MSc Integrated Governance in Healthcare Communities

Students not wishing to take the full MSc can take a certificate or diploma.

Integrated Governance in Healthcare Communities is a multi-professional course which addresses the complex nature of governance across health and social care today. It critically examines a range of governance policies and strategies and how they impact on practice. The course aims to develop your skills, knowledge and reflective capacity to understand and manage the demands of this rapidly changing field of healthcare quality assurance. Practical aspects of the course are largely carried out at your workplace, in collaboration with employers and colleagues.

Current students include clinical governance managers, quality assurance staff, audit facilitators, nurses, midwives, clinical risk leads, pharmacists and occupational therapists.

Course Overview

This course comprises the following modules. Each module can also be taken as a stand-alone short course, without requiring assessment.

In the first year modules include:

Clinical governance: the methodology of clinical governance, service evaluation, clinical audit, quality assurance, service development and policy frameworks.

Clinical risk management: the principles and implementation of clinical risk management in health care.

Research and evaluation: the process of research and evaluation from study design, data collection and analysis, and reporting.

Collaborative working within health and social care: the policies and theories relevant to collaborative practice, different models of multi-professional and multi-agency working and the implications for governance.

In the second year modules include:

Integrated governance: the various strands of governance, clinical, financial and corporate, recognising their interdependence.

Health policy: the political, economic, technological and social context in which policy-makers operate.

Organisation; Their structure and analysis: how organisations function in terms of their structure, culture and the dynamics of change

Dissertation: research, evaluation or audit project which has the potential to make a creative contribution to the work of your organisation. (Masters only)

As an alternative to one of these modules, the student can choose a level 7 module from elsewhere in the University. For example Principles of Public Health or Human Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

Course Structure

The MSc requires seven modules plus a dissertation, a Diploma requires six modules and Certificate three modules.

Download the postgraduate prospectus

Mode of Study

The course is a part-time programme, and can be competed within 2-5 years. There are five taught days per module based at the Cavendish campus. Teaching and learning includes lecture, discussion, individual and small group work and independent guided study. Assessment is by work-based assignment, there are no exams.

Entry Requirements

You should have:

at least one years' experience within a health or social care organisation
either an Honours degree or equivalent or be able to demonstrate an ability to work at postgraduate level

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS score of at least 6.5 in all components (or equivalent). During the induction stage of the course, students who do not have English as their first language will complete Academic English screening, and any resulting recommended Academic English support activity.

Fees 2010/2011

Full-time UK/EU fee - £5,250
Full-time Overseas fee - £10,400
Part-time UK/EU fee (per 20 credit module) - £575
Part-time Overseas fee (per 20 credit module) - £1,155

Further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries

Course Team

Joy Tweed

Course Leader, MSc Integrated Governance in Healthcare communities
E: j.tweed01@westminster.ac.uk

For any enquiries about admissions please contact the Admissions Office:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5883
Fax: +44 (0)20 7911 5079
E-mail: cav-admissions@westminster.ac.uk

University of Westminster