MSc/PgDip/PgCert Advancing Professional Practice (Paediatrics)

Attendance

Part-time

Part-time – typically one year to PgCert
Starts September

At a glance

If you are a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or nurse with experience in paediatric practice, studying this course can help you broaden your knowledge and offer professional recognition for your specialism.

Key points
• Develop a wider perspective on your professional role.
• Place your own role within the perspective of the wider team.
• Demonstrate a flexible and forward thinking approach to practice.
• Study the entire course or choose individual modules.

About this course

Develop a wider perspective on your professional role within the perspective of the wider team on this interprofessional course. This oversight allows you to demonstrate a flexible and forward thinking approach to practice.

You should choose this course if you are a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or nurse who already has experience in paediatric practice but who wishes to deepen and broaden their knowledge, skills and understanding in this highly specialised field.

Many students choose to study a work based learning module, allowing them to take a project targeted at developing their employer's service delivery. This has included projects such as development of training and implementation of standardised health outcome measures.

During the course you can take a placement module and apply some of your developing knowledge and skills. Students have taken placements across the UK, including Sheffield Children's Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The dissertation module offers the choice of primary research, service evaluation and service development projects.

We are a leading provider of interprofessional learning and have a well-established postgraduate teaching portfolio. Our interprofessional programme has been developed in response to UK health and social care policies that prioritise the importance of coordinated interagency working and high quality professional practice in childcare.

This course is suitable for both UK and EU students. Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council is not required to study the course. However if you do not have a professional registration in the UK, you are not able to take a placement module.

Study individual modules
You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Associated careers

You enhance your professional and academic development on this course, developing the essential skills required for graduates to follow careers in research, lecturing and the emerging clinical specialist and consultant in your discipline.

Professional recognition

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Course content

Core modules

Integrated paediatric practice
You explore developmental processes and the impact of impairment on growth and development of the child. Focusing on your own area of clinical expertise, you evaluate the evidence base for interventions. You explore child and family-centred care, models of clinical decision-making, and interagency collaborative management of the child and family.

Research methods for practice
This module covers a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. You explore research ethics, study design, data collection and analysis.

Measuring health outcomes
This module examines the theoretical understanding of measurement, measuring scales and instruments. You identify and evaluate healthcare measures applicable to your own area of practice.

Disability and inclusive practice
This module explores models of disability, practices that hinder or promote social inclusion and strategies for promoting best practice, choice, and independence for children who have a disability.

Ethical issues in clinical practice
This module examines the ethical dilemmas arising in clinical practice in a variety of contexts and cultures. You explore issues of • consent • autonomy and paternalism • multi-cultural faith perspectives • distributive justice • health inequality.

Dissertation
You carry out a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning to demonstrate critical understanding and the use of appropriate research methods.

Optional modules

One from
• cognitive and perceptual processes in child development
• pain management
• understanding core stability
• teaching in higher education

Assessment

• coursework assignments • essays • management projects • problem solving exercises • group work • project • formal examinations

Entry requirements

You must normally
• have a degree or equivalent professional qualification
• be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council*
• have at least 1000 hours of post qualification clinical practice relevant to paediatric care

* You only need this if you are completing an optional placement module.

You also need to satisfy the admissions team of your ability to complete the course by demonstrating
• a commitment to working in a multidisciplinary team within paediatric care and rehabilitation
• specialist subject knowledge and understanding relating to your normal area of practice using an evidence-based approach to healthcare delivery
• an ability to reflect on and demonstrate learning from your own experiences in professional practice
• understanding of the perspectives of the service user and their carers
• effective verbal and non verbal communication skills showing engagement with the healthcare delivery team
• good written skills
• the ability to apply reflective and analytical skills to your/others work
• basic skills in information technology
• self-motivation to complete independent study at postgraduate level

EU students
You must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.

You must also declare
• any disciplinary proceedings taken by earlier employers or educational establishments
• any investigation relevant to you under the Children Act 1989 or other associated legislation 

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £1,530 a stage for PgCert, PgDip and MSc stages

Some of the modules on this course may be funded by the Department of Health.

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £12,060 for the course

2014/15 academic year

Typically £12,150 for the course

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form

Contact details

For further information contact the Post-experience and Postgraduate Office, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Collegiate Crescent Campus, Sheffield, S1 1WB. Please phone +44 (0)114 225 2373, fax +44 (0)114 225 2394 or email AlliedHealth@shu.ac.uk