Pulse Issue 5

New Post Graduate Medical Institute | Africa Hospice | Online Diabetes Tool | Current Portfolio National Student Survey 2014 | New Director of Nursing Education

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | Issue 05

PAGE 1 | PULSE

Welcome Welcome to the fifth of Pulse edition Magazine – the Faculty of Health and Social Care’s annual magazine.

We are pleased to introduce the new Postgraduate Medical Institute, a partnership between Edge Hill University and regional health professionals and providers seeking to improve the quality of health and social care in the North West through education, research and innovation.

In this edition we also announce the launch of two new programmes, a new undergraduate degree in the Applied Health and Social Care portfolio, the BSc (Hons) Family and Community Studies and a new Master’s programme, the MSc Psychiatry.

We are also pleased to tell you about some of the recent achievements of the Faculty’s students, including a social work student who is the recipient of the University Chancellor’s Scholarship and an awardwinning ODP student.

There is our usual course listing on the centre pages for anyone considering professional development and on the back pages are details of forthcoming conferences and events at the Faculty.

We hope you enjoy reading about our work and we look forward to seeing you at one of our events on campus in the future.

Seth Crofts Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care

Contents New Post Graduate Medical Institute - PGMI Honorary award for nursing leader - Dr Peter Carter: National Student Survey 2014 Campus investments continue apace at Aintree Edge Hill awarded prestigious new medical leadership module contract New course is latest addition to family of non-traditional health degrees - BSc Families and Communities Groundbreaking adolescent alcohol work sees Jayne score top marks Scholarship reflects Jay’s dedication to social work New pathways boost Faculty’s postgraduate surgery programmes New MSc provides practical progress to psychiatric posts Health and Social Care portfolio MBE award for lifelong dedication to midwifery Innovative new project should help see better care at home California dreaming for nursing ambassador Gill New training will help ODP graduates leave Edge Hill job ready Finnish paramedic partnership is providing valuable for all parties Africa hospice trustee role for Barbara Simulation and Patient Safety Week Baby Friendly Initiative University Accreditation from UNICEF New Director of Nursing Education Education is the key: Providing a competent and caring nursing workforce New initiative puts sustainable food at the top of local agenda New online diabetes tool should help get to the foot of the problem New combined online safeguarding module for Mersey Care, and beyond Faculty of Health and Social Care 2014 – 2015 Events

pulse Issue 5

Editorial Team: Sam Armstrong

Design: EHU Creative Services - Mark Molloy Contributors Tony Brown, Stuart Rayner

Faculty of Health and Social Care Edge Hill University St Helens Road, Ormskirk Lancashire, L39 4QP edgehill.ac.uk

Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 22 Page 23

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 2

New postgraduate medical institute will widen work of the faculty In order to reflect the major changes that have taken place at the faculty over the past decade and a half, a new institute has been set up that will allow provision to be developed in new areas.

“A number of existing programmes and pieces of research from across the university will be brought together under the badge of PGMI.”

The Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) has been created as part of the university’s wider diversification and means the Faculty of Health and Social Care can now reach out to professional groups such as medics and dentists, as Kathryn Lowe, Head of Postgraduate Studies, explains: “After initially starting out as a school of nursing, over the past 15 years the faculty has developed a great deal, training operating department practitioners, paramedics and social workers. As a result, creating the PGMI will give us the opportunity to diversify our funding streams, allow us to engage with more professionals and develop provision in new areas. As an example, although there has already been some engagement with medics and dentists, they weren’t group that we fully catered for. The PGMI will allow us to capitalise on what’s already been achieved and incorporate a range of programmes aimed at medics from across all three faculties of the university.”

The faculty has a number of collaborative partners that are closely linked with the PGMI, such as Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal College of Physicians, while a number of other links with other NHS trusts and

organisations are currently in the planning stages.

The Faculty of Health and Social Care is also working with a number of other organisations as part of the PGMI, including North West Deaneries, and has received accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons for the MCh programme.

“The MCh has been running successfully for a number of years, as has the MA Clinical Education, which is delivered by staff from the Faculty of Education,” adds Kathryn. “A number of existing programmes and pieces of research from across the university will be brought together under the badge of PGMI. A steering group has been established to help this process and there are new premises on the Ormskirk campus to house the institute. We are looking to formally establish the PGMI in May 2014 and will organise an official launch event to celebrate this.”

