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Stand Alone Module

Management Issues within Mental Health Services

30 Credits

Duration:

15 Weeks

Start Dates:

September and February

Attendance:

Wednesdays on 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 2 May, 16 May

Venue:

West London Mental Health Trust

Cost:

Available on request

Key Contact:

The Enquiries Team

Tel:

01494 603171

Email:

ask@bucks.ac.uk

Is this course suitable for me?

This short 30 credit module will be of interest to anyone working within mental health services, especially post qualifying nurses, OT’s and social workers.

Overview

The overall aim of the module will be to explore issues relating to contemporary healthcare leadership and management theories that will be relevant to aspiring and current staff in mapping out their future career pathways and shaping future services.

The module will enable you to critically examine your professional areas, especially within the context of service user needs, relate the theoretical concepts to it and examine the potential for change and effectiveness in the delivery of healthcare through its management processes and structures.

Content

The content of this module will include the following issues:

• The healthcare professional as a leader;
• Leadership theories;
• Decision-making processes;
• Strategic thinking;
• Power;
• Conflict and control;
• Organisational behaviour and learning organisations;
• The healthcare professional as manager;
• Management theories;
• Skill mix;
• Managing complaints and crises;
• Quality concerns;
• The legal, ethical and professional framework for practice.

What will I learn?

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

1. Critically analyse the theories and principles of leadership and management in order to identify potential for professional practice development.
2. Debate professional issues that impact upon the quality of the service that is provided.
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of team dynamics, the role of the individual, support systems and the potential and real barriers to change.
4. Work positively with any tensions created by conflict of interests or aspiration that may arise between partners in care e.g. colleagues, other healthcare professionals, service users and significant others.
5. Communicate an understanding of the need for evidence/research based practice.

The 30 credits gained from this module can also be used towards a ‘Top Up’ Degree by enrolling on the BA (Hons) Practice Development (Award). In order to complete this degree you can automatically transfer these credits on enrolment within a two year period, otherwise application through the CATs Committee will apply.

Teaching and learning

This will vary from didactic to facilitative approaches; the methods adopted will range from lectures, seminar discussions, videos, role-play exercises and joint project working and seminar presentations. Visiting speakers may be invited according to need and expertise. You will also be encouraged to adopt responsibility for your own learning. There can also be dialogue via email and phone as mutually agreed. The use of the internet will also be encouraged as a central feature of current information sources as well as the use of Blackboard.

You will be expected to produce an assignment of 4000 words that conveys a breadth and depth of understanding of key issues and concepts relating to management issues within mental health services.

Entry requirements

Working in a practice area with minimum 6 months experience in an appropriate setting where management skills are required

• 60 level 5 credits (or equivalent)
• Support of the clinical manager and a suitably qualified mentor/assessor
• Opportunity to work outside usual practice area, if necessary, to gain specific clinical competence

How to make an application

Please contact the Enquiries Team on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk

We hope to have a fully on-line application system shortly, but in the meantime, to apply for a course, please download and print these forms, completing them fully and posting back to the address below.

• Course_Enquiry_Letter (70.4 KB)
• Application_form (58.1 KB)
• Notes_for_Guidance (51.6 KB)
• Fee_Authoristaion_Form (61.1 KB)
• Clinical_Reference_Form (57.2 KB)
• Academic_Reference_Form (50.6 KB)

If you are unable to view the forms, please click here to download a free version of adobe reader.

Alternatively, if you call us on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk we can post you a hard copy application pack.

Students funded by the NHS or other employer

If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.