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Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

The certificate develops the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to underpin healthcare practice.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

Of:

  • the key biological, physical, social, political, ethical and psychological concepts relevant to your healthcare practice
  • the range of different approaches to high quality person-centred care
  • the development of health and social care in the UK and the contemporary context in which care takes place
  • theories, concepts and professional principles that underpin healthcare practice
  • a range of basic research methods and their application to healthcare practice.

Cognitive skills

Be able to:

  • describe and analyse your own healthcare practice and that of others
  • apply concepts, principles and theories to your healthcare practice
  • select, describe and interpret ideas and evidence to develop an argument that provides new insights into practice
  • reflect on your own values and those of others.

Practical and/or professional skills

Be able to:

  • act in accordance with the legal, ethical, political and policy boundaries of your healthcare practice
  • recognise the personal boundaries of your practice and be able to make appropriate referrals
  • work effectively and maintain appropriate relationships with others including the multi-disciplinary team
  • use appropriate knowledge and evidence to assist in decision making
  • respond sensitively to the needs of service users from a diversity of backgrounds
  • contribute to the development of quality services and working with change
  • reflect on and engage in personal or professional development.

Key skills

Be able to:

  • communicate ideas, arguments, principles and theories effectively in speech and in writing, using visual and ICT tools where appropriate
  • prepare, manipulate, present and interpret data (textual, numerical and graphical) using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques
  • make effective use of appropriate information and communication technologies
  • manage your own learning, organise your own time, and begin to work independently in a way appropriate for continuing personal and professional development.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

The modules in this qualification provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate how your practice has been informed through teaching and learning. You will also demonstrate increasing levels of practice competence through:

  • TMAs that review the student’s ability to negotiate learning contracts, through a critical incident patient/client dilemma, and evaluation of their evidence base for care
  • EMA incorporating a portfolio of practice development and reflective commentary on practice.

Throughout the qualification, cognitive skills are assessed in practice by the demonstration of thinking and reflective skills which reflect understanding of practice interventions and evaluation.

Cognitive skills are also measured through adherence to marking criteria that require you to demonstrate relevance and depth within project work whether this be through TMAs, examination or other forms of coursework.

The development of key skills is woven through all the modules and demonstrated through the preparation of assessed student work. Your skills of problem solving, communication and competence with numeracy are also reviewed and assessed. Practical and/or professional skills are assessed primarily in practice during the work-based learning module. In practice you will also need to demonstrate reflective skills and as part of this reflection demonstrate your personal development from work-based experiences.

You will need to demonstrate application of your learning to practice at a level of competence that satisfies external standards for Certificates of Higher Education.

The learning outcomes for this section are those of the Health Professions Council and are assessed through portfolio evidence, TMA and EMA.

The curriculum map demonstrates how increasing use of information technology is reflected through both your learning and the development of your practice.

In practice you will also need to demonstrate reflective skills and as part of this reflection demonstrate your personal development from work-based experiences.