Health and Wellbeing MSc

This module introduces you to health promotion theories and strategies through a lens of health inequalities. It explores the role of policies and action to address inequalities. It provides experience in the associated needs assessment, design and evaluation of health promotion interventions. Emphasis is placed on the critical analysis of health promotion policies, programmes and strategies to deliver health for all through a social determinant of health lens. Health care systems are considered with respect to their role of addressing inequalities in health.

This module focuses on the evidence-based research which has informed key UK policy development in health and wellbeing. The evidence for the impact of Social Prescribing and Wellbeing on individuals and communities will be evaluated, also considering critics of this field. International applications of Social Prescribing across different health systems and the key roles of professionals delivering Social Prescribing will be discussed. The module will explore concurrent development and implementation of inclusivity legislation, and its effect on health and wellbeing.

This module will critically explore reflective practice models; reviewing the impact on professional development and service provision at an individual, group and community level.

Reflective practice models and facilitation approaches will be applied in peer reflective groups where you'll explore workplace and service provision interactions or issues. This group work will lead you be able to contextualise appropriate reflective practice and facilitation processes which will then be used for the exploration of specific situations; this will lead to identification of appropriate professional developmental needs for individuals and groups. This will also support the development of practices for identification of individuals and teams experiencing burnout.

In addition, the module will critically explore the factors that can enable the development of and support the maintenance of relationships in the professional environment and approaches to leadership. Theories will be critically explored that underpin a range of approaches such as Person Centred, Transactional Analysis and other theories of unconscious processes affecting communication and leadership.

This module will explore wellbeing and resilience interventions and programmes in workplace settings. Students will explore both the generic and specific issues that diverse professions and organisations are facing in relation to stress, wellbeing and resilience. They will also develop the skills and attributes needed to consult, design, deliver and evaluate bespoke workplace programmes that are both fit for purpose and evidence informed.

This module will explore recent advances in evidence-based integrative medicine. A broad range of both Western and non-Western approaches to health and wellbeing will be evaluated which will be based around diet, exercise, therapies and activities. These approaches will focus particularly on chronic disease, long-term illness and aging. The module will include appraisal of the validity for the integration of these interventions and modalities.

The purpose of this module is to teach the principles and practice of research with a focus on qualitative and quantitative study designs and methods of data collection and processing. It will show how these designs and methods can be applied to evaluation studies as well as to research. It will provide a supportive and intellectually challenging environment within which students develop their knowledge, understanding and skills as researchers.

This module consolidates and extends the skills learned in other modules and particularly Research Methods I. It culminates in the conduct of a supervised research project relevant to a student’s area of professional practice and course specific discipline.