Health and Wellbeing of the Older Person

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Critical literature has been amassed which shows that current standards of care often fail to deliver good quality care for the older person, therefore the need to improve the care and experience of the older person in health and social care have become significant policy drivers in the UK and beyond. To address policy requirements it is widely recognised that professionals require knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver standards, act as positive role models and develop leadership capacity with older people.

The important values that inform this course reflect the growing priorities that have been identified which support the need to provide an improved and more responsive level of care for older people. Furthermore it is important that new roles need to be developed within health and social care, career pathways mapped out, and leadership in this area strengthened.

This course will provide students with the advanced knowledge and skills to support the course aims. Specialist modules ensure students gain insight into the complexities of caring for older people enabling them to act as change agents, facilitating improvements in aspects of that care. Knowledge development and experience will be achieved through critical engagement with both the academic content and practice experience, directly related to the care of the older person.

Course objectives

The student will be able to:

* Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts, policies and practices that influence delivery of health and social care for the older person
* Critically apply new knowledge and skills to support collaborative working with other professionals that enables practice improvement in older persons care
* Evaluate models of practice development and service delivery in all settings where the older person lives or is cared for
* Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues that arise in practice
* Plan and execute a significant practice project which focuses on improvement of care for the older person
* Demonstrate attributes of personal organisation, planning and evaluation skills that support effective academic and clinical work
* Demonstrate development of attributes and skills commensurate with clinical leadership that will contribute to the delivery of high quality care for older people

Structure and content

The MSc in Health and Wellbeing of the Older Person (HWOP) contains three core modules each focused on older person care, plus two additional specialist modules. The 15-week modules are at SCQF level 11.

Delivery and assessment

The course utilises a blended approach to learning. Blackboard Collaborate is used as a platform for synchronised e-learning. Module content will be supported by web-based materials including podcasts. Campus days will be facilitated by face to face contact using video-conferencing/connective technologies/SKYPE where appropriate for distant students.

The course assessment strategy will centre on student acquisition of the necessary theoretical knowledge and access to expert practice required to meet the learning outcomes. The student will be encouraged to participate in a reflective and critical review of their knowledge and practice through engagement with online materials, case studies and project report.

Entrance requirementsA minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.Current professional registration as nurse or health/social care practitioner is required.The course utilises a blended approach to learning. Blackboard Collaborate is used as a platform for synchronised e-learning. Module content will be supported by Web-based materials including podcasts. Campus days will be facilitated by face to face contact using video-conferencing / connective technologies / SKYPE where appropriate for distant students. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Funding

There are different funding options available depending on the route of entry into the course:

Route 1 - Year 1 fees and a SAAS bursary may be paid for practitioners who qualified in 2013 or 2014 wishing to undertake a PG Dip with the option to continue in a self-funded capacity in Year 2 for the MSc.

Routes 1 or 2 - Self-funded or some competitive funding options are available, including postgraduate scholarship places which offer a flexible route of study scholarship information

The Scottish Funding Council is funding Home/EU tuition fees for a number of places on the MSc in Health and Wellbeing of the Older Person. Funded places are open to applicants domiciled in Scotland and the EU. More information

Individual modules are available as part of CPD funding support for these may be available, for example, through NHS Boards.

Accreditation

RAE rating

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 20 percent of the Schools research was described as World-leading and a further 65 percent as of International Significance, placing the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health firmly as a leading provider of nursing and midwifery education in Scotland and one of the top ten in the UK.

Strengths

The course has been developed in partnership with NHS Boards and Third Sector. Course delivery will continue to strengthen academic and health and social care partnerships.