Summary of content

This module is work based and aims to support the student as they acknowledge challenges in their current practice. It permits students to advance an area of their professional practice or to study a specialised area of practice. The module aims to enable and enhance a student's vision, specialist skills and creative problem solving abilities or to develop skills or strategies that aim to push boundaries and pioneer change in practice. The development of specialist and innovative areas of practice are expected to address selective training and development needs of the service and influence the implementation of improved and effective practice with patients, service users and carers. The content of the module will be determined by the student's own specific learning requirements and possibly the needs of their organisation. The module promotes a flexible approach to continuous professional development. Learning will be predominantly work based (in the work place, for the workplace and from colleagues and peers) which will require students to be largely self-directed and able to identify their own support needs. A (tripartite) learning contract and plan will be compiled by the student in collaboration, if appropriate, with their employer or academic supervisor / mentor and the module leader. The negotiated learning contract and plan will be critically evaluated in relation to its learning outcomes, the teaching and learning strategies and assessment methods. This approach will enable students wishing to attain achievement of competency to practice in their defined area, to identify and agree appropriate learning outcomes and assessment criteria to meet professional practice requirements.

Module structure

Assessment methods