Course specification and structure
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PMHSCMPY - MSc Health and Social Care Management and Policy

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Master of Science Level Masters
Possible interim awards Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Advanced Diploma in Professional Development
Total credits for course 180
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Professions
Subject Area Health, Social Care and Early Childhood
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 1 YEARS  
Part-time 2 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

This course will provide the opportunity for those working in, or aspiring to, management and policy making roles to develop and test their knowledge and skills through the core modules in order to inform their practice and enhance career choices. Students will be able to make some choices of specialist areas they wish to study through the designated modules, as well as in selecting assessment topics that enhance personal development including the dissertation. Students' learning will be structured around the weekly contact time with the teaching team and will be complemented by the students' independent work based on the guidance supplied in lectures, group work, tutorials and interactive workshops. Enquiry based learning and problem based learning will be used to help students to comprehend theoretical concepts. Students will be required to engage continuously and constructively with the module. Every week, students will be required to read recommended chapters in textbooks, to access Weblearn, web sites or DVD materials containing relevant educational material and to participate weekly interactive workshops developing academic and multimodal communication skills.

Course aims

The course provides a multidisciplinary learning environment to study management of health and social care services. The overall aim is to develop effective managers and policy professionals: people who are able to engage with policy, clarify strategic goals, manage and implement projects based on ethics, quality good practice, and manage themselves and others in the pursuit of excellence in a multidisciplinary context. It begins by enabling students to be analytical of their own and others' behaviour in relation to management processes, focusing on the capacity to manage their own time, priorities and development, as well as the performance of others.

  1. To develop students capacity to manage staff and resources; to set up organisational and team priorities; assure the quality of provided services and staff performance.
  2. To provide a multi-disciplinary learning environment in which students can develop and improve their practice through the acquisition and application of knowledge, and the development of skills for effective leadership and management practice.
  3. To provide learning opportunities which support the leadership and management role within the context of risk, resource constraints and equity i.e., strategic planning (organisation and workforce), managing resources (people, budgets and performance information), leading and managing quality improvements and engaging service users, and implementing, monitoring and evaluating change.
  4. To help students develop research and evaluative skills to support an evidence-based approach to their leadership and management practice, and critical reflective practice.

Course learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  • Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced scholarship in Health and Social Care Management and Policy
  • Apply knowledge with originality, based on a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in Health and Social Care Management and Policy
  • Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in Health and Social Care Management and Policy
  • Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses
  • deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
  • Advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level
  • Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations
  • Learn independently for the purposes of continuing professional development.

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

- Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced
scholarship in Health and Social Care Management and Policy:

SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation
SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7061 Understanding Policy Process

- Apply knowledge with originality, based on a practical understanding of how
established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret
knowledge in Health and Social Care Management and Policy:

SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation

- Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in Health and Social
Care Management and Policy:

SH7061 Understanding Policy Process
SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation

- Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses:

SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation
SH7062 Impact Assessment

- Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound
judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions
clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences:

SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management
SH7061 Understanding Policy Process

- Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act
autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level:

SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation

- Advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to
a high level:

SH7061 Understanding Policy Process
SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management

- Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations:

G17003 Strategic Planning and Change Management
SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation

- Learn independently for the purposes of continuing professional development:

SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and
Policy Dissertation
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management
SH7062 Impact Assessment
SH7061 Understanding Policy Process

Principle QAA benchmark statements

N/A

Assessment strategy

The course will use a variety of teaching and learning styles and these are, in turn, reflected in the variety of assessment tools employed through the course. Within the general principle of mixed mode formative and summative assessments can be found a diversity of instruments: practical reports and reviews, presentations and essays. Transferable skills have been embedded in the learning outcomes of the course modules. It includes formative assessment, so that students can test and assess their own performance before handing in or presenting work. The MSc includes a dissertation based on the student’s own area of interest.