To find out more about the new PGMI, visit: edgehill.ac.uk/health/pgmi

PAGE 3 | PULSE

Honorary award for nursing leader

The summer graduation season saw one of the nursing profession’s leading figures awarded an honorary doctorate

by Edge Hill University.

As the voice of nursing across the UK, the RCN is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world and its aim is to think and act as part of a global community.

While accepting the award, Dr Carter, whose nursing training began over 40 years ago and whose close links with Edge Hill stretch back several years, said: “I would like to thank Edge Hill University for conferring this award on me, and I really will cherish it. I’ve developed a relationship with the university over the past few years and it is an institution to be proud of. The education the students receive is second to none.”

“Those graduating today from universities such as Edge Hill will go on to have incredibly satisfying and rewarding careers in the profession. It is still a wonderful occupation and a privilege to have that interface with patients on a daily basis.

This country should be so proud of all the young men and women who choose to become nurses and who do such a great job.”

Nursing Union leader Dr Peter Carter was given the award due to his dedication to the nursing profession and has been described as a “compelling role model for nurses of all generations,” thanks to his lifetime of service delivered with infectious enthusiasm, vigour and commitment to public service.

As the General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Dr Carter is responsible for a membership of 400,000 nurses, midwives, health visitors, nursing students, cadets and health care support workers.

Having been with the RCN since 2007, Dr Carter is perfectly placed to observe how healthcare has changed over the years.

“Despite all of the changes and the pressures on and within the NHS, nursing and nurses still enjoy enormous respect from the public,” he explains.

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 4

National Student Survey 2014

Edge Hill’s students are some of the most satisfied in the region, but you don’t just have to take our word for it.

The results from the 2014 annual National Student Survey (NSS) are in, and reveal that Edge Hill is once again celebrating excellent rankings, remaining the top University in the North West in terms of student satisfaction.

Based on the average of the responses to all 22 questions in the survey for 2014, the University is ranked top in the region with an overall satisfaction ranking of 4.2 out of 5.

All fields of Nursing, and Midwifery, demonstrated increased satisfaction, specifically in reference to teaching and learning, academic support, and organisation and management.

BSc Operating Department Practice at both Ormskirk and Manchester, showed positive increases with scores for personal development exceeding 4.5, and Paramedic Practice maintained an average of over 4.6 (out of 5) across all areas.

Dr John Cater, Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University said: “It is testament to our focus on the student experience that Edge Hill is once again ranked

top in terms of the full range of satisfaction measures in the North West.

With our commitment to the student experience in addition to our strong levels of graduate employment and social mobility, I’m confident that our results will continue to improve year on year.”

The satisfaction rate for students studying at UK universities and colleges has hit a 10-year high, Professor Madeleine Atkins, HEFCE Chief Executive, said:

‘I’m delighted to see record levels of student satisfaction this year, as well as marked improvements in satisfaction with assessment and feedback over the last decade.

‘The NSS is the largest survey of its kind in the UK. Over the last 10 years it has helped over 2 million students to make their voices heard about the things that matter to them, and has been fundamental to driving change in our universities and colleges.

‘In a period of technological advance, internationalisation and funding reforms, the NSS will continue to enable students’ views to be heard and to stimulate innovation and excellence in teaching and learning in our universities and colleges.’

PAGE 5 | PULSE

Campus investments continue apace

As part of Edge Hill’s continued investment into facilities and resources, the Aintree Campus has undergone a major refurbishment and been renamed the Postgraduate Centre.

Associate Head for CPD Postgraduate Programmes, Lai K Chan, says this move reflects the faculty’s ambitions to rejuvenate the Liverpool site and provide qualified health and social care students with an identified place to study.

“We have titled the centre postgraduate, but in order to make it somewhere for our professionals to call home we also mean postqualified staff. The building has been refurbished to enable to continuing professional development (CPD) team to provide more teaching at our Liverpool site, and we now have five classrooms, one meeting room and a shared area for socialising.”

All of the classrooms are now equipped with the latest IT resources in order to enhance the learning experience, there are quiet rooms for tutorials, bookable workspace for students and two of the rooms are separated by a mobile partition, which means the space can be flexibly arranged to house up to 45 people.

