Continuous Professional Development

BSc (Hons) Professional Practice

This is a professionally-orientated programme of study which has been developed as a ‘top-up’ option following discussions with partners, identifying a need for courses which are responsive to both national and local policy that aims to meet the educational needs of the local health professional population.

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice offers registered practitioners a flexible, bespoke and student-centred programme of study that aims to meet their personal and professional development needs as they progress within their role towards advanced expert practice.

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (apprenticeship)

The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (apprenticeship) offers registered practitioners a flexible, bespoke and student-centred programme of study that aims to meet their personal and professional development needs as they progress within their role towards advanced expert practice.

MSc Integrated Professional Practice

The programme has been designed to provide opportunities for both early career and experienced workers within the health and care sector to explore the complexities of working in contemporary practice in depth. Students will be offered support to extend and enhance their professional knowledge and skills, with a range of modules appealing to those working across the range of providers.

MSc Contemporary Physiotherapy Practice

Physiotherapy is a scientific and evidence-based health profession that takes a ‘whole person’ approach to improving and maintaining wellbeing. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness, or disability, using a range of interventions such as advice, education, exercise, and manual therapy and electrophysical agents.

This programme is designed for qualified physiotherapists who wish to enhance their knowledge, skills, autonomy, leadership, and critical thinking, to equip them for modern day evidence-based practice.

With an emphasis on applied theory and practical development, the programme aims to enhance both practical and research skills through critical engagement with evidence-based strategies for clinical practice.

Students will also be encouraged to undertake analytical reflections based on their clinical practice to direct their own personal and professional development. Students will receive support from academics who have specialist knowledge and experience in the field.

PG Cert Health Professions Education

This programme has been designed to meet the needs of those working in academic and practice settings to teach and support the learning of health care professional students.

PG Cert Independent/Supplementary Prescriber Preparation

This Postgraduate Certificate is for NMC and HCPC registrants from eligible professions who wish to undertake an accredited Independent/Supplementary Prescribing qualification.

The programme considers the theoretical perspectives associated with evidence-based therapeutics and the consultation process, including concordance and the legal, ethical, and professional issues associated with the Independent/Supplementary prescribing role. Open for February 2022 Applications.

PG Cert Interprofessional Practice (Approved Mental Health Professional)

The programme aims to enable students to develop the knowledge, competences, and values needed to carry out the specific duties of an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) under current mental health legislation.

Assessment and Management of Minor Injuries

The aim of this module is to enable the experienced health care practitioner to develop proficiency in the skills of assessment, treatment, and management of minor injuries and apply this to their clinical context. It aims to provide the autonomous practitioner with the advanced knowledge base, communication skills, and safe clinical examination skills, to equip them to make confident autonomous, effective, and evidence based patient care decisions.

Fundamentals in Tissue Viability

This module is designed to support health and social care practitioners to consolidate and develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of wound prevention, management and care. The module will explore the anatomy, physiology and classification of wounds; including the clinical aetiology of arterial and venous leg ulcers. Learning will take place through a series of core lectures and seminar activities, where students will be supported to use enquiry-based learning methods. The structure of seminars and workshops has been designed to enable the practitioners to draw upon their theoretical knowledge and apply this to their experiences in clinical practice. Students will be encouraged and supported to undertake an holistic assessment of individual user needs, including consideration of the bio-psycho-social factors, comorbidities, pain management and individual life-style choices that influence and impact upon healing and overall quality of life. The planning of this module and the assessment strategy have been designed in collaboration with users of health and social care services and will be assessed in a clinically relevant manner through the production of a justified and evidence-informed clinical management plan, in response to a given case study.

Professional Practice in Primary Care (GPN1)

Coming soon

Clinical Skills for General Practice Nursing (GPN2)

Coming soon

Infection Control in Clinical Practice

This module is designed to support health and social care practitioners to explore the proactive prevention, responsive investigation, and appropriate control management of infections within clinical practice.

Comprehensive Approach to History Taking and Physical Assessment

The aim of this unit is to introduce practitioners to the key skills and knowledge required to take a comprehensive history and physical examination of the adult patient.

Paediatric Urgent Care

The aim of this course is to further develop healthcare practitioners’ skills and knowledge relating to the specific issues inherent in clinical decision-making, organisation and escalation when working with children and young people and their families. This module explores the fundamental and key aspects of assessing, managing and treating children and young people who present to a range of primary and acute healthcare settings.

