Leading and Transforming Together

Designed for health and social care professionals who are leading, or aspiring to lead, service improvement, this course develops the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead transformational change across teams, organisations and sectors. Through an integrated, people-centred approach, participants will strengthen their ability to navigate complexity, build collaborative relationships and lead with resilience.

Drawing on cross-sector and interprofessional learning, the course explores contemporary leadership, teamwork, conflict management and sustainable change. Participants will critically reflect on their own leadership practice, identify opportunities to enhance their influence and develop the capabilities needed to drive meaningful improvements in health and social care services.

To view the module descriptor (NURS11144), please visit Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors 

 

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for professionals working across health and social care who are responsible for leading, influencing or supporting service improvement and transformational change.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Registered health and social care professionals developing their leadership capability
• Team leaders, service leads and managers leading change within health and social care services
• Professionals working across organisational and professional boundaries to deliver integrated, people-centred care
• Practitioners seeking to strengthen their ability to lead collaborative teams, manage complexity and improve services
• Those preparing for, or progressing into, leadership roles with responsibility for workforce development, quality improvement or transformational change

 

Why take this course?

Health and social care services are becoming increasingly complex, requiring leaders who can work collaboratively across organisations, professions and sectors to deliver high-quality, people-centred care. As integrated models of care continue to evolve, organisations need professionals who can lead change, build resilient teams and respond confidently to the challenges of service transformation.

This course supports you to strengthen your leadership practice by exploring contemporary leadership approaches, developing resilience and enhancing your ability to manage conflict, influence others and lead sustainable improvement. Through critical reflection and cross-sector learning, you will build the confidence and capability to drive meaningful change within your own workplace while contributing to improved outcomes for the people and communities you support.

 

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate how leadership influences the delivery of integrated, people-centred care across health and social care services
• Apply contemporary leadership approaches to lead change and respond effectively to the opportunities and challenges of service transformation
• Strengthen your ability to build collaborative relationships and lead effectively across professional, organisational and sector boundaries
• Develop practical strategies to manage complexity, build resilience and address conflict within teams and services
• Critically reflect on your own leadership practice, identifying opportunities to enhance your effectiveness and support sustainable improvement within your organisation

 

How you will learn

This course is delivered fully online, providing the flexibility to study alongside your professional and personal commitments. Learning combines self-directed study with active, interactive learning through the University's virtual learning environment, supported by scheduled online sessions that encourage discussion, collaboration and reflection.

The course comprises approximately 200 hours of learning, including 48 hours of asynchronous learning activities, 6 hours of tutor-supported online sessions, 6 hours dedicated to personal development planning, and around 140 hours of independent study. Throughout the course, you will apply learning to your own professional context, drawing on your workplace experience to develop practical leadership capability.

This flexible approach enables you to build your leadership knowledge and confidence while balancing postgraduate study with the demands of professional practice.

 

Course content

• Leading people-centred, integrated care

Explore the principles of leadership that support integrated, people-centred care, recognising the importance of teamwork, collaboration and shared responsibility across health and social care.

• Leading change and transformation

Examine the opportunities and challenges associated with transforming health and social care services, developing approaches to lead sustainable improvement within your own area of practice.

• Contemporary leadership in practice

Evaluate contemporary leadership theories, models and approaches, considering how they can be applied to influence teams, organisations and service delivery.

• Building resilient and compassionate leadership

Develop the skills to lead with resilience, manage conflict constructively and foster courageous, compassionate leadership that supports positive workplace cultures.

• Strengthening collaborative leadership

Explore how cross-sector and interprofessional working can strengthen leadership practice, improve collaboration and support better outcomes for people and communities.

• Reflecting and developing as a leader

Use critical reflection and workplace-focused learning to evaluate your leadership practice, identify opportunities for growth and develop the capabilities needed to lead transformational change.

 

Assessment

Assessment is designed to help you demonstrate how contemporary leadership approaches can be applied to real-world health and social care settings.

You will complete a portfolio of written work that draws together your learning, critical reflection and professional experience. Throughout the portfolio, you will evaluate your own leadership practice, apply leadership theory to workplace challenges and explore practical approaches to leading transformational change within your organisation.

The portfolio encourages you to consolidate your leadership development while demonstrating your ability to lead people-centred, integrated care, support collaborative working and contribute to sustainable service improvement.

 

Applying your learning

Throughout the course, you will:

• Apply leadership concepts to challenges and opportunities within your own professional setting
• Reflect on your leadership practice, using evidence and discussion to identify opportunities for personal and organisational development
• Explore practical approaches to leading integrated, people-centred services while working collaboratively across teams and sectors
• Develop solutions to workplace challenges that support sustainable change, stronger teamwork and improved service delivery

You will leave with:

• Greater confidence in leading change within complex health and social care environments
• Enhanced leadership capability to support integrated, people-centred care and service improvement
• Practical strategies to build resilience, manage conflict and lead collaborative teams
• The skills to influence positive change, strengthen professional practice and contribute to transformational improvement across health and social care services

 

Entry requirements

This course is designed for professionals working in health and social care who are leading, or aspiring to lead, service improvement and transformational change.

Applicants should normally hold an undergraduate degree or possess an equivalent professional qualification or relevant experience. Applications from individuals with appropriate professional experience who do not hold traditional academic qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. As this is an SCQF Level 11 course, participants should be prepared to study at postgraduate level.

 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be awarded 20 credits at SCQF Level 11.

These credits may contribute towards further postgraduate study at UWS, where appropriate and in accordance with University regulations.

 

Sector and workforce relevance

Health and social care organisations increasingly require leaders who can work across professional and organisational boundaries to deliver integrated, people-centred services. This course reflects contemporary leadership practice by focusing on collaboration, service transformation, resilience and sustainable improvement within complex care environments.

Drawing on current leadership thinking and cross-sector perspectives, participants will develop the capability to lead teams, influence change and strengthen collaborative working across health and social care. The course aligns with the evolving leadership demands of integrated services and supports the development of confident, reflective leaders who can drive meaningful improvements in professional practice and service delivery.

 

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further enrolment information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.