Leading change in healthcare

Leading Change in Healthcare involves the bringing together of self-knowledge, expertise at work and formal knowledge to lead, plan and undertake a work-based quality improvement project. It takes a structured and learner-managed approach, maximising opportunities for learning and professional development in the workplace.

The module is designed to enable healthcare professionals develop skills as reflective practitioners, it offers a means of linking theory to practice and valuing practice as an integral part of professional education.

Control over the learning process is in the hands of participants who negotiate their own learning contract with their academic supervisor (and workplace mentor, if they identify one). The learning contract sets out intended learning, the actions required to achieve it and the evidence that will demonstrate achievement.

Module aims

This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to:

• Lead an improvement project in your workplace;
• Tailor learning to you and needs of your workplace;
• Identify and reinforce existing knowledge and experience;
• Gain academic credit for existing knowledge and skills;
• Develop research skills in designing, delivering and disseminating work related projects;
• Improve personal effectiveness through reflection.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

• Display a mastery of complex and specialised knowledge and critical awareness of issues at the forefront of contemporary health care practice;
• Employ advanced subject specific and cognitive skills in order to lead and advance practice in their professional area;
• Critically analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources, exploring emerging contradictions;
• Synthesise and utilise knowledge to generate new ideas, lead and advance current practice;
• Demonstrate advanced judgement in problem identification, problem solving and decision making within your professional role;
• Engage in self-appraisal and critical reflection;
• Lead effective communication and education with clients and colleagues in the improvement and development of practice.

A suitable quality improvement project will be negotiated individually with you alongside personal learning outcomes which will complement the core outcomes. It is preferable to have support from a mentor in clinical practice, usually a manager or team leader, this however is not compulsory.

• A relevant first degree OR a relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates ability to study at Level 7.
• A minimum of 1 year post-registration experience and relevant musculoskeletal experience.
• Current Registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body.
• HCPC or equivalent registration e.g. in case of doctors (GMC) and Nurses (NMC), non-radiographer sonographers must evidence their qualification.
• Current practice within a healthcare setting.

Module Outline

Resources to support learning in relation to this module and the assessment tasks will be available to you via ‘Moodle’- our online learning environment. Group tutorials conducted via the ‘Zoom’ platform will introduce and explore various quality improvement topics including:

• Introduction to Quality Improvement
• Service needs assessment
• Quality improvement tools and models
• Stakeholders
• Leadership

• Fees for 2025-26 (.docx).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.