MSc Leadership Development

Become a leader and act as an effective change agent within health and social care on a programme which enables you to specialise in clinical leadership, leadership and management, or medical leadership and management.

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    • Overview

    Course Length: 1 Year Full-Time, 2-4 Years Part-Time
    Start Dates: September 2020, September 2021
    Subjects: Health and Social Care
    Medicine
    Research
    Location: Edge Hill University
    • Become a leader able to improve the quality of care and capable of acting as an effective change agent within health and social care;
    • Study a programme developed and delivered in collaboration with external stakeholders who hold senior/executive positions within health and social care;
    • Choose from three pathways, each using different reflective methods to explore your unique leadership context.

    If you are working, or aspiring to work, in a position of influence across the wider health and social care community, this MSc is for you. The programme is targeted at aspiring healthcare professionals who wish to apply for leadership and management positions within health and social care, as well as those already working as allied health professionals, clinical scientists, nurses or doctors. The course is also suitable for those working in a variety of non-clinical roles, for example commissioners, quality improvement managers, clinical auditors, risk management, team leaders, social workers, patient advocates, or in the voluntary sector.

    Three specialist pathways are available which enable you to tailor the programme to meet your individual needs:

    • MSc Leadership Development (Clinical Leadership) is ideal if you work as a clinician and wish to focus on clinical leadership;
    • MSc Leadership Development (Leadership and Management) is for those who are working, or aspire to work, in a leadership or management role;
    • MSc Leadership Development (Medical Leadership and Management) is suitable for doctors, offering bespoke modules which provide a medical content and a business focus.

    The Leadership and Management pathway can be studied on a 1-year full-time or 2-3 year part-time basis. Other pathways are available on a 4-year part-time basis only. 

    Student and Alumni Profiles

    • Graham Farrington

      MSc Leadership Development
      My course isn't what I expected, it's better! It's definitely improving my performance in work and further developing my wider understanding of the sector.
       View full profile

    In Depth

    What will I study?

    The programme will provide you with opportunities for in-depth self awareness, critical reflection on your own style of leadership, and the opportunity to develop the qualities and decision-making skills of an effective change-agent.

    You will gain insight into your personality traits and type, influencing style, emotional intelligence, team role, learning style, resilience and how to use this understanding to build a team. Developing the skills and knowledge required to effectively implement change and inform your actions with an evidence base, you will gain a range of pragmatic tools to enable you to apply theory to practice.

    There will also be an opportunity to learn about research methodologies and undertake a project utilising your leadership and change management skills.

    How will I study?

    The programme will be delivered through lead lectures, workshops, seminars, master classes, Action Learning Sets, group work and critical debates to provide a framework to underpin the development of critical thinking and sharing in the learning process. The approach will be ‘flexible’ – blended learning where face-to-face sessions are the predominant delivery method supported by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.

    The aim across all pathways is to promote a values-driven, authentic approach to leadership and to develop effective change agents who are able to improve the quality of care. Throughout each pathway, reflection will be applied to determine the type of leader you are; the type of leader you aspire to be (and why); and the action that will be taken to further your leadership development. This will be supported by group work, debate, action learning sets, coaching, self-awareness tools, work shadowing opportunities, master-classes, coaching and student-led seminars. The aim is to create a learning community conducive to critical reflection.

    The attendance is daytime, approximately three hours per module, however some modules incorporate online units of study. In addition we provide work shadowing and one-to-one coaching opportunities.

    How will I be assessed?

    The assessment strategy will focus on the synthesis and critical application of theory to practice in relation to your current or future leadership role. A variety of assessment strategies will be utilised to provide balance including essays, presentations, portfolios, a leadership development plan, reflective diaries, seminars, online discussion and the undertaking of a project. You will be assessed both formatively to support your development and summatively to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.

    Who will be teaching me?

    The programme team comprises staff from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, the Evidence Based Practice Research Centre and Edge Hill Business School, many of whom publish in international journals and present at national and international conferences.

    An additional network of executive/senior professionals within health and social care will provide you with opportunities to learn from their experience through coaching and work shadowing opportunities.

    A Great Study Environment

    The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine is one of the leading providers of education and training for health and social care professionals in the North West of England.