“This work will be of great benefit to students,” adds Lai. “Classroom availability is a resource issue for many of our lecturers. Previously we couldn’t guarantee students that they would be in the same classroom for every session, leading to wasted time trying to locate where the next lecture would take place. The new Postgraduate Centre has a range of rooms, which means we will be able to allocate modules to different rooms for the duration of a course. The feedback we have had from students so far has been very positive, with many saying that they like the new social area and the mobile chair and desk that allows them to change its arrangement for their preferred way of working.”

Continuing with campus news, last October saw more than 2,000 people flock to the Ormskirk site to start the celebrations for Edge Hill’s 80 years in the town.

Visitors were treated to live entertainment by a range of street performers and acts, and a new exhibition and book launch to mark the milestone anniversary of when the Ormskirk campus was officially opened in 1933 by Lord Irwin, President of the Board of Education.

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 6

Edge Hill awarded prestigious new medical leadership module contract

A collaboration between the faculty’s Postgraduate Education Department and the Royal College of Physicians has led to Edge Hill being awarded a prestigious contract by the Mersey Deanery.

The contract is to deliver a new masters-level, bespoke medical leadership and management module, which can be studied on a standalone basis or alongside existing MSc programmes.

“This new programme comprises a bespoke medical leadership and management module that is mapped to the Medical Leadership Competency Framework curriculum,” explains Charlotte Moen, MSc Leadership Development Programme Lead. “This masters-level module is aimed at higher specialty trainee doctors whose next step is to apply for their first consultant post, and it will assist them to undertake the transition from senior trainee to consultant.

“Specifically, it raises awareness of the importance of medical leadership, requires students to take theoretical learning into the workplace, aids reflection on their own leadership and management skills and qualities, and facilitates understanding of the impact of their own behaviour on others.”

Because the faculty already has an existing multi-professional MSc leadership programme, doctors undertaking the new module can do so as a specific qualification or join existing MSc programme students such as nurses, allied health professionals, paramedics and senior managers.

“The new contract further validates our existing provision and is a really valuable extension to our current programme,” adds Charlotte. “We have received some extremely positive feedback about the module so far, with many doctors requesting to see a progression route. As a result, last December a new MSc pathway in Medical Leadership and Management was validated, which has exit routes at Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma.” Over 250 people have been through the programme since it launched in 2013.

To find out more about the new module, visit: edgehill.ac.uk/health/cpd-modules

PAGE 7 | PULSE

New course is latest addition to family of non-traditional health degrees

The 2014 recruitment cycle saw a 91% rise in applications for Applied Health and Social Care programmes.

Established programmes, BA Health and Social Wellbeing; BSc Child Health and Wellbeing; and BSc Nutrition and Health; all demonstrated significant growth. BSc Counselling and Psychotherapy attracted over 200 applicants; and whilst only its second year recruiting, BSc Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour boasted an increase of 320% in applications, with a cohort of over 50 students starting in Sept 2014.

In our expanding portfolio of AHSC programmes, andto assist efforts to allow sustainable communities to be developed as part of the government’s Big Society vision, a new degree programme has been launched that will give students real hands-on experience within their communities.

The BSc (Hons) Family and Community Studies course is aimed at those currently working with families or communities in a variety of roles and also for school and college leavers interested in working within that area but unsure about exactly what aspect they wish to pursue.

“The Applied health and Social Care team are developing degree programmes to meet the needs of a growing workforce that does not follow the traditional professional health routes such as nursing, midwifery or social work,” reveals Pat Hosgood, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader.

“Many of the careers relating to community development, sustainable communities, family support and empowerment. Through the consultation process for this degree it was identified that employers want graduates with specific knowledge and understanding of these concepts.”

The three-year programme will provide students with an understanding of the principles, knowledge and skills essential for working with and sustaining families and communities. Students will explore the social, economic and political factors that affect families and communities within the UK and around the world, and consider the importance of leadership and management skills in working effectively with other professionals in an integrated way.

The programme will provide students with an understanding of how to identify and communicate with diverse and vulnerable

groups, while working within legal, ethical and professional boundaries. In addition, they will also be able to ensure this degree is bespoke to their interests and potential career path through a choice of optional, work-related and dissertation modules.

