The unit aims to address the needs of new managers/leaders in health and social care who are working in a culture of constant change and service development. The unit aims to provide an opportunity for them to develop: 

• To allow the student to critically reflect on their existing competence in leadership skills developed as a result of experience or those typically found in organisation-based training programmes
• To identify skills deficits and plan to meet these through the programme itself or by construction of a Personal Development Plan.
• To enable practitioners to meet appropriate professional standards and requirements. 
  
  

Indicative unit content

Leading and managing in complex, ever changing, and financially challenged organisations requires flexible and adaptive professional leaders. This unit will encourage the student to explore their leadership capability starting with self, critically reflecting upon their impact and experience, developing a matched action plan focused on two objectives a personal professional, and organisational focused improvement outcomes.

• Health and social care change, vision and values; policy directives.
• Current challenges in meeting the new health and social care agenda.
• Implications for leading self and others in changing climates.
• Fundamental concepts in relation to leadership and management.
• Skills analysis using appropriate national management and occupational standards. 
• Modes of reflective practice.
• Personal development planning.

This unit can be undertaken as part of the MA Leading and Developing Services programme.

This course requires 100% attendance. All the teaching is delivered online.

Learning outcomes

Having completed this unit the student is expected to:

1. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of their existing practice in managing self and others, using evidence based knowledge, an understanding of legal and policy contexts and the policies and procedures of their own organisations.
2. Critically evaluate a range of strategies and behaviours that will help them to achieve and maintain effectiveness in managing self and the performance of others.
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding and critical application of appropriate theoretical issues and frameworks in reflecting on and analysing a complex, work related situation.
4. Meet appropriate professional standards and requirements. 

Assessment

Coursework equivalent to 3,000 words.  

The assignment focuses on developing, delivering professional organisational and personal outcomes for improving and enhancing existing practice. 

The above work will be complemented by a third party testimony to confirm real application in practice. This would normally be provided by the student’s line manager.