Innovations in Health and Social Work Course

Public sectors organizations such as social services and NHS trusts are driven by internal and external forces such as the government, innovations in the private sector of new or more efficient health and social care products, and are required to demonstrate their performance against set criteria.  Mulgan and Albury (2003) suggest “Innovation should be a core activity of the public sector: it helps public services to improve performance and increase public value; responds to expectations of citizens and adapt to the needs of users; increase service efficiency and minimize costs…How to seek out and foster innovation from all levels is crucial to continual development and improvement:”

In this sense public services have to be innovative to keep up with public perception of quality and delivery of services and to meet the ever-changing performance criteria (for example, Best Value).

Innovations are not just top down approaches. A number of innovations are generated from grass-roots; the front line workers who may see issues arising and consider how they can change systems to make them more efficient or productive or more comfortable for service users.

This course aims to introduce the student to the importance of innovations in Health and Social Work from the perspective of Service Users and Carers. It will also address Policy and Practice innovations and how best to evaluate them.

Defining Innovation

Innovations in Health and Social Work

Innovation and Service Users and Carers

Community Innovations

Policy and Practice Innovations

Evaluating Innovations

Qualification 1: Innovations in Health and Social Work Diploma

Innovations in Health and Social Work Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 120 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support