Evaluating Dementia Practice

Module

Attendance mode: Part-time
Start date(s): January
Duration: 4 months
Location: Distance learning

UK and international students can apply

Overview

Do you want to know what works, what doesn’t work, and how things can be improved in your organisation or dementia care practice? Do you want to know how to involve people with dementia in evaluating practice? Would you like to know how to make an impact and communicate evaluation findings in the most appropriate ways?

This part-time online distance learning module can be studied as part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Dementia Studies and is one of the core modules on the 3-year MSc Advanced Dementia Studies. You can also take this module as a single, stand-alone module to gain 30-credits.

In this module, you will evaluate an area of dementia care practice. You will consider different approaches to evaluation, and discuss critical issues in evaluation practice, including: ethical issues, participatory evaluation, and the use of findings. You will be equipped to identify and apply a range of evaluation and analysis methods and to involve people living with dementia in evaluating practice. You will identify achievable practice recommendations for improving dementia care practice. 

This programme is intended for UK and international students who are either:

Health and social care professionals who want to gain further knowledge about dementia and human rights
Voluntary workers who already have contact with people with dementia

Our flexible approach allows you to combine study with work and home life. This online module is designed to be directly applicable to the workplace and to help you develop your own and your colleagues' practice.

The course is assessed fully online - you do not need to attend the University at any point during your studies. However, this does not mean you need to study alone - you will be part of a group of fellow national and international students passionate about improving dementia care.

Learning and assessment

The module is delivered over 16-weeks, with 12 teaching weeks and four assessment weeks.

Within the 12 teaching weeks, the module content is delivered online via the University’s learning platform, Canvas. You will engage with your peers and tutors in six group discussions based on set activities (such as creating a ‘pen portrait’ of a person with dementia who is known to you; identifying negative uses of language about people with dementia; and selecting adapted methods for enhancing communication with a person with dementia).

You will also meet three times online in real-time tutorials, where you can discuss learning and practice.

Each module has a study guide and planner which will take you through the module and all the learning activities. You will have support from your module tutor and a personal academic tutor throughout the module. You are also encouraged to share your experience with others on the course who work in a variety of health and social care roles from around the world.

There are two formal opportunities to gain formative feedback from your tutors about your assignment, including the option to submit a full draft of your assignment prior to submission.

The module is assessed by a 4,000-word evaluation report of an existing area of practice in your organisation or workplace. You will be asked to make recommendations, based on your findings, for improving the area of practice.

What you will study

This module will provide you with:

Advanced critical skills to evaluate examples of dementia care practice
The ability to forefront the involvement of a range of stakeholders in evaluating practice
A comprehensive understanding and critical appreciation of a range of evaluation methods and their application in practice-based evaluation.

Entry requirements

Candidates should have a first degree with 2:2 or above in a relevant subject area. However, if you have had any prior experience of successful study at undergraduate or postgraduate level you may apply, providing evidence such as certificates and transcripts.

You can also apply if you have a FHEQ Level 5 (i.e: DipHE, Foundation Degree, NVQ) qualification plus a minimum of at least two years’ experience working in a dementia care or dementia service field prior to application. In this case, you will additionally need to complete an entry assignment to provide evidence of advanced standing based on a portfolio, for which you will need to achieve a mark of at least 60% at FHEQ level 6.

You must already have a work role, or voluntary placement, which regularly brings you into contact with people who have dementia for the duration of the module.

You must also have access to a computer with an internet connection, as all teaching takes place online. You must also be prepared to spend an average of 15 hours a week on your studies. 

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

10 credits: £612
20 credits: £1,224
30 credits: £1,836
40 credits: £2,448
Dissertation module (if applicable): £2,648

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

This module will support your career progression in your chosen field.

You can choose to build upon this module with further study that can lead to a full MSc award.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

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This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.