This is an option module within the MSc Healthcare Practice programme and the PGDip/MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme. It may also be taken as a free-standing module. It is designed for registered healthcare practitioners who are undertaking or are about to undertake work-based projects e.g., clinical audit, producing clinical guidelines, role development or in-service study programmes. It can also be used for the recognition of substantial prior experiential learning (RPEL), which has been undertaken in employment within the past 5 years. The module offers a flexible approach with the negotiation of a bespoke learning agreement between the participant, clinical supervisor/ employer and module leader, which identifies the work- based activities to be used and presented in a written form for assessment and the award of academic credit.

 

Aims

The module will enable practitioners to enhance skills for autonomous, life-long learning through the negotiation of work-based objectives which address personal/ professional practice development and service delivery needs.

 

What and how you will learn on this module

 

How you will learn:

This module is delivered using a blended learning approach which integrates a variety of on-campus and online activities, supported by Canvas, the University’s virtual learning environment. A complementary range of activities are employed to engage you in the critical exploration of key topic areas, and the completion of formative tasks during the module also helps to keep you on track with the learning and gain feedback on your understanding of the content. A sense of community is developed and maintained with frequent opportunities for peer learning, enabling you to share your practice experiences and to learn from each other. Level 6 and level 7 students taking this module may be taught together.

Academic writing and critical thinking skills are developed through ‘The Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit’ and other academic practice activities embedded within the module, that have been designed to nurture the skills needed to facilitate you to become a thoughtful, objective and reasoned thinker. This will help you tackle the assignment(s) confidently, understand marking criteria, use evidence, take a reasoned approach, make structured arguments and engage with other points of view. 

 

What you will learn:

Core knowledge

The content of the module will be determined by the subject of the work-based learning and negotiated objectives. Each student, through their learning agreement, will identify the scope of their work and normally manage their own learning to:

• develop the learning agreement;

• undertake self-appraisal/personal and professional development planning;

• identify and use relevant evidence for practice development;

• access independently the resources required in terms of time, materials, equipment and support from colleagues, manager and university;

• reflect on theory and using models to structure negotiated assignment.

 

Academic practice

•      Database searching

•      Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

•      Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.

 

Course length: 1 briefing session

Please note that there are no other study days assigned to the work-based learning module. All study time will need to be negotiated with your managers.

 

Assessment

Negotiated reflective report with accompanying learning agreement (4000 words total) and RPEL Portfolio (4000 words, excluding supporting evidence)