“This course was developed in consultation with community development officers, asset-based community practitioners, people working within the ‘troubled Families agenda’ and the Department for Work and Pensions, and an individual working within the illegal money lending team,” adds Pat. “This in itself shows the variety of potential jobs and roles that are available to graduates of this course, the content of which has been informed both by what the government are advocating and what the workforce are experiencing. We are now working closely with Lancashire County Council to negotiate placements for our students so that they can experience first hand the projects taking place within the local area, which will also provide them with valuable work experience and increase their employability.”

To find out more about the new BSc (Hons) Family and Community Studies, visit: edgehill.ac.uk/health/ahsc/ug-degrees

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 8

Groundbreaking adolescent alcohol work sees Jayne score top marks

Scholarship reflects Jay’s dedication to social work

Groundbreaking work produced by BSc (Hons) Integrated Children’s and Young People’s Practice student Jayne Rowlands resulted in her scoring top marks for her course.

Dedication to her studies and the overcoming of adversity to embark on a university degree were just two of the main reasons why a Social Work student was awarded the Chancellor’s Scholarship at the end of 2013.

Jayne chose to focus on the physical and social effects of alcohol on adolescents in the UK because of her own work-based observations and interests in the British binge-drinking culture. The result was a hugely impressive 96 per cent for her work and a first class honours degree, something for which she is understandably so proud.

“To be told that I had the highest mark in our faculty was amazing.

My time at Edge Hill has been fantastic. It’s such a lovely, friendly campus and the support I have received from tutors has been amazing. Although I was a lot older than many of the other students I never felt out of place and I enjoyed the whole experience.

“With regards to my study, I found that it was children with more disposable income who are likely to drink from an early age.

Parental consent and introducing children to alcohol in a more sensible manner, such as in France where children are given watered-down wine with a meal, seems to be a much better approach in answer to our binge-drinking children.”

Jay Lowe from Salford received the prestigious award in recognition of the difficult journey she has endured to reach Edge Hill.

“I was really pleased and humbled, and a little bit embarrassed, to receive the ward,” she says, “but hopefully it reflects my determination to succeed. After having to give up my degree place over ten years ago when both my mother and father died and I became the carer for my brother and sister, it’s great to be finally picking up where I left off.

Social work has always been my passion and that’s why I’m so determined to succeed.”

The judges commented that it was evident that Jay’s work reflects her commitment to promoting social work, and that she is a true ambassador for the faculty and the university generally.

Highlighting this, Jay has also recently volunteered to develop a Social Work Association, which aims to benefit current students with mentoring, peer-to-peer support and the opportunity to explore different areas of professional practice – as well as having a social side too.

PAGE 9 | PULSE

New pathways boost faculty’s postgraduate surgery programmes

Guiyang, Guizhou province

After consultation with both practising professionals and past and current students, the successful MCh programme has been further developed to incorporate new pathways.

The new validated pathways will complement the existing MCh and sister programme, MCh Studies, to add diversity to the existing suite of courses, which will, in turn, boost recruitment. A recruitment drive is currently underway, with the aim to enroll overseas students for September 2014 entry.

“The overall programme structure remains the same but each pathway has two clinical modules that relate to the surgical specialty. It is the introduction of new specialist clinical modules that will enable new named awards to be created,” says Carol Kelly, Senior Lecturer and MCh Programme Leader.

“The introduction of new specialist pathways will add diversity and further strengthen the continued viability of the programmes. As competition within the employment market increases, subspecialisation is seen as a way to enhance personal surgical practice and employability. The current model of teaching allows students on different specialty pathways within the MCh programme to study together for the majority of the programme, securing the feasibility of supporting small intakes of students,” she adds.

The new named awards for the MCh include Minimal Access Surgery; Paediatric Orthopaedics; Orthopaedics (Upper limb surgery); Orthopaedics (Hand and wrist surgery); Orthopaedics (Spine); Orthopaedics (Hip and knee); Orthopaedics (Foot and ankle); and Surgical Oncology.

To find out further information, visit: edgehill.ac.uk/health/surgery

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 10

New Msc provides practical progress to psychiatric posts

A new postgraduate course, planned and designed in conjunction with the NHS and local trusts, has been launched and will provide the practical training needed for doctors to apply for senior psychiatric posts.

