Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care

Increasingly, practitioners are being called upon to lead effective change, implementing key leadership and management skills to improve both clinical and patient delivery within their health and social care organisation.

Ideal for health and social care professionals who are looking to lead change in the provision and delivery of their health and social care setting, this course acknowledges the needs of those in current or developmental managerial roles who are seeking to develop new managerial and leadership skills to enhance their career and improve their practice. Whether you are taking the next step in your career or have a general interest in this area of study, this course will give you the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives.

This programme will equip you with an advanced understanding in applying effective leadership and management theories to your own work setting that’s equally effective and coherent alongside today’s evolving health and social care agenda.

Ideal for health and social care professionals

This Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care will enable you to practice functional and theoretical key managerial skills that are dynamic, forward thinking and practical, allowing you to become strategically involved in today’s rapidly expanding health and social care sector. The course will develop your skills and knowledge of leadership and management styles whilst also considering the impact leadership and management has on inter-professional issues, policy and change within your practice. 

Through studying this course online you will be able to implement new skills into your role as you learn, consolidating specific techniques and expertise that will help you to lead quality and service improvements within your health and social care practice. This course will also enable you to develop a greater understanding of your own leadership styles through critical analysis and a defined set of leadership theories.

Students will study three modules over the duration of one year, studying one module per trimester. In studying this Postgraduate Certificate you will achieve an advanced understanding of leadership and management styles and theoretical concepts that can be applied within a health and social care environment. 

Achieve an advanced understanding of leadership and management

Our academic team recognise that health and social care professionals are required to have a continually developing wide range of specific and transferable skills through additional training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This programme offers you the flexibility and diversity that will help you develop these skills while you work and will contribute towards your continuous training and CPD.

This course is particularly beneficial for directors of nursing, clinical directors, doctors, senior nurses, senior health and social care professionals, heads of service and general health and social care workers who are seeking to gain further progression within their role. The knowledge and skills gained from studying this programme will enhance your ability to develop your career and enrich your professional practice.

This programme is in line with today’s changing health and social care agenda and covers key aspects of leadership and management which is essential for those looking to implement a higher level 

This Postgraduate Certificate programme is available to study part-time and is delivered fully online.

We will advise you of your study plan when you are invited to enrol.

You will need to complete the following three core 20 credit modules at level 7 for a total of 60 credits.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Pace of study

We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

Assessment method

This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

Get a taste of the course content

Our Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care course taster will give you an idea of how online learning works. It includes a selection of content from a course module so you can see what some of our learning material looks like.

You will need to complete a short form to access the course taster.

You will normally need the following:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject, plus
• Work experience in an appropriate subject area following on from your bachelor’s level qualification, plus
• Current employment in an arena which will enable the achievement of the individual module learning outcomes, eg voluntary, public, private, community, acute health and social care arenas.

If you have an International qualification, it will need to be mapped to the UK equivalent registration to ensure that you are entering the programme with at least 120 academic credits at level 6.

English language qualifications

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

• IELTS 7.0
• TOEFL: 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based) or 100 (internet based)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate: Pass
• London Tests of English: we accept level 4 for undergraduate courses
• International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
• International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C

Find out more about our English language requirements

^‡2023/24 for new entrants

Starting between September 2023 and August 2024.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this will be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from three payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront, receive 5% discount and avoid annual increases*

• Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)*

*Please note: the discount for paying your fees up front, either for the full programme or the academic year, will only be available to students enrolling for eligible online studies between August 2023 and July 2024 and will not be available for the September 2024 intake onwards.

Students should apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

• Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
• Written reference supplied on headed paper from either a manager, supervisor, tutor or teacher
• Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
• The translator’s contact details

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

To study this Postgraduate Certificate, you must already be working within a health and social care setting on a paid or voluntary basis. This course will allow you to develop and enhance your career, as well as help you to improve the care of your patients, clients or service users.

You can take this course to stand out from other health professionals and Level 6 professionals, building on your skills and knowledge that can be implemented into your practice. This course will also count towards your CPD for the year, enabling progressive structured improvement in your role.

This Level 7 course will enable you to go onto our MSc Integrative Health and Social Care as well as other Master courses. Postgraduate Diplomas are also the next step up from completing this course.

In completing this course you will have the ability, skills and knowledge to help you pursue more strategic roles in the health and social care sector as well as to move ahead in a hands-on role in leadership and management within your practice.

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning:

Other courses you might like

• Master of Public Health
• Integrative Health and Social Care MSc
• Leading Interprofessional Practice Education Postgraduate Certificate