Return to Practice 

This short course supports learners who are former NMC or UKCC registrants who qualified as Adult, Mental Health and Children's nurses who are looking to return to work and registration with the NMC. Successful completion of the course will enable the learner to demonstrate achievement of the NMC Standards for Proficiency and programme outcomes for the relevant part of the register. This will deem you eligible to reregister with the NMC.

Practice Education 1

The module is designed to be relevant for those who support, mentor and assess student social workers and others engaging in formal and informal learning or development activities.

Practice Education 2

Practice Education 2 is designed to build on Practice Education 1 and meets the requirements for becoming a ‘Stage Two Practice Educator’ under the Practice Educator Professional Standards (Social Work Reform Board, 2010).

Interprofessional safeguarding across the life course - £1,400.00

This module aims to promote collaborative, interprofessional practice around safeguarding in health and social care settings

An introduction to public health - £700.00

This module aims to provide learners with an introduction to public health systems, policy and strategy.

Person-centred cancer care - £700.00

The module is a 15 credit L7 module/short course, the duration of the course is of 6 weeks.

 The module core content will include: 

• Aetiology and epidemiology of cancers 
• Prevention and detection 
• Diagnostic pathways
• Staging of disease  
• Treatment modalities 
• Acute oncology emergencies

Additional content to include:

• Holistic needs assessment 
• Symptom management including pain management 
• Complementary treatments
• Managing concurrent healthcare problems 
• Supporting families affected by cancer 
• Collaborative working and Care navigation 
• Integrated service provision and planning 
• ReSPECT and DNACPR decision making

The assessment for this module is a poster presentation- you will design an evidence-informed poster on an area of cancer care relevant to your practice and present it to the cohort (15mins). 

An interprofessional approach to diabetes care - £700.00

This module will enable students to develop the core knowledge necessary to apply an evidence-informed, holistic approach to individualised care for people at risk of or living with diabetes.

New directions in integrated health and social care - £700.00

Health and Social care is constantly changing due to new evidence and new policy decisions. This short course allows you to explore the political and theoretical landscape of how such decisions are made, looking at global, national and local decision making. Learning alongside colleagues from other professions, you’ll consider the progress towards integrating health and social care, what barriers there might be in doing this, and how interdisciplinary working might help progress towards this integration. This course is also a core module for the MSc Integrated Professional Practice award.

The content for this course is likely to include

• Contemporary Health and Social Care systems, in countries within the UK
• Contemporary international Health and Social Care systems
• Current and future service delivery landscapes: NHS, local authority, private, voluntary / charitable, independent, not – for - profit sectors
• Current policies for integrated health and social care
• Analysis of relevant Health and Social Care data sets
• Personalisation, person centred care and service user involvement.
• Concepts such as empowerment, advocacy, partnership working and relevant models of partnership working.

This course is delivered in a blended learning style with most activity taking place in online workshops, supported by learning materials you can access at a time to suit you. Key concepts will be introduced using introductory face to face days followed by online groups allowing you to interact and talk with other students. The course runs for 6 sessions over 6 weeks.

The assessment for this course is a group presentation and an individual written summary of your contribution to the work (1500 words).

Evidencing ongoing professional development - 15 credit version £700.00 / 30 credit version - £1,400.00

This module allows students to re-examine prior learning from individual study, short courses and non-accredited learning opportunities as well as conference proceedings, professional reading and occupational activity.

Negotiated work-based learning - 15 credit version £700.00 

In this short course you choose the focus of your learning, giving you the opportunity to explore subjects that are truly relevant to your personal professional practice. Using the University of Lincoln ‘Student as Producer’ ethos, you will negotiate a topic, produce a written learning or project plan and agree your own learning outcomes with the module leader, who will then use workshops, guided study and individual tutorial support to facilitate you meeting these.

The content in the workshops will typically include

• Theoretical approaches to professional learning as an adult
• Selection and synthesis of relevant literature
• Development and implementation of a learning contract
• Project planning and coordination
• Approaches for evaluating impact
• Negotiating complexity in work environments
• Self-efficacy and critical reflection
• Advanced communication
• Leading project work

The assessment for this course is a live discussion-based assessment (viva) where you will discuss your learning with tutors from the School to demonstrate your understanding.