The MSc Psychiatry is the result of months of consultation between Edge Hill and the 5 Boroughs Partnership (5BP) NHS Trust during which key stakeholders in psychiatry, including consultant psychiatrists from all disciplines, have been engaged. The new course is aimed at psychiatrists seeking a specialist masters-level qualification in order to apply for senior posts.

“At present there is a shortage of traditional training post vacancies via deaneries, which has, in part, led to a shortage of psychiatrists, something we’re unlikely to see change in the short to medium term,” says Steve Jones, MSc Programme Leader.

“That is why we have developed this new route, which is a practical, skills-based course that incorporates clinical placement specialties.

Initially, students will be recruited via interview at 5BP for the MSc as part of their current employment and we will present the opportunity for them to undertake an MSc that is directly beneficial to their career and clinical practice.

“This route should prove very desirable, as students will be in paid work, in a modern foundation trust alongside respected clinical

specialists and will be able to provide a portfolio of evidence in order to apply for approved status, which means they will be able to section under the Mental Health Act. Essentially, the programme and experience will offer most of what doctors require to be able to progress with clinical and managerial psychiatric positions in a timely and efficient way.”

The MSc will be delivered by experienced senior psychiatrists, researchers, academics and interdisciplinary staff from across the specialties, including mental health pharmacists, clinical psychologists, therapists and academic psychologists. The programme will also be delivered at a time to suit students – Saturday mornings are likely – so that it does not interfere with clinical commitments.

“This was an aspect that we considered crucial,” adds Steve. “It is important that the MSc Psychiatry can be completed while working full time in psychiatry and that it has a complete student-centred focus to learning. I believe that what we have provided is a masters course that is designed by, delivered by and evaluated by psychiatrists working collaboratively with Edge Hill.”

To find out more, visit: edgehill.ac.uk/study/courses/psychiatry

PAGE 11 | PULSE

Health and Social Care Portfolio PRE-REGISTRATION PROGRAMMES - DipHE Paramedic Practice - BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing and Social Work - BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing and Social Work - BSc (Hons) Midwifery - BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Children’s) - BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice - BA (Hons) Social Work UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES - BSc (Hons) Child Health and Wellbeing - BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy - BSc (Hons) Family and Community Studies* - BA (Hons) Health and Social Wellbeing - BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Health - BSc (Hons) Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour TOP-UP DEGREE PROGRAMMES - BSc (Hons) Complementary Therapies - BA (Hons) Counselling - BSc (Hons) Integrated Children and Young People’s Practice

FULL-TIME FOUNDATION DEGREES AT EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FE COLLEGES - FdSc Complementary Therapies Partners: St Helens College and Wirral Metropolitan College

- FdA Counselling Partners: King George V College, Preston College; Shrewsbury College of Art and Technology (part- time) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES - DipHE Paramedic Studies - BSc (Hons) Behavioural Analysis and Intervention - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Practice - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Day Surgery Practice - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Child and Younger Person - Palliative and End of Life Care Practice BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Mental Health Practice - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Midwifery Practice - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Paramedic Practice - BSc (Hons) Clinical and Professional Perioperative Practice - BSc (Hons) Leadership and Management in Organisations - BSc (Hons) Public and Community Health - BSc (Hons) International Nursing Studies - BSc (Hons) International Midwifery Studies

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 12

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES - PGC Mental Health Law and Ethics - PGC Teaching and Learning in Clinical Practice (provided by Faculty of Education) - PGC Work-based Postgraduate Medical Education (provided by Faculty of Education) - MSc Advanced Practice - MSc Advanced Practice (Mental Health) - MSc Advanced Fertility Practice - MA Clinical Education (provided by Faculty of Education) - MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy - MSc Evidence Based Practice - MSc Integrated Children and Young People’s Practice - MSc International Midwifery Studies - MSc International Nursing Studies - MSc Leadership Development (Clinical Leadership/Leadership & Management) - MSc Learning Disabilities Studies - MA Practice Education - MSc Professional Clinical Practice - MSc Public Health and Wellbeing -

MCh Minimal Access Surgery* MCh Paediatric Orthopaedics* MCh Orthopaedics (Upper Limb Surgery)* MCh Orthopaedics (Hand and Wrist Surgery)* MCh Orthopaedics (Spine)* MCh Orthopaedics (Hip and Knee)* MCh Orthopaedics (Foot and Ankle)* MCh Otorhinolaryngology MCh Rhinology