Modules required for interim awards

PG Cert Post Graduate Certificate in Health and Social Care Management and Policy Three modules (a minimum of 2 core modules).
PG Dip Post Graduate Diploma in Health and Social Care Management and Policy 4 cores, 2 options
MSc Masters of Science in Health and Social Care Management and Policy 4 cores, 2 options, 60 credit dissertation

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

The programme is typically taken by students who already have some management experience in health or social care services, but who wish both to enhance their management capability and to reflect on the management of their service with the benefit of the theoretical input from the programme and the opportunity to examine issues of relevance with others working in similar roles. It will also assist those managers who have been promoted from clinical or other direct care roles without formal management training, who find that some aspects of their new roles are very different from their professional training and experience. The programme should both help students to develop their competence, and by learning in a multi-disciplinary student group (reflecting the development of services and professional relationships in the field) should enhance insight into the various perspectives and competing priorities in management and policy process.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

This course will allow students to develop as effective managers who understand the policy process by engaging with policy and who can clarify strategic goals, implement, manage and monitor good practice, and manage themselves and others in the pursuit of excellence in a multidisciplinary context. Students will be able to apply their knowledge and theories to their daily work activities.

The learning and teaching will consist of a structured programme of formal lectures, workshops, seminars and student-led discussions of set material. The module will be using WebLearn - guidance will be given during the module about how to best use this. It is designed to support students learning providing access to wider reading and resources to help to prepare for each session e.g. websites, policy documents and articles and or to revise and deepen knowledge after sessions e.g. lecture notes. Students are encouraged to use other learning resources such as the Library, the CELT and WebLearn.

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

This course is accredited by the Institute of Healthcare Management.

Career opportunities

This qualification will enhance the career prospects of those working in many settings where knowledge and skills in health and social care management or policy making is relevant. Graduates from our existing programmes report improved career choices and advancement as a result of learning acquired on this programme.

Many have gone on to careers as drug and alcohol rehabilitation managers, managers of learning disability services, primary care trust business development managers, day centre managers, sure start programme managers, health visitor managers, prison service managers, residential and nursing care home managers, advisors in local authorities, community care managers, managed policy research, policy makers.

Entry requirements

Successful applicant will normally be required to have:

  • A good Honours degree in a relevant subject discipline such as sociology, psychology, the social sciences or politics. Or,
  • The ability to demonstrate the knowledge base, academic skills and motivation to benefit from and succeed in an advanced level award. Hence applicants with lower qualifications but substantial work or voluntary experience in a relevant area may be considered.

We are looking for motivated applicants who have a degree in health, management, policy, social care or related subjects and can demonstrate their knowledge base, strong analytical abilities that are underpinned by academic skills. Health and social care managers or policy makers with substantial relevant work experience may be considered and are also encouraged to apply. Experienced clinical staff or senior practitioners moving into a management role will be considered.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L510 (Health and Welfare): 100%
Route code HSCMPY

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management Core 20        
SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services Core 20        
SH7061 Understanding the Policy Process Core 20 NORTH AUT TUE PM
SH7062 Impact Assessment Core 20        
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and Policy Di... Core 60 NORTH AUT FRI PM
          NORTH SPR FRI PM
HR7009 Cross Cultural Management Option 20        
HR7134 Contextualising Management Option 20 NORTH SPR WED PM
SH7002 Managing Self and Others Option 20        
SH7003 Health in the City Option 20        
SH7025 Perspectives of Ageing Option 20        
SH7053 Ethical Issues in Healthcare Option 20 NORTH SPR MON AM
SH7058 Children and Families: Policy and Practice Option 20 NORTH SUM WK  
SH7065 Partnership Working Option 20        
SS7035 Project Management Option 20        
SS7115 Managing Change in Organisations and Systems Option 20        
SS7131 Housing Strategy Option 20        
SS7145 Measuring and Monitoring Performance Option 20        
SS7152 Social Policy Themes and Priorities: Local, Reg... Option 20        

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management Core 20        
SH7001 Management of Health and Social Services Core 20        
SH7061 Understanding the Policy Process Core 20        
SH7062 Impact Assessment Core 20        
SH7P63 Health and Social Care Management and Policy Di... Core 60 NORTH SPR FRI PM
HR7009 Cross Cultural Management Option 20        
HR7134 Contextualising Management Option 20 NORTH SPR WED PM
SH7002 Managing Self and Others Option 20        
SH7003 Health in the City Option 20        
SH7025 Perspectives of Ageing Option 20        
SH7053 Ethical Issues in Healthcare Option 20 NORTH SPR MON AM
SH7058 Children and Families: Policy and Practice Option 20 NORTH SUM WK  
SH7065 Partnership Working Option 20        
SS7035 Project Management Option 20        
SS7115 Managing Change in Organisations and Systems Option 20        
SS7131 Housing Strategy Option 20        
SS7145 Measuring and Monitoring Performance Option 20        
SS7152 Social Policy Themes and Priorities: Local, Reg... Option 20