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The role of doctors and senior clinical service managers in management has become even more important within the ‘New NHS’. For clinicians becoming involved in management, an understanding of the nature of health policy and health services management will be essential if their contributions to strategic initiatives, allocation and management of resources, re-integration of care and co-ordination of service provision are to be realised. Our Diploma in Management programme meets this need.
The Diploma in Health Services Management programme provides an introduction to health policy and health service professionals – clinicians and managers – who anticipate taking on substantial management responsibilities or who hold management positions. The course is both analytical (tracing links or causalities) and ‘interventionist’, (tracing opportunities for intervention to change or capitalise on particular links or causalities).
No one theoretical perspective dominates the programme; different courses reflect different perspectives brought to bear by a multidisciplinary faculty. Principles of management are illustrated through case analysis.
The programme does not take either the current NHS agenda or ‘various alternatives’ as the framework. Instead, exposure of a range of different schools of thought and a pluralism of values, illustrated practically, characterises the approach taken in the course.
Candidates should expect to develop:
- An appreciation of the nature and territory of health, policy and management
- An appreciation of the range of relevant theory and method
- Critical thinking about problems in health policy and management
Economics, political science, sociology, management science, organisational behaviour and various more directly clinical disciplines are examples of the range of disciplines from the theoretical to the more practical. Epidemiology, sociology and economic evaluation are becoming invaluable tools for ‘commissioners’, in defining and quantifying the need of populations for health care. Management science, organisational behavioural analysis, the management of human resources and micro-economics are vital for ‘providers’ charged with determining their business and translating it into contracts. All are represented on the programme.
Participants are required to demonstrate a record of past educational achievement, and must have management experience. A degree or equivalent professional qualification is also desirable.
The Postgraduate Diploma comprises EITHER modules to a total credit of 120 (a variety of 30 and 15 credit modules), OR modules to a total credit of 60 credits, plus a 60 credit dissertation.
Modules available are:
- Health Policy and Strategy (30 credits)
- Health Economics and Management (15 credits)
- Management of Human Resources (15 credits)
- Accounting and Financial Management (15 credits)
- Operations Management Science (30 credits)
- Research Methods (15 credits)
The six taught modules are as follows:
- Health Policy and Strategy – This module aims to provide a synthesis of policy and management objectives, skills and techniques to expose students to opportunities and issues in the process of policy formulation, implementation and review.
- Economics and Management – The aim of this module will be to familiarise students with the key analytical concepts and methodologies of health economics, in order to increase their capabilities in applying these to the planning and management of health services
- Management of Human Resources – This module increases students’ understanding of, and ability to manage, the human aspects of the health care business. The module focuses on key issues associated with leading and managing health care organisations, and explores more traditional aspects of human resource management (such as workforce planning, employment law, the human resource function and performance management)
- Accounting and Financial Management – The objective of this module is to provide candidates with an appreciation of the nature and analysis of budgets, costs, and activities, and an understanding of resource management and financial information systems in the health sector
- Operations Management Science – This module provides insight into the major requirements to be met in the design, planning, operation and control of hospitals and community health services, and develop a numerate approach to the challenge and practice of management.
- Research Methods for Managers, Clinicians and Policy-Makers - This module both imparts insights about research, evaluation and their uses and also educates students in methods for their dissertation.
All modules are taught as four-day courses.
The award of the Postgraduate Diploma is dependent on meeting the following requirements:
- Attendance and completion of all six modules leading to 120 credits, and satisfactory completion of the related assessment
OR - Attendance and completion of modules leading to 60 credits, and writing and submission of a dissertation of approximately 15,000 word leading to a further 60 credits.
Assessment is based on written assignments (usually 3 - 4,000 words), related to each module.
Assignments involve the application of management theory and method to ‘real-life’ (including workplace) situations and issues and a review of the value of so doing. The aim is to assess how well candidates are able to integrate theory/method and practice.
