Health Care Practice

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Academic Year of Entry: 2023/24
Course overview
(Postgraduate Certificate) Postgraduate Certificate
Health Care Practice
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Postgraduate Certificate
By credit accumulation
CER B906MO
10/05/2023

Details

Professional accreditation

None

Admission criteria

  • A relevant professional qualification and current registration with the relevant UK professional body.
  • A good first degree in a relevant subject or relevant professional experience and qualifications that demonstrate ability to study at level seven.
  • Currently employed in a relevant field of practice.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.

Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.

If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

Please contact cpd@essex.ac.uk for further information about this course, planning a pathway and how to apply.

External examiners

Staff photo
Mr Richard Clark

Senior Lecturer

Sheffield Hallam University

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2023/24

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 HS955-7-AU or HS955-7-SP or HS955-7-SU Core with Options 30 Core with Options Core with Options
02 HS909-7-AP or HS909-7-PS or HS909-7-SL Core with Options 30 Core with Options Core with Options

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

1. To provide students with a broad and critical understanding of the key concepts underlying advanced clinical practice
2. To ensure that students apply their understanding of the health sciences, legal and ethical frameworks, and health care policy to critique and enhance their own professional practice
3. To encourage students to contribute to policymaking, planning and evaluation.
4. To ensure students acquire a range of transferable employment related skills

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

A1: Advanced understanding of key concepts related to health or social care professional practice

A2: Comprehensive knowledge of how to assess complex health needs, diagnose, plan and provide or evaluate individualised care.

A3: Comprehensive knowledge of the relationships between relevant academic theories and professional practice.

A4: Knowledge of how to critically appraise research findings and apply research evidence to question routine practice including relevant ethical and legal issues

A5: Advanced understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Learning methods

A1-4 are covered in lectures, seminars or tutorials, which introduce the material in a structured manner with the opportunity for discussion.

Many of the learning events adopt a problem-based learning approach.

A1-5 are further supported by practical experience and portfolio development A1-3 are further supported by the contribution of visiting lecturers who are leading practitioners in the local health services A1-3 have a Moodle platform to support the students and provide additional learning resources A5 is supported by small group or individual tutorials and portfolio development

Assessment methods

A1-5 are assessed by coursework with a clear link to practice in the health care arena and are supported by development of the work based learning portfolio.

Where appropriate examinations may also be used to measure attainment of relevant understanding.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

Learning methods

B1-3 are explicated in the variety of teaching and learning activities undertaken (e.g.
Case studies, problem based learning,) and are enhanced through the development of the workbased learning portfolio B4 is on-going throughout the course and enhanced via formative feedback about coursework.

Assessment methods

B1-4 are assessed by coursework with a clear link to practice in the health care arena and are supported by development of the work based learning portfolio.

C: Practical skills

C1: Perform advanced and systematic search for information relevant to specific topics

C2: Critically apply biological and psycho-social theories and research findings to the diagnostic, implementation and evaluation process of health care.

C3: Lead and develop roles relevant to health care practice

C4: Produce a research proposal to a professional standard and submit an application to an ethics committee where applicable

C5: Carry out, with supervision, health research to a high professional standard.

C6: Process and analyse data using a software package

C7: Plan and present their work in an appropriate manner

Learning methods

C1-4 are explicated in the variety of teaching and learning activities undertaken (e.g.
Case studies, problem based learning, topic based study) and are enhanced through the development of the workbased learning portfolio C4 is on-going throughout the course and is supported by structured feedback on formative and summative coursework.

Assessment methods

C1-4 are assessed by coursework with a clear link to practice in the health care arena and are supported by development of the work based learning portfolio.
Where appropriate examinations (e.g.
OSCEs or clinical assessments ) may also be used to measure attainment of relevant skills.

D: Key skills

D1: Communication - Write clearly and effectively; Communicate effectively verbally in a group; Summarise and communicate complex findings to others; Communicate with professional and lay audiences appropriately

D2: IT Skills - Use the Internet; Use word processing packages; Use spreadsheets and statistics packages; Use presentation packages; Use data analysis software

D3: Read and interpret tables of data and statistics; Use statistics to analyse data; Use packages for handling, referencing and analysisng data

D4: Choose the appropriate method of enquiry in order to address a range of practical and theoretical problems. This includes review and use of appropriate past literature and designing an appropriate piece of research work.

D5: Work in a team with others to agree and work towards common goals. Work successfully with other disciplines/professions and facilitate this in others. Practice reflectively and facilitate this in others

D6: Able to learn from feedback and respond appropriately and effectively to supervision and guidance; able to work pragmatically to meet deadlines; able to critically evaluate own performance and to practice reflectively

Learning methods

D1-6 are explicated in the variety of teaching and learning activities undertaken (e.g. case studies, problem-based learning, topic based study) and are enhanced through the development of the work-based learning portfolio.

D6 is on-going throughout the course and is supported by structured feedback on formative and summative coursework.

Assessment methods

D1-6 are assessed by coursework with a clear link to practice in the health care arena and are supported by development of the work based learning portfolio.


Note

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Contact

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.