PgCert in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Module 1 – QIPM01:

Developing Leadership and Action in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (30 credits)

Develop your leadership knowledge, skills, and experience in quality improvement and patient safety, addressing the challenges of improving quality of care in clinical practice.

You'll evaluate your own leadership skills and the organisation you work within to explore and evaluate what impacts on the successful implementation of quality improvement (QI). You'll identify local priorities for QI that will make a difference to our healthcare systems, and develop skills to engage with frontline staff, patient, stakeholders and academia to encourage innovation.

Topics include:

• Leadership Skills and Styles
• Quality improvement methodology and methods, planning and design of quality improvement projects and measurement
• Change Theory and why people are reluctant to change.
• Organisational and individual capability and competences required to lead strategic change within a dynamic health and social care environment

Module 2 – QIPM02:

Evidencing Capability and Competence in Continuously Improving Care (30 credits)

Develop and adopt core competencies and processes to continuously improve quality of care and patient safety. These competencies are associated with the five conditions that shape cultures to enable people to improve care, population health, and value, as outlined in the national framework in NHS-funded services.

You will explore various methods of risk assessment processes and examine key incidents and policies which shape the current National Patent Safety Agenda.

Topics include:

• Patient safety and Risk Management
• History of blame cultures
• Minimising adverse events
• Methods of feedback and continuous improvement
• National Policy and the PSIRF Agenda

This course will develop your skill and competence in all aspects of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.

The course consists of two modules. Both modules run for six weeks, with a part-time day release commitment for 14 weeks per module, for teaching days.

There are six teaching days, with one day per block for self-directed study and learning, totalling 14 days of on-campus/work based study.

The course will be taught on a day-release basis at the University for the duration of the 14 weeks, however, there is an expectation that you will be afforded time to undertake independent learning and study as well as some work-based learning to meet the demands of the course.

Learning methods include lectures, debates, seminars, group work, case studies, problem-solving exercises, skills development, project-related work, and directed and independent learning.

You'll be assessed in module 1 by a 3000 word Case Study analysing either the implementation of a quality improvement (QI) or patient safety initiative (PSI). This will be underpinned by leadership, change and project management theory.

Module 2 is assessed by a critical reflective essay from an observational study of a clinical area which the student will undertake. Exploring the findings and how they potentially impact on patients/staff and the environment.