    Offering some of the best facilities for health, social care and medicine students in the country, the outstanding teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.

    The faculty is home to a thriving research culture which includes a series of staff and student conference programmes, guest lectures and seminars, as well as active research groups.

    Modules

    Expand All

    HEA4002Advanced Practice Project (60 credits)

    Advanced Practice Project challenges you to explore how to lead, implement and evaluate a service improvement project within a health and social care setting. This will involve either working with other professionals within your practice area to identify, plan and implement a small-scale project that is directed at promoting service improvement or developing a business case for a project designed to improve the quality of care.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4038Leading People Through Change (20 credits)

    Leading People Through Change provides a critical and evaluative perspective on change theories, styles and tools in order to implement change in the context of health and social care.  The module will facilitate the further enhancement of skills in the transfer of theoretical perspectives to practice and enable you to critically reflect upon, and learn from, your actions and the actions of others.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4444Research Methods (20 credits)

    Research Methods introduces you to the research process including the philosophical fundamentals of both quantitative and qualitative traditions and a range of research methodologies. The module will enable you to demonstrate the ability to critically appraise a range of research methodologies and plan a small-scale empirical project in your chosen discipline, as well as gaining awareness of the theoretical and practical implications of undertaking such a study.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    You will study the following additional modules on the Clinical Leadership pathway, as well as choosing 40 credits of optional modules from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine’s CPD portfolio.

    HEA4037Leadership Self-Awareness and Self-Empowerment (20 credits)

    Leadership Self-Awareness and Self-Empowerment provides you with a critical and evaluative perspective on self-awareness and self-management in order to assist you in developing leadership skills. The module will facilitate critical reflection using a number of reflective lenses.  These lenses will include personal reflection, peer review and self-awareness tools. In addition, action learning sets will provide a vehicle for reflective support and challenge, to help you to reach deeper levels of self-reflection.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4208Strategic Clinical Leadership (20 credits)

    Strategic Clinical Leadership provides a critical and evaluative perspective on leadership theories, styles and approaches in the context of health and social care. The module will facilitate the enhancement of your skills in the transfer of theoretical perspectives to practice and in the development of a strategic focus. You will critically appraise theoretical modelling frameworks of leadership and critically debate their relevance to current practice within the context of health and social care. You will also evaluate the multi-factorial influences which impact on the role of leaders within health and social care.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    You will study the following additional modules on the Leadership and Management pathway, as well as choosing 20 credits of optional modules from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine’s CPD portfolio.

    BUS4525Collaboration Across Boundaries in Management (20 credits)

    Collaboration Across Boundaries in Management invites you to reflect upon your practice and your experience of working across organisational silos or departments. You will be encouraged to use your reflections to identify trends and developments in management and leadership learning across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4037Leadership Self-Awareness and Self-Empowerment (20 credits)

    Leadership Self-Awareness and Self-Empowerment provides you with a critical and evaluative perspective on self-awareness and self-management in order to assist you in developing leadership skills. The module will facilitate critical reflection using a number of reflective lenses.  These lenses will include personal reflection, peer review and self-awareness tools. In addition, action learning sets will provide a vehicle for reflective support and challenge, to help you to reach deeper levels of self-reflection.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4207Developing a Business Case for Change and Innovation (20 credits)

    Developing a Business Case for Change and Innovation provides you with an opportunity to appraise the rationale, evidence-base and drivers for change. The module challenges you to explore the feasibility, viability and risks of a business case for change and innovation. You will also examine how your chosen business case should be communicated, implemented and evaluated.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    You will study the following additional modules on the Medical Leadership and Management pathway, as well as studying 40 credits of optional modules from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine’s CPD portfolio.

    BUS4525Collaboration Across Boundaries in Management (20 credits)

    Collaboration Across Boundaries in Management invites you to reflect upon your practice and your experience of working across organisational silos or departments. You will be encouraged to use your reflections to identify trends and developments in management and leadership learning across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4117Medical Leadership (20 credits)

    Medical Leadership examines the importance of the personal attributes of a leader, including emotional intelligence and personality type, using psychometric tools such as the Jungian Type Indicator (JTI). You will have the opportunity to analyse and reflect upon your personal effectiveness against Covey’s seven effectiveness domains. You will also use Belbin’s team roles as a way of understanding your own and others’ contributions to team meetings.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    You may wish to choose one or more of the following modules as your elective choices, depending on whether your pathway requires the study of 20 or 40 additional credits (as outlined above).