-

MCh Surgical Oncology* MCh Trauma and Orthopaedics MCh Minimal Access Surgery Studies* MCh Paediatric Orthopaedic Studies* MCh Orthopaedics (Upper Limb Surgery) Studies* MCh Orthopaedics (Hand and Wrist Surgery) Studies* MCh Orthopaedics (Spine) Studies* MCh Orthopaedics (Hip and Knee) Studies* MCh Orthopaedics (Foot and Ankle) Studies* MCh Otorhinolaryngology Studies MCh Rhinology Studies MCh Surgical Oncology Studies* MCh Trauma and Orthopaedics Studies

Partner: Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

- MPhil/PhD Health Research and Evaluation - MRes Clinical & Health Research* *Subject to validation

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Course Information Team T: 01695 657000 E: study@edgehill.ac.uk

CPD Enquiries T: 01695 657249 E: cpdenquiries@edgehill.ac.uk

edgehill.ac.uk/health

PAGE 13 | PULSE

MBE award for lifelong dedication to midwifery

A lifelong dedication to her profession saw Edge Hill’s Head of Midwifery awarded an MBE in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Jane Morgan was recognised due to her outstanding service to midwifery in the UK, midwifery services in Rwanda and for making a real difference to women and their childbirth experiences. Despite this, she says she still couldn’t believe it when she heard the news.

“I was overwhelmed to hear that I was being given and MBE because I feel as though I’ve just been doing my job,” she says. “I’m no good at shouting about my achievements, but it is obviously lovely to be recognised for what you do, and it is a huge honour.”

Jane started her career in 1984 as a community midwife in Liverpool and, with 30 years under her belt, not only brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role at Edge Hill, but also in Rwanda where she was inspired to help improve the maternity care given to women after a trip there in 2001.

“My life changed after that visit. My local church is linked to a village

called Shyira and I went to visit their maternity hospital. I was completely unprepared for what I saw. There were five nurses, only one of whom was trained, and no midwives. There was no running water or electricity and it was filthy. The delivery room had a big hole in the window so everyone congregated outside and looked in during deliveries. The ward also was mixed, so mothers who had just given birth were with women who had miscarried or had malaria or TB. I was absolutely paralysed with shock.

“When I got home from Rwanda I was like a woman possessed.

Through the church and local community we raised £24,000 to build a new hospital and it has made such a difference to the people of Shyira. At the time we didn’t realise just how successful it was going to be – it’s becoming so popular, with 1,000 babies delivered each year.”

The work in Rwanda reflects Jane’s passion for empowerment and women-centred care, which is an ethos she brings to her work at Edge Hill: “I strive to ensure that our students receive a learning experience that provides opportunities for them to become truly autonomous midwives,” she adds.

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 14

Innovative new project should help see better care at home

A groundbreaking project has been launched at the faculty, which provides training for families and parents of children with complex healthcare needs.

Better at Home is the only project of its kind in the UK and aims to help parents and families provide clinical and nursing care at home. Practical, hands-on training is provided at the faculty’s simulation centre, which is then complemented by a range of online tools and the support of a Wellchild nurse, who has also been funded as part of the project.

“The project was developed in collaboration with the Wellchild national charity for sick children and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital,” says Jill Griffiths, Wellchild Parent Educator. “It gives parents of children with complex health needs the chance to take part in practical sessions at our simulation centre, which has been built as a small flat with a bedroom, bathroom and living area. This allows them to take advantage of a handson approach in a safe environment so that they can gain experience and build up their confidence when it comes to the healthcare needs of their child.”

Apart from helping parents and families to develop the skills needed to look after their children, the project’s other main aim is to help discharge from hospital occur sooner and prevent readmissions due to care package breakdown.

“Sometimes it’s just a case of being shown some basic skills and techniques and allowing the confidence to flow from that, and that is what we’re trying to achieve with this project,” adds Jill.

An open house day was held at the end of January, which allowed community staff to visit the facilities and learn more about the project, while a conference and official launch is due to take place later in the summer.

PAGE 15 | PULSE

California dreaming for nursing ambassador Gill

A Nursing student was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to California last autumn and speak about her positive training experiences and role as a Student Quality Ambassador (SQA).

