Course overview

The government's world class commissioning policy aims to dramatically transform the way health and care services are commissioned in this country. These courses have been developed in partnership with the NHS, local government, the third sector and the University of Portsmouth Business School, for managers, heads of service, commissioners and clinicians who are employed within the various organisations responsible for public health and wellbeing, to ensure that they can strengthen their commissioning capabilities and deliver better health and wellbeing, better care and better value for all.

These part-time, work-based courses allow you to fit studying easily with work and other commitments. Our MSc Leadership in Health and Wellbeing is completed over 30 months and incorporates either one of our two diplomas which take two years: Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Commissioning, or the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Health and Wellbeing. The diploma title you will be awarded will depend on the units you select. The diploma requires a total of 16 days of teaching over the first two years and one day per week of self study, some of which can be combined with your normal job.

Benefits

Our courses:

• address cross-professional understanding of leadership needed in the commissioning of quality health and wellbeing services
• provide an opportunity to critique both theoretical aspects and technical skills needed to achieve commissioning capability
• allow you to establish strategic networks with those of a similar profession in NHS, public sector and voluntary organisations
• strengthen commissioning capabilities
• offer learning and networking with stakeholders formally and informally that will impact on partnership service improvement

Portsmouth Business School

With a reputation for excellent research, teaching and student satisfaction, Portsmouth Business School will apply to the health and wellbeing sector highly relevant aspects of good business and management practice. Over many years we have engaged with various public sector organisations including the NHS during periods of cultural change and students will benefit from being taught by experts in their subject areas. Their research informs all our teaching and provides a current education in an active learning environment.

Find out more

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students

Is this the right course for me?

You will need a good honours degree or equivalent, awarded by a recognised body, and relevant work experience.

Exceptionally, admission is given to practising managers who have substantial relevant work experience and academic potential to achieve the award.

Exemptions from individual units

Some exemptions will be possible for those who have already passed the University of Teesside Advanced Commissioning Certificate or the Thames Valley University Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Commissioning.

Course content

You will need to complete eight work-based assignments, supported by a mentor and University tutor, which explore and apply theoretical learning to gain the Postgraduate Diploma. To gain the Master’s degree you will need to attend the Research Methods unit to update your research and analysis skills and complete an investigative project.

You will cover the following units:

Year one

• Strategy and Partnerships (Core)
• Developing Leadership and Commissioning (Option – PgDip Leadership in Strategic Commissioning)
• Developing Leadership and People (Option – PgDip Leadership in Health and Wellbeing)

Year two

• Managing Performance and Finance (Core)
• Leading Change and Achieving Results (Core)

Year three

• Research Methods
• Investigative Project

Year one

Strategy and Partnerships

Strategy element

Example case study of improving maternity and children's services.

• visioning by segment
• external analysis to assess needs
• internal and supplier competency and resource assessment, to review services
• gap analysis of current planned provision
• risk management to assess barriers
• decision making to decide priorities
• design system to address chosen strategy
• financial sign off

Partnerships element

Example case study of agreements with councils and the third sector to improve health outcomes and end of life.

• defining desired outcomes
• exceptional capacity to meet minimum standards, including excluded groups
• process mapping of current provision and capacity
• working in partnership to generate alternative solutions
• design services

Developing Leadership and Commissioning (PgDip Leadership in Strategic Commissioning)

Leadership element

Example case study of reducing acute service workloads, improving community health and providing information to the public.

• leadership and direction setting
• managing yourself and your work
• competency development
• influencing and persuading
• understanding behaviour
• cooperation and conflict
• learning and research skills

Commissioning element

Example case study of contracting for planned care.

• procurement strategy options
• contract implementation
• penalties and incentives
• provider development
• specification writing
• business cases
• contract law
• negotiation and influencing styles

Developing Leadership and People

Leadership element

Example case study of reducing acute service workloads, improving community health and providing information to the public.

• leadership and direction setting
• managing yourself and your work
• competency development
• influencing and persuading
• understanding behaviour
• cooperation and conflict
• learning and research skills

Developing people element

Example case study of organisation, rewards, stress and training.

• recruitment and selection
• retention, development and reward
• employment law
• motivation and team building
• training and communication

Year two

Managing Performance and Finance

Example case study of tariffs and investment appraisal.

• managing financial sustainability
• tariffs and payment by results
• investment and risk analysis
• business cases
• tools and analysis techniques to determine cost effectiveness of service provisions
• managing demand and ensuring access to care
• programme and project management

Leading Change and Achieving Results

Example case study of the effectiveness of drugs and treatments, improving responsive and accessible service.

• managing performance
• metrics and behaviour
• identifying opportunities to improve service
• clinical decision making including health outcomes and recalls, as well as clinician and practitioner feedback
• seeking public, patient and client feedback including wellbeing outcome, developing quality indicators and public engagement
• providing information to the public, transparency, social marketing

Year three – progression to Master's level

To gain the Master's degree you will need to attend the Research Methods unit, to update your research and analysis skills and then undertake a Leadership Investigative Project that evaluates a significant new leadership initiative.

Teaching and assessment

These are all work-based courses with assignments focusing on applications of your learning at work and reflection on what you can learn from your experience. These courses only require a total of 16 days of teaching over the first two years and one day per week of self study, some of which can be combined with your normal job.

Teaching on campus is undertaken by short courses. Masterclasses are optional and will enable you to drill down into greater detail on topics relevant to you. This taught element of the programme provides the basis of learning and forms a network of fellow students doing similar job roles in other agencies, with whom you can meet informally to continue learning and complete your assignments.

You will agree an assignment with your work-based mentor and will find solutions in conjunction with your University personal tutor and during small group discussions informally off campus and by email.

Career prospects

Current students have obtained promotion to Associate Director and Business Manager. This course will also have high currency for aspiring GP clinical leaders of tomorrow, future Accountable Officers and GP Clinical Commissioning groups.

Facilities and features

A web-based virtual learning environment will be available, providing access to the University Library and course materials. It will also enable discussion with tutors and fellow students.

The University Library has invested heavily in the purchase of electronic resources. There are over 20,000 electronic journals available, together with thousands of ebooks, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

Unit tutors will be available by email to support your application, ongoing learning and assignments.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Leadership in Health and Wellbeing are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk