When did you first introduce the innovation?
More than 24 months ago
Please describe the innovation you have developed
This programme explores the integration of health and social care services, bringing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences together with being a fully articulated programme reflects the widening participation theme. This diversity and the evolving nature of integration provides an opportunity for shared learning between students and staff which allows for staff learning from the student’s experiences, providing opportunities to promote confidence amongst the students. This enables a student-centred delivery as the programme team work closely with students encouraging them, where possible, to be co-producers within the learning and teaching that takes place.
The programme strives to deliver a student-centred and personalised experience. It brings together students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences who often lack confidence in their own capabilities particularly in relation to their academic ability. The programme team support and encourage confidence, recognising individual’s strengths and weaknesses through shared learning between students and staff.
As a fully articulated degree programme (students enter at level 8 with HNC or equivalent qualification) this provides students with the opportunity to progress to Higher Education following some of the widest access routes available, with the team striving to ensure a supported and smooth transition from Further Education to Higher Education. The programme is a collaboration between the School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Business and Enterprise together with Further Education colleges.
The programme reflects the changing environment within health and social care recognising the shift in services towards prevention, person-centredness and delivery of integrated services to support the most vulnerable in society.
What prompted you to develop this innovation?
The development of integrated health and social care services and the recognition of the changing and developing roles within these services which requires a flexible, multi-skilled labour force to meet service provision. This has been further validated following the introduction of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill (2013).
In your view, what is it about this innovation that makes it different/important?
The programme is targeted at those who currently work within health, social care and the third sector either as support workers or in administrative roles. There are a number of people who work in these areas that do not want to undertake the professional vocational programmes but want the opportunity to develop within their chosen field and this programme equips them with an essential set of professional, management and enquiry skills which will broaden their knowledge within their chosen field. This is a programme that through widening participation, welcomes the diversity of a student group who have not been fully considered in the current seismic changes in health and social care in Scotland, particularly in relation employers recognising the benefits graduates can bring to the workplace.
As a programme team, we recognise that there are some very talented individuals within the programme, who have the potential to make a significant difference to people’s lives within health and social care services and we take every opportunity to nurture and foster this.
To what extent does your innovation make use of existing approaches, resources or technologies?
The programme is targeted at those who currently work within health, social care and the third sector either as support workers or in administrative roles. There are a number of people who work in these areas that do not want to undertake the professional vocational programmes but want the opportunity to develop within their chosen field and this programme equips them with an essential set of professional, management and enquiry skills which will broaden their knowledge within their chosen field. This is a programme that through widening participation, welcomes the diversity of a student group who have not been fully considered in the current seismic changes in health and social care in Scotland, particularly in relation employers recognising the benefits graduates can bring to the workplace.
Due to their being no specific Benchmark Statement for the programme design and in order to show a degree of accord with sectoral norms, the Common Purpose Framework (QAA 2004) offered the clearest way forward when developing the programme outcomes. This document highlighted three main headings: – values in health and social care practice, the practice of health and social care and the knowledge and understanding of health and social care practice. The statement emphasises the need for students’ learning to focus on addressing client’s needs within an environment that requires effective team, inter-professional and inter-agency working and communication, as well as expert care.
The programme content also reflects the values, standards and expectations about knowledge and learning enshrined within the Framework for Social Work Education in Scotland and the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers . They encourage education programmes to promote the following main aspects of professional development:- knowledge and understanding; skills and abilities and ethical and personal commitment.
To what degree has this innovation led to changes in education or clinical practice?
Even at this early stage since the programme’s inception students report their increase confidence in their own abilities and also in valuing the role they play within a diverse sector. It is planned that an evaluation of the impact of completing the programme will be commenced within the forth coming year.
Students on this programme will be equipped with the skills of reflection and critical thinking, as well as skills in finding evidence-based solutions, to justify the care and support that they provide within health and social care or administration services. Person-centredness and values based approaches to care and support are at the heart of this programme, and from these students develop skills in advocacy, as well as self-awareness and an unequivocal respect for diversity.
What evidence do you have of the impact of the innovation?
In the recent National Student Survey, there was a 100% response rate and a recorded 100% overall satisfaction with consistently high levels of satisfaction across the board. This highlights the student-centred approach being taken by the programme team.
During the recent validation event of the BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care/ BA (Hon) Integrated Health and Social Care with Administration there were a number of areas of good practice identified which included:
- Student as co-producer in the review and rewrite of the current programme and development of the Honours level
- Student centred and personalised approach to learning
- Flexible approach in supporting students
- Use of shared modules and well established relationship with the school of Business and Enterprise
- Development of a relevant programme in response to market changes
- Integration with the workplace
- Collegiate approach to the development of the programme with good support for the titles from students and other partners
Also within the recent Subject Health Review it was acknowledged ‘that the programme covered contemporary government health and social care policy reflecting on current integration of services between health and social care and this rapidly changing environment. It was offered on both a full-time and part-time basis and was predominantly blended learning with combined practice learning routinely undertaken within voluntary workplaces. The culmination of person-centred care in the public services provided in the programme was applauded’. The students who participated within the Subject Health Review also highlighted the currency and relevance of their learning within the programme.
To what degree has the innovation been disseminated in your organisation or elsewhere?
This innovation has been disseminated amongst College Scotland and Further Education Colleges since its inception. This is now expanding to include employers such as local authorities, health service and the third sector. It is planned that this will be further enhanced through the support of Marketing over the coming academic years.
Please provide details of any plans you have to disseminate the innovation in the future.
Plans are in place to promote and disseminate this innovative programme over the coming academic session through joint publications between School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery and School of Business and Enterprise along with conference presentations.