This course is a blended learning course with workshops over 4 weeks followed by individual support from your tutor and the assessment 4 weeks after the end of the workshops.

Negotiated work-based learning - 30 credit version - £1,400.00

In this short course you choose the focus of your learning, giving you the opportunity to explore subjects that are truly relevant to your personal professional practice. Using the University of Lincoln ‘Student as Producer’ ethos, you will negotiate a topic, produce a written learning or project plan and agree your own learning outcomes with the module leader, who will then use workshops, guided study and individual tutorial support to facilitate you meeting these.

The content in the workshops will typically include

• Theoretical approaches to professional learning as an adult
• Selection and synthesis of relevant literature
• Development and implementation of a learning contract
• Project planning and coordination
• Approaches for evaluating impact
• Negotiating complexity in work environments
• Self-efficacy and critical reflection
• Advanced communication
• Leading project work

The assessment for this course is a live discussion-based assessment (viva) where you will discuss your learning with tutors from the School to demonstrate your understanding and a written report (1000 words)

This course is a blended learning course with workshops over 6 weeks followed by individual support from your tutor. The live assessment takes place 2 weeks after the end of the workshops with your report submitted in a further 2 weeks.

Integrated professional practice research methods £700.00 / Research methods (Distance learning) - £700.00

Both options within this module will support students to deepen their understanding of qualitative and quantative research approaches that can be used to address research questions in the health and social care sector.

Proactive management of long-term conditions - £1,400.00

This module provides the practitioner with the knowledge and skills required to proactively support the holistic care and treatment of individuals with long term health and social care needs, within their field of professional practice. The module will focus on enabling individuals to take greater control of their care and offering opportunities for better health and wellbeing, through personalised care planning, increased prevention strategies and supported self-care (NHS, 2014). 

Musculoskeletal Assessment, Diagnosis and Management for First Contact Practice - £1400

This course offers registered Health Professionals the opportunity to further develop their skills in the understanding of assessment and diagnosis of people presenting with a range of health needs.

This course covers the following areas:

• System anatomy and physiology and the influence of system pathologies in diagnosis
• Biopsychosocial influences on physical, mental and emotional health
• Consultation skills, including history taking and physical assessment, clinical reasoning and decision making
• Assessment and planning of care in illness, injury and psychological or emotional ill-health
• Holistic approach to incorporate prevention, lifestyle advice and self-management and behavioural change into practice
• Musculoskeletal management, including the role of rehabilitation, surgical interventions, pharmacotherapy and injection therapy

Injection Therapy for Musculoskeletal Practice - £850

This course offers registered Health Professionals the opportunity to develop the clinical reasoning and injection therapy skills needed to safely and effectively practice injection therapy for joint and soft tissue disorders.

This course covers the following areas:

• Clinical rationale for musculoskeletal injection therapy in the context of the evidence base.
• Clinical reasoning and decision making for safe and appropriate injection therapy
• The pharmacology of medicines used in injection therapy (namely injectable corticosteroid and local anaesthetic)
• Patient selection - including precautions and contra-indications, and interactions with other medications.
• Legal and ethical considerations of injectable medicine administration.
• Treatment techniques and supervised practice; aseptic technique, management of anaphylactic shock.
• Professional practice: communication and consent, competency, professional regulation, patient group directions, recording keeping.
• Applied anatomy.

Advanced musculoskeletal practice portfolio - £700

This course offers registered Health Professionals the opportunity to build on previous MSK related learning and experience to an advanced level.

This course covers the following areas:

• Evaluation of current advanced musculoskeletal knowledge and implementation into practice, including assessment, diagnosis and management.
• Identification of individuals learning needs and developing skills to address these areas within theory and practice
• Approaches of critical reflection and the development of metacognition
• Further development of academic reading, writing and discussion skills
• Application of professional values, ethics and inclusive approaches to care
• Critically reflect on practice decisions within the MSK specialism, taking into account evidence, best practice and shared decision making

Best Interests Assessor - £650

This module provides the opportunity to acquire the qualification required for to carry out the duties of Best Interests Assessors, as required by the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) regulations. It is open to professionals from social work, nursing, occupational therapy and psychology who have at least two years post-qualifying experience.

Pathophysiology, Assessment and Diagnosis for first contact practice

In this module students will be given opportunities to further develop their skills in applying a sound understanding of pathophysiology at a cellular level to the competent assessment of people presenting with a range of health needs.