Overview

The module is aimed at Health Professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of clinical leadership and develop leadership qualities and behaviours.

This module is available as a Compulsory Core for the achievement of the BSC (Hons) Clinical Practice within all pathways (year two).

This module may be undertaken as a stand alone elective module within the BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice award for other pathways.

Module aims

This module aims to enable clinicians to critically examine and reflect upon their own role and leadership behaviour as an individual and whilst working within a team, and to identify opportunities to further develop their skills, through the application of a range of approaches to leadership, including team-working, negotiation, motivating and leading others. It will facilitate them to develop an understanding of the influence of political and professional issues upon their practice.

Learning outcomes will compose of:

• Critically examine the links between leadership and the quality of healthcare delivery
• Demonstrate awareness and critical discussion of the political and professional influences for and upon change in healthcare and the impact upon leadership
• Critically discuss and evaluate a range of leadership theories and the impact of organisational structure upon effective leadership
• Critically reflect upon their own role and leadership behaviour within a team, identify area of potential development and initiatives to foster leadership potential
• Identify and critically explore a range of factors that can influence team effectiveness, their ability to inhibit or enhance leadership and strategies to overcome this

Entry requirements

Normally hold a professional registration with an appropriate body.
Working within a care setting relevant to the module

Module content

• The politico-professional context of clinical leadership; healthcare reform and service delivery transformation. From the NHS Plan to the Darzi Next Stage Review. World Class Commissioning.
• Contemporary clinical leadership strategies and innovations, models and supportive initiatives; such as, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, 'The Productive Ward' initiative.
• Contemporary vision of clinicians as practitioners, leaders and partners of care, developing role and responsibilities of clinicians at all levels of practice and leading / directing quality healthcare delivery. Modernising Nursing Careers and clinical leadership.
• Organisational theories: structures, cultures, power and politics within teams. Managing change. The influence 

The module will utilise blended learning methods including use of the KLE; for example, WebCT based resources and activities.

Teaching and assessment

The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops: The core of each module delivery mode is a series of synchronous and asynchronous tutor-led or group-led seminars or workshops.
• Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard.
• Group work and peer support. All modules use focused group work and class discussions within synchronous and asynchronous tutor time.
• Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.