    HEA4209The Role of the Manager within Health and Social Care (20 credits)

    The Role of the Manager within Health and Social Care explores contemporary, operational management theory and its critical application to the role of the manager in the health and social care context. You will discover how to appraise individual team effectiveness and performance, manage people, diversity and talent, and manage quality, resources and operational delivery.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4210Developing High Performance Cultures within Health and Social Care (20 credits)

    Developing High Performance Cultures within Health and Social Care introduces the concept of inculcation of high-performance cultures within the health and social care context. From a systems perspective, this module considers the fit of organisational culture with organisational strategy in areas such as the management of risk, quality and performance, and the perspective of participant engagement within learning organisations.


    Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

    HEA4220Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice (20 credits)

    Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice enables you to explore and critically appraise the notion of professionalism. You will critically examine ethical aspects associated with professionalism in healthcare, for example public expectations versus personal expression, to assist in reflective practice. The aim is to encourage you to critically reflect on your practices and values when working in a multi-disciplinary team. You will explore ways in which an individual can validate and support the development of professionalism, creating a professional environment in healthcare settings and role-modelling professional values and behaviours to enhance both the patient experience and the sharing of best practice.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    Optional modules provide an element of choice within the programme curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements.

    For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/cpdmodules.

    Timetables

    You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

    Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

    Entry Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    To join this MSc you should ideally have a degree equivalent to UK second class honours (2:2 or above) in a health or social care related subject, although other subjects may be considered.

    If you are in full-time employment and have a minimum of five years’ experience working within health and social care, you may be able to access the programme without a degree if you are able to demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development.

    An interview forms part of the selection process.

    English Language Requirements

    International students require IELTS 7.0, with a score no lower than 6.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

    If your current level of English is half a band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, our Pre-Sessional English course might be for you.

    Recognition of Prior Learning

    Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’). This may include credit or learning undertaken at another university.

    Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s academic regulations (sections C7 and F3.1) or contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

    Career Prospects

    What are my career prospects?

    In an increasingly competitive health service, health and social care staff need to continually seek opportunities to add to their portfolio of qualifications in order to advance their careers. This is especially true for allied health professionals, clinical scientists, doctors, nurses and social workers where a postgraduate qualification is increasingly deemed desirable and essential.

    For those students aspiring to work in leadership and management roles within health and social care, the programme will equip with you with essential transferable skills that will enable you to apply for a wide variety of roles within service improvement, project management, audit, governance, quality, commissioning, business operations, risk and patient safety.

    This MSc Leadership Development programme will equip you with a range of leadership and change management skills. It provides a highly relevant qualification which demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development and also gives you an advantage over your peers.

    Finance

    Tuition Fees

    Tuition fees for studying on this MSc are £34 per credit for UK and EU students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2020/21, i.e. £680 per 20 credit module, with the exception of module HEA4117 Medical Leadership for which the cost is £700.

    180 credits are required to complete a Masters degree.

    The University may administer a small inflationary rise in part-time postgraduate tuition fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

    Financial Support

    For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University in academic year 2020/21, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2020/21 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradfinance2020.

    Apply

    How to Apply

    Apply directly to Edge Hill University.

    Download the Health and Social Care Professional Development pathway application form (pdf) and notes for guidance (pdf).

    Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

    Get in Touch

    If you have any questions about this programme, please contact:

    • Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine Student Recruitment and Marketing Support Team
    • Tel: 01695 657249
    • Email: cpdenquiries@edgehill.ac.uk

    If you would like to talk to the programme leader about the course in more detail, please contact:

    Course Changes

    Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

    11th January 2019 - Change of Modules

    HEA4444 Research Methods (20 credits) replaces HEA4045 Research: The Development of a Research Proposal (20 credits) as a compulsory module on each pathway.

    15th August 2018 - New Module Added

    HEA4220 Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice (20 credits) added as a suggested optional module (for the 20 or 40 credits, varying by pathway, of optional modules selected from the Faculty of Health and Social Care\’s CPD portfolio).