module specification

Students are introduced to theories, concepts and models of workplace health in order to facilitate their professional knowledge of developing provision in the social professions arena. Contemporary approaches explore the link between health and wellbeing policy and the outcomes of organisational delivery. Workplace health and wellbeing is considered as a balance between personal, professional and organisational perspectives. The Module explores how such a balance can be achieved  in organisational settings and considers the impact of a shortfall in health and wellbeing provision on the workplace. The Module includes dedicated time for observations of workplace initiatives to support health and wellbeing which contribute to the final component of assessment: the Health & Wellbeing portfolio.

The aim of this Module is as follows:

•  to develop a knowledge of organisational approaches to health and wellbeing and the promotion of health and well-being in the workplace;
•  to develop an awareness of early intervention processes for those who develop a health condition in the workplace; and
•  consideration of the socio-economic factors which contribute to employment (and unemployment), in order to develop proactive approaches of inclusion, selection and recruitment in the workplace.

The indicative syllabus for this Module covers the following themes:

Approaches to workplace health and wellbeing.
Concepts and theories of workplace health and wellbeing.
Managing Workplace health and wellbeing.
Occupational health and psychological support systems
Absence Management,
Health and Safety in the workplace,
Mental Health,
Lifestyle choices: physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol, smoking and drug addiction. All LO1,2,3,4

A workplace observation offers the opportunity to reflect on a specific theme/intervention in order to develop a Health & Wellbeing Portfolio.

The Module offers the following balance of independent and scheduled teaching activity. Blended and online learning methods form a significant component of the Module delivery. A work place observation offers the opportunity to integrate learning on the Module.

Learning Outcomes:

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

1. Identify and demonstrate understanding of significant issues impacting workplace health and wellbeing.

2. Evaluate the central concepts of workplace health and be able to apply them to a management perspective.

3. Critically evaluate the factors that promote or hinder workplace health and wellbeing, with a clear understanding of the link between policy and practice.

4. Reflect on the organisational considerations of the provision of services to support workplace health and wellbeing.

Describe the assessment instruments and provide a rationale for them in terms of the learning outcomes that they assess.

Core Text:.

COOPER,C.L. & LEITER,M.P. (Eds) (2017) The Routledge Companion to Wellbeing at Work, London:Taylor & Francis Group. ProQuest Ebook Central. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/londonmet/detail.action?docID=4862850.

Other Texts:
CHANNING, J. (2013). Safety at work. Available at: http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1565827.
DONALDSON FEILDER,E & PODRO,S. (2012) The future of health and wellbeing in the workplace.London : Acas.
GREER, J. (2016). Resilience and personal effectiveness for social workers. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1244080.
HEMPEL, S. (2016). Systematic reviews for occupational safety and health questions: resources for evidence synthesis. http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1463/RAND_RR1463.pdf.
MATTHEWMAN, L., ROSE, A., & HETHERINGTON, A. (2009). Work psychology: an introduction to human behaviour in the workplace. Oxford, Oxford University Press
SCRIVEN, A., & HODGINS, M. (2012). Health promotion settings: principles and practice. Los Angeles, Sage.
THOMAS, J. C., & HERSEN, M. (2004). Psychopathology in the workplace: recognition and adaptation. New York, NY, Brunner-Routledge

Journals Articles:

CAROLAN, S, HARRIS, P, & CAVANAGH, K (2017) 'Improving employee well-being and effectiveness: Systematic review and meta-analysis of web-based psychological interventions delivered in the workplace', Journal Of Medical Internet Research, 19, 7, pp. 142-159, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, viewed 4 April 2018

FRANCO-SANTOS, M; DOHERTY, N. (2017) Performance management and well-being: A close look at the changing nature of the UK higher education workplace. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. United Kingdom, 28, 16, 2319-2350.

PROTHERO, A. (2017) ‘We’re sorry to hear you have been unwell’ Personal Reflections on health and wellbeing in the workplace. Journal of Management  Studies , Volume:54 , Issue:1 , Page(s):118

Web resources:

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE AND POLICY ASSOCIATION (2015) Workplace stressors & health outcomes: Health policy for the workplace. Available at : https://behavioralpolicy.org/article/ workplace-stressors-health-outcomes/ (Accessed 02/04/18)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (2014) Wellbeing – Why it matters to health policy. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277566/ Narrative__January_2014_.pdf (Accessed 02/04/18)

HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE (2016) Work related stress, anxiety and depression statistics in Great Britain. Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/STATISTICS/causdis/stress/ stress.pdfz 8. Ibid. (Accessed 02/04/18)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (2017) Healthy workplaces: improving employee mental and physical health and wellbeing.  Available at: https:// www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs147 (Accessed 02/04/18)

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT  (2014) Mental Health and Work: United Kingdom. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/els/mental-health-and-workunited-kingdom-9789264204997-en.htm (Accessed 02/04/18)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (2014) Mental health: a state of well-being. Available at: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/(Accessed 02/04/18)

Electronic Databases:

Jstor
PsycINFO
Pubmed/Medline