module specification

This module introduces students to the concepts necessary for safe and effective practice in public health and social care in respect of their own role within the employing organisation or placement. Students will be encouraged to review their role against commonly used principles and practice standards in order to safeguard clients and foster public confidence. This requires working in partnership with others and through developing the competences related to their role.

Placement Learning 1 is designed with some focussed taught sessions though primarily practice based activities will be undertaken in the placement setting. This is aimed at providing the opportunity for students to have some time to develop their confidence and test some skills in their placement. There will be activities to be completed between lectures and interactive workshops including assessing competence, practice based activities and then reporting back in class.

Much of this work will be collated into the practice portfolio with the intention of bringing theory and practice closer together so that students can gain knowledge, skills and confidence in their learning and in practice.  Relevant aspects of the taught component of this module can also form the basis of discussion with the practice supervisor or mentor in the work placement.

This module aims to:
• Introduce students to practice based learning and the use of the practice portfolio
• Develop public health and social care knowledge and skills
• Deliver safe and effective practice to clients or communities within a competence framework
• Adopt user centred and partnership working approaches to the delivery of public health
 

Module content will include:
• Introduction to practice based learning
• Reflection and reflective practice
• Using and collating the portfolio
• Completing the personal profile
• Completing the Learning Agreement
• Completing the Learning Contract
• Principles of working in public health and social careeg. Client confidentiality, obtaining consent and record keeping
• Introduction to partnership working
• Ethical standards in public health and social care practice
• Reflective practice as a tool for learning
• Competency frameworks: Skills for Health and Skills for Care; National Occupational Standards
• Care quality commission
• Standards for working in public health and social care eg. Health and safety, risk management, infection control and child protection
• Practice based activities

The module will use a range of teaching and learning strategies such as lectures, interactive workshops, short films and videos. There will be a dedicated workshop timetable with clear guidance on tasks to be achieved. Students will complete a learning agreement and learning contract in collaboration with their practice supervisor to demonstrate the learning to be achieved in the work placement. Students will be expected to source information by reading key literature, and using specific online resources. Students will present work based activities in class including presentation of their work placement and role ensuring confidentiality is maintained. A practice portfolio will also be completed during the module.

On completion of the module students will be able to:

1. Apply commonly used practice principles and standards within a user centred approach
2. Reflect on their own role and be able to apply principles and standards to their own public health and social care role including partnership working
3. Present an account of how their competencies have developed with respect to adopting a user centred and partnership approach to their practice within a competence framework
4. Discuss the delivery of a pubic health intiative related to their work placement
5. Work collaboratively with their practice supervisor or mentor

The assessment strategy is designed to help students understand and apply theory and principles of working in public health and social care settings. In addition students will be helped to develop their skills of personal reflection and move towards critical reflection on their practice experiences. There will an integrated e-learning portfolio which will consist of a series of formative and summative elements:

A 10 minute oral account of your current work place and your role within it (week 4) (LO3)

A reflective log which demonstrates learning related to one of the Learning Outcomes
(Formative, week 10)

A 2,000 word written account (week 23) of at least one episode from your practice that demonstrates that you:  (LO3 LO4)
• Apply commonly used practice principles, standards and a user-centred approach to working in public health (LO1)
• Reflect on your own role and are able to apply the principles and standards to your own public health and social care role including partnership working  (LO2)
• Describe how your competencies have developed with respect to adopting a user centred and partnership approaches (LO1)
Submission of the complete practice portfolio with the learning contract and 6 reflective logs (LO5)

Adams R [Ed] (2007) Foundations of Health and Social Care. Palgrave

Day J (2006) Interprofessional Working.Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes

Department of Health (2004) The Knowledge and Skills Framework. London, DH
Available at : http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4090861.pdf
Doel, M., Sawdon and Morrison, D (2002) Learning, Practice and Assessment: Signposting the Portfolio. Jessica Kingsley. London

Hull C, Redfern L, Shuttleworth A (2005) Profiles and Portfolios A Guide for Health and Social Care, 2nd Edition   Palgrave : Basingstoke

Jackson C and Thurgate C [Eds} (2011)  Workplace Learning in Health and Social Care A Students Guide. Maidenhead, OUP

Jasper M (2003) Beginning Reflective Practice. Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes

Naidoo J. & Wills J. (2003) Health Promotion. Foundations for Practice. Edinburgh, BailliereTindall.

Owen SM, Leva S (2009) Experiential placements and scaffolding reflection.
Learning in Health & Social Care, Dec, Vol. 8 Issue 4, p272-281,

Santy J & Smith J (2007) Being an E-Learner in Health and Social Care A student’s Guide  London Routeledge

Wigens L (2006) Optimising Learning through Practice Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes

Online resources:
Care Knowledge England - http://www.careknowledge.com/secure/home/homearea.aspx?id=186  
Employability -  www.londonmet.ac.uk/employability/placements/short/north
Volunteering : Do-it Volunteering made easy http://www.do-it.org.uk/
Volunteering England - http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Local+and+Regional/VolunteerCentreFinder?region=H

http://www.social-care.tv/?gclid=CIfYwfL7qawCFZJc4Qod7F4sAg

http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/about-us/competences%10national-occupational-standards/