Leading health care
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| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
Modern healthcare services require strategic leadership – in education and management as much as clinical practice. Given the complexity of clients’ needs and practice developments, healthcare professionals need to be visionary, analytical, articulate, opportunistic and flexible when planning new initiatives. This course will help you critically analyse practice, examine local healthcare contexts and plan change, working collaboratively with key healthcare colleagues. Throughout, you will explore questions about the focus and rationale for change and its successful management. Having honed your skills in strategic thinking and planning, you will prepare a change agency strategy that is relevant to your practice context.
Course content
Key themes in this course will include change management, leadership approaches, strategic thinking and influencing skills in relation to the enhancement of practice. You will be assisted to examine how change agency and local organisational contexts may interact, ways of creating a culture that encourages innovation and change, as well as ways of supporting others during the change process.
To facilitate this work, you will be required to identify a local practice companion who will act as a critical/reflective friend as you explore aspects of change, change agency and leadership. It is not assumed that your companion will supervise, guide or mentor, but they should be prepared to explore practice circumstances and the perceived need for change.
Change in this course may take many forms. It could consist of an innovation, it might be something that assures the quality of healthcare or it could be a part of problem-solving. You will choose the focus of the change as local circumstances demand and your tutor will assist you to explore how leadership and change agency concepts relate to the work there.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- critically analyse the skills required to operate as a sensitive and effective change agent
- critically discuss the contribution of effective leadership to change and change agency
- strategically investigate opportunities for effective innovation and change, and the determining factors and organisational culture that support change.
Transferable skills
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- access, retrieve, interpret and utilise information and evidence appropriately
- demonstrate effective communication skills
- demonstrate personal organisation and responsibility
- exercise effective decision making and initiative
- demonstrate a commitment to care involving service users, carers and supporters.
Vocational relevance
All healthcare professionals have a part to play in leadership at some time. Leadership is not synonymous with management. This course then has widespread application wherever practice seems ‘ripe for change’ and where colleagues work in groups or teams to enhance the quality of healthcare. Irrespective of whether you are formally designated a leader in your role, this course provides key insights into change that will enable you to work more sensitively and effectively with others.
Entry
Entry is open to registered healthcare professionals with a minimum of one year’s post-qualifying experience who have current access to practice environments and have successfully completed a first degree in a relevant subject. Students who do not hold a bachelors degree, but who submit evidence of alternative professional achievements and who successfully complete an exploratory assignment assessed by the Health and Social Care Committee will be eligible for non-standard entrance to the course.
Preparatory work
You will receive guidance of how to get started online in your first course mailing. This will provide you with information on using your computer for OU study and working with the Computing Guide. For example, it explains how to access and use your course website and online forums. If you have time before the course starts, you can work through this and explore all the online services available to you.
Qualifications
K822 is a compulsory course in our:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Advancing Healthcare Practice (C92)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Advancing Healthcare Practice (E46)
- MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice (F52)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course materials can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books and other printed materials. You will have access to a course website through which teaching and library resources are available. Electronic versions of most of the printed course materials are provided on the course website.
Computing requirements
This course has online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material. They will mark and comment on your written work, and you can ask them for advice and guidance. We will also offer group telephone tutorials that you are encouraged to attend. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your assignments online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course starting in February 2010. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
A postgraduate course in Health and Social Care.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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