Gill Neary, who is studying on the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) programme, applied for the opportunity when she discovered that two places were up for grabs for SQAs to attend the Revolutionising Nursing Education: Using Inter-professional Teams and Technology conference with SQA Project Lead, Ann Butler last July.

The conference examined the changing role higher education must play in successfully educating the healthcare professionals of the future. It also explored the dramatic changes the healthcare system will face over the next decade and how inter-professional practice teams, as well as the reliance of health information tools, will become integral components of this transformation.

It was due to her commitment to the role of SQA that Gill felt she wanted to speak about her experiences at the conference: “I became an SQA during my second year as I felt it would be good to become a best practice ambassador and help to promote a culture of care and compassion among my fellow students across the region. I have thoroughly enjoyed the role and how it involves collaborating with a range of higher education institutions and service providers in developing quality measurement tools that embody the values of the 6 Cs: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment.

“The conference highlighted the use of patient simulation, which although is a fairly new concept in the USA it is something that Edge Hill students have access to throughout their clinical training. I’ve always believed that we produce excellent, professional and competent nurses in the UK and was very proud to share my positive experiences of our NHS and my excellent university education with everyone.”

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 16

New training will help ODP graduates leave Edge Hill job ready

Finnish paramedic partnership is proving valuable for all parties

Edge Hill last year became one of the first universities in the UK to incorporate essential new training within its Operating Department Practice (ODP) degree programme.

A new partnership has been developed with a leading university in Finland, which is seeing staff and students from both institutions take part in exchange programmes.

Responding to national guidelines, the faculty introduced an ‘enhanced scrub’ module, which involves students spending several weeks learning relevant theory, complete simulated training and undertaking research before putting it all into practice. As preregistration students, undergraduates take part in minor and intermediate surgery, predominantly taught and mentored by consultant surgeons and qualified surgical first assistants, as well as surgical care practitioners. Senior theatre practitioners also assist and overview.

Jean Hinton, Programme Lead for Perioperative studies, says: “European Working Time Directives and changes to apprenticeshipstyle medical training mean that junior doctors are less likely to be able perform their traditional role of assisting in operating theatres.

As a result, this has created new opportunities for operating department practitioners (ODPs), which could be met by our future graduates by incorporating the appropriate education and training into the final year of their degree.

“This new training is very practical and entails 100 hours of practice, ensuring students can undertake these professional roles on completion. It raises the status of the ODP and helps support the development and enhancement of the ODP profession, as well as strengthen the ODP role within the perioperative team nationwide.

On top of this, the advantage of this new training is that upon graduation our students will be job ready.”

Funded by the British Council’s Erasmus programme, the new partnership with Saimaa University has seen staff from Edge Hill visit Finland to teach paramedic students and spend time in clinical practice with the Finnish ambulance service, while Saimaa teaching staff have visited the UK to do the same.

January 2014 also saw two student paramedics from Saimaa fly over to the UK to begin a 12-week stint at Edge Hill involving both theory and practice and the chance to accumulate credits that can be transferred back to their own course of study.

“International partnerships such as this bring enormous benefits to all parties,” says Phil Crompton, Head of Paramedic Science and Prehospital Care. “These include enhancement of the student experience, staff development and knowledge transfer via experiencing examples of best practice in teaching, assessment and simulation. They also lead to potential research opportunities and the development of the profession as a whole.

“We are planning another visit to Finland in September 2014 with three of our students and have been invited to a paramedic education provider in Hamburg, Germany in April with a view to scoping an Erasmus agreement with them too. This contact came via our last visit to Saimaa, where the Hamburg paramedics were in attendance and just shows where partnerships like this can lead,” he adds.

PAGE 17 | PULSE

Africa hospice trustee role for Barbara

Barbara Jack, Head of Research and Scholarship, and Director of the Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, has been made trustee of Hospice Africa UK, thanks to her pioneering research to help the terminally ill in Africa.

Professor Jack has had a strong interest in the care of the dying and been involved in research around terminal illness for a long time, which led to her links with the hospice in the first place nearly a decade ago. Her research work in Africa has included developing clinical staff to conduct their own research in order to address the shortage of academic palliative care researchers on the continent.

