learning and experience.
The structure of the Health and Social Care (Non- Specialist Practice) programme allows selection of optional modules particular to your area of practice/working environment. You will be guided by your Director of Studies or Pathway Leader in selecting the appropriate module(s).
Specialist Practice Programme
In addition to the general Health and Social Care programme, Specialist Practice programmes are available. The three Health and Social Care incorporating Specialist Practice NMC awards are:
- Community Children’s Nursing
- District Nursing
- General Practice Nursing
These programmes have been designed to develop and advance existing community and primary care roles through leadership and research, to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements.
You will be allocated a specialist tutor who has expert knowledge and experience of your chosen Specialist Practice pathway.
There are compulsory modules common to all Specialist Practice pathways and the optional modules will be selected (in discussion with your specialist tutor) according to the NMC requirements to achieve your chosen Specialist Practice Award.
As a Specialist Practice student you will be allocated a practice teacher (PT) by your sponsoring Primary Care Trust. The PT will support you throughout the programme by identifying your learning requirements and assisting you to achieve the NMC learning outcomes.
During the programme you will also receive visits to your practice area by the specialist tutor to monitor progress and guide you in integrating the theory to the practice environment.
Compulsory Modules
Health and Social Care
The aim of this module is to enable you to critically analyse the structure of health and social services and highlight their interdependence in order to understand the complexities of policy and the political processes in relation to the development and provision of health and social care.
Research for Practice
This module will assist you to: explore and examine the nature of the research enterprise and its relationship to the natural and social sciences which include health, education and/or social care; develop a critical understanding of the range of theoretical, methodological and ethical issues associated with the study of health, education and social care; examine the convention of dividing research into qualitative and quantitative approaches and their relationship to evidence-based policy and practice, the measurement of clinical effectiveness and evaluation of educational practices; develop your own perspectives regarding research practice for education, health and/or social care.
Clinical Decision Making
This module supports the development of professional knowledge in the sphere of clinical reasoning and decision-making skills within the health and social care context. The module aims to facilitate a wider understanding of the theories of reasoning in the clinical domain including the development of expertise, memory and knowledge, and reasoning strategies employed by practitioners.
Assessment Module
The student will be directed to the appropriate assessment module by their specialist pathway leader/module leader, according to their requirements, from one of the following:
Advanced Assessment
This module aims to carry out structured systems based on physical examinations and health assessments within their professional practice context. It will focus on the complex skill of assessing undifferentiated health problems, as well as ongoing health problems, to devise differential diagnoses, develop management plans and make appropriate referrals.
Physical Assessment of Adults (Level 3)
This module provides a clear framework for physical examination skills applied to adults, which can be transferred into clinical practice (alongside regular supervision with a designated practice supervisor).
Assessment in Practice
This module will provide the practitioner with the necessary knowledge, skills and expertise to undertake an evidence-based assessment specific to their speciality upon which safe and competent decisions can be made.
Dissertation
This is compulsory for the Health and Social Care programme, including Specialist Practice, to achieve the final award of MSc. It aims to critically review relevant literature; examine current knowledge in relation to the chosen project area; develop a research question within a key area of interest relevant to practice; prepare a proposal for submission to an Ethics Committee, where applicable; undertake a project under supervision, by adhering to the research process; organise and complete a research project, produce a project report and disseminate the findings.
Compulsory Module for Specialist Practice Programmes Only
Leadership and Management
This module invites you to critically review your assumptions about leadership and management, and to reflect on your own and your organisation’s leadership practices.
Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing V100 (Compulsory for District Nurses only)
This module is intended for nurses with Specialist Practice practitioner qualifications to equip them with the principles of prescribing, to enable them to be safe, effective and cost-effective prescribers in a primary care setting.
Optional Modules
For Specialist Practice pathways you will be required to choose modules that clearly support your chosen award endorsement. For non-specialist practice, you will be required to choose options which support your working environment. In addition to the above modules, you are able to access any relevant module from other Faculties across the University. These are listed below:
- Advanced Communication Skills
- Assessment in Public Health Practice
- Cancer Pathophysiology and Treatment
- Case Management
- Challenges in Pain Management
- Chronic Disease Management
- Clinical Issues in Palliative Care
- Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Care
- Current Issues in Advanced Midwifery Practice
- Developing Dementia Care
- Epidemiology and Health Protection
- Ethics
- Journey of Development
- Leadership and Management
- Leading Empowered Partnerships
- Learning Review
- Learning Through Professional Practice
- Minor Ailments Management
- Minor Injuries Management
- Nurse Independent/Supplementary Prescribing (V300)
- Nutrition
- Principles and Practice of Perineal Repair for the Midwife
- Protecting and Safeguarding the Child
- Psychosocial Aspects of Care
- Radiotherapy and Supportive Care
- Sexual Health
- Skills for the Children’s Workforce
- Valuing Work-based Learning
Programme Structure and Modules
International Students
International students who have not sought or would be unable to seek registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can undertake the Health and Social Care programmes. The student would therefore not be able to practise as a qualified nurse within the UK. Where appropriate he/she would gain hospital placement experience either as an undergraduate student working under the supervision of qualified hospital staff, or as an unqualified health or social care worker.
