Four advancing practice in health students looking into the camera.

This multidisciplinary modular framework sits in QMU's School of Health Sciences and offers flexible online study options, including single-module study. It is aimed at individuals in health and social care related fields such as Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses, AHPs, Radiographers, and Nutritionists. It will also be of interest to professionals in areas such as Public Health, the Community and the Voluntary Sector, as well as the wider context of professional practice (eg AHPs, radiographers and other professions working in Veterinary practice). We welcome enquiries from other interested individuals including international applicants. 

Why QMU? 

Our flexible, multi-professional and practice-relevant postgraduate Advancing Professional Practice Framework will be attractive to individuals who want to make a difference to the lives of others locally, nationally and globally. The Framework aims to foster and develop QMU’s mission of cultivating intellectual capital with both a theoretical and practical focus. Learning and teaching are underpinned by research, evidence and scholarship against the background of current and evolving political and social landscape for health and wellbeing. 

Aligned to the four pillars of advanced practice 

The Framework is based on a model of collaborative multi-professional learning aligned to expectations of the four pillars of advanced practice (Clinical Practice, Leadership, Education and Research). There are learning opportunities in areas such as fundamentals of advancing practice, critical analysis, evaluation and research methodologies, as well as several more specific modules. The framework also draws on expertise across the University on subjects such as leadership, social science and education. 

Our approach to teaching and learning 

We offer a collaborative multi-professional online learning environment. Learning and assessment are underpinned by current research and the evolving landscape of health and wellbeing.  

The Framework offers flexibility in module choice and part time, workplace modes of study that are responsive to individual needs and today’s culture of work and learning. All modules are delivered online and can be studied from a distance. Each 20-credit module will equate with approximately 200 hours of study, which will include regular online contact and independent experiential learning. Additional support is available for those new to or returning to master’s level study and for those new to studying online. 
 
Benefit from a personalised learning pathway 

At QMU we recognise that career opportunities transform over time. In response to this we can facilitate a personalised learning pathway that can lead to PgCert/ PgDip/MSc Advancing Professional Practice awards. This may be of particular interest to those who already hold a master’s award or wish to study modules in a particular area or pillar of practice. 

As part of the Framework, we also offer the following named awards: 

Single modules can be taken for the purposes of continuous professional development (CPD). 
 

Watch our Advancing Practice film, below:

The following list of modules are all available in the Framework:

  • Advancing Practice in Complex Pain and Symptoms in Palliative Care (20 credits):  This module will facilitate your engagement in a critical exploration of the evidence surrounding complex pain and symptoms experienced by people living with life-limiting illness. 
  • Advancing Care Home Practice (20 credits): This module is to critically reflect on contemporary evidence to facilitate flourishing person-centred cultures for all persons who live, work and support care homes.     
  • Advancing facilitation of learning (20 credits): This module aims to support you to develop and demonstrate robust and creative approaches to advancing facilitation of learning and applying this to teaching and learning practice.   
  • Advancing Practice in Psychological, Social and Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care (20 credits): This module is designed to enable you to develop a greater understanding of the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of people living with life-limiting illness, in all care settings.     
  • Advancing Practice Portfolio I & II (20/40 credits)*: These modules enable you to develop a portfolio which provides evidence of your ability to deliver advanced practice level of care mapped to appropriate underpinning frameworks and standards. 
  • Advanced Competencies I & II (20/40 credits)*: These modules enable you to attain pre-agreed workplace competencies and to critically evaluate the evidence base underpinning the selected area of work. 
  • Assessing and Planning Care for Persons, People and Populations (20 credits): This module will prepare students to adopt systematic approaches to assessing and planning care and support for persons, people and populations by applying clinical reasoning and decision-making models within person-centred assessment frameworks.  
  • Assessment for Learning (20 credits): This module aims to support you to advance approaches to assessment, feedback and feedforward for learning in the context of your role and wider practices. 
  • Contemporary Occupation Focused Practice (20 credits): The aim of this module is to enhance students' ability to critically analyse and evaluate the theoretical foundations and contemporary practices of occupational therapy, enabling them to propose and justify advancements in practice that align with service priorities and professional values.    
  • Communication with People Living with Life-limiting Illness (20 credits): This module will facilitate the development of your communication skills to support communication in challenging conversations related to coping and adjusting to living with life-limiting illness and future care planning, whilst examining the evidence on communication theories and models. 
  • Diagnostic Investigations for the Lower Limb Pathologies (20 credits): This module will provide you with theoretical knowledge and understanding of a range of diagnostic and laboratory investigations in the lower limb. NB This module is only available every second year. 
  • Research Project/ Dissertation (60/40 credits): This module will enable learners to develop and apply the skills of research and enquiry to produce original work contributing to a subject, field or profession. 
  • Demonstrating Impact in Practice (20 credits)*: This module will enable learners to advance their practice by demonstrating sustainable impact in practice at a service, project or community level. 
  • Design for Professional Learning (20 credits): This module aims to support you to advance your knowledge and develop skills in designing curriculum within the context of your role 
  • Ethical Judgement and Decision Making (20 credits): This module will help learners examine, evaluate and consider the implications of ethics, judgment, and decision-making processes in practice settings.     
  • Facilitation of Learning (20 credits): This module is designed to enable those with an educational role to formally develop their knowledge and understanding of how to facilitate the learning of others. 
  • Fundamentals of Advancing Practice (20 credits): This module will provide you with critical knowledge and understanding of advanced practice. 
  • High Risk Foot (20 credits)   
  • Leading Advancing Practice (20 credits): This module will provide you with a broad critical knowledge and understanding of the principles of leadership required for transformation and innovation in the public and private sectors.   
  • Medical Imaging of the Foot and Ankle (20 credits)*: This module will provide learners with a critical understanding of diagnostic modalities to develop evaluative and interpretative skills of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic modalities. NB This module is only available every second year. 
  • Methods of Enquiry (20 credits): This module will provide you with an understanding of research principles, methodologies and analysis. 
  • Non-medical Prescribing for Allied Health Professions (40 credits)*: This module will prepare learners to prescribe safely and competently within the context of their professional role as non-medical prescribers. 
  • Orthopaedic Medicine (20 credits/30 credits)
  • Pharmacology for Podiatric & Surgical practice (20 credits)
  • Principles of MRI/CT (20 credits)*: This module will allow learners to develop a more in-depth understanding of the theoretical applications of MRI or CT. 
  • Public Health Practice for Health Professionals (20 credits): This module is for    students to acquire a critical understanding of public health theory and practice to engage and lead on public health practice within their discipline.   
  • Research Project/ Dissertation (60/40 credits): This module will enable learners to develop and apply the skills of research and enquiry to produce original work contributing to a subject, field or profession. 
  • Tissue Viability (20 credits): This module will provide you with critical understanding of the evidence base for factors contributing to cutaneous ulceration, viable assessment techniques and the effectiveness of current management practices. 
  • Specialist Oncology Management (20 credits)
  • Surgical Management of the Foot (20 credits)   
  • Theory of Person-centred Practice in Health and Wellbeing (20 credits): This module will facilitate learners’ explorations of some of the concepts, principles and theories underpinning person-centred practice in a variety of care settings and from a variety of perspectives to enhance health & wellbeing. 

Please note: 

If opting to study for a single module, you will be able to select any module from this list. 

If you chose to follow one of the named awards, you would complete the modules specific to that route. 

Modules marked * require individuals to be working in the specific area and/or have access to an appropriate workplace setting (paid or voluntary). We may ask you, as part of the admissions process, for a CV and a reference from your line manager to evidence that you have the support required to undertake the module.   

 

Honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline

International: English language: Where your honours degree has not been studied in English, you will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 with no individual component score less than 6.0.

Some modules require individuals to be working in the specific area and/or access to an appropriate workplace setting (paid or voluntary) and require support of a line manager and workplace mentor.

You can register as an associate student to study up to two single modules from the Framework modules listed above.

Framework awards do not lead to UK registration with the HCPC or the right to practice within the UK, but aim to foster an intellectual approach to personal and professional development.

2 to 5 years part time

MSc (180credits)/PgDip (120 credits)/PgCert (60 credits)

September and January

Please visit the individual entries to view and contact the Programme Leaders.

Advancing Professional Practice Framework Courses