Speaking of her pride at the appointment, Professor Jack says: “I am delighted to be invited to become a trustee of Hospice Africa and to play an increased role in supporting the work the hospice is doing. Having had first-hand experience of working with the team in Uganda, seeing the challenges they face and what they can achieve will be invaluable to my role as trustee.

“The role is an extension of my long-held professional interests and, through my clinical background as a registered nurse, I have had a lot of contact with terminally ill patients in a hospital setting,” she adds. “Palliative care as a specialism was still in its infancy then, but I could see its value from my own experiences and it sparked an interest in the development of end of life care. Everyone should have the right to die with dignity and without pain, and it is this notion of a ‘good death’ that has influenced the direction of my research in the UK and Africa.”

Ann Vassie, Chair of Hospice Africa UK, added: “We are delighted to have Professor Barbara Jack as a trustee of Hospice Africa UK. Barbara has always been a great source of support to us and we know that she will add great value to our work as we endeavour to spread the practice of good palliative care across sub-Saharan Africa. We welcome her on to our Board of Trustees and are excited at the work we can do together to bring pain relief to all who suffer in Africa.”

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 18

Simulation and Patient Safety week

When you step onto an aircraft to go on holiday, you do so safe in the knowledge that the crew have undergone regular intensive simulation training. Imagine if patients entering our regions’ Hospitals could feel as confident about their stay, as holiday makers do about their flight. Well now, they can.

In September 2013 The Centre for Simulation and Patient Safety NHS North West joined forces with Aintree Hospital NHS Trust and a number of Higher Education Institutions including Clare Whitehead, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing from Edge Hill University, to develop a “Flight Simulator” for Nurses, Doctors, and Pharmacists. The exercise lasted for one week and included shifts to allow staff to develop a whole range of skills. Edge Hill student Nurses were therefore at the forefront of the largest “in situ” healthcare simulation exercise the region has ever seen.

For one week Ward 61 at Aintree Hospital NHS Trust, became a simulated ward staffed by real health care teams representing the whole Multi Disciplinary Team. The only difference was the patients were a mixture of robotic simulators and volunteer ex patients. This allowed us to recreate a variety of clinical emergencies, allowing the participants to practice and rehearse in a safe environment. In addition we were able to recreate normal ward life and carry out activities such as ward rounds, and handover between shifts.

Highlights of the week included, a Medical Emergency Team call every day involving the real team, allowing the students to experience real life medical crisis management. There were also a number of trips to Theatre and Critical care for some of the simulated patients. This allowed the students to practice the process of transfer and handover between departments.

In all, 150 staff took part and the feedback was excellent. It is hoped that these events will become a regular occurrence, which is great news for students and hospital staff and even better news for patients.

PAGE 19 | PULSE

Baby Friendly Initiative University Accreditation from UNICEF

Edge Hill University’s Midwifery Department has successfully achieved Baby Friendly Initiative University Accreditation from UNICEF – the world’s leading organisation for children in over 190 countries.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. Baby Friendly awards are based on a set of linked evidence-based standards for maternity, health visiting, neonatal and children’s centres services and are designed to support breastfeeding and parent infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards of care.

This full accreditation has taken five years to achieve, with each stage of the assessment externally verified by UNICEF UK. Award tables are kept to let the public know how facilities are progressing. Having successfully completed each stage of the programme, Edge Hill is now a fully UNICEF/BFI accredited University.

Edge Hill University trains high quality midwives to uphold the values and standards that have made UK midwives so well regarded across the world. The University’s BSc (Hons) Pre-Registration Midwifery programme is an approved Nursing and Midwifery Council education programme and those who successfully complete the course will meet the professional requirements for midwifery practice and be eligible to join the register as a midwife.

New Director of Nurse Education

Julie brings with her a wealth of experience having worked in a variety of influential positions within both hospitals and universities. From qualifying as a state registered nurse in 1982 at the Royal Liverpool Hospital she went on to set up two primary care treatment centres before becoming Director and Manager for A&E, Cardiac and the Intensive Care Unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in 1998.

Beginning her academic career at the University of Liverpool in 2000, she joins us from the University of Lincoln where she was the Director of Nurse Education. Previously she worked at the University of Chester as Head of Department for the largest academic department in the Faculty; circa 1,400 students. During her time at Chester Julie also completed a PHD in Educational Research at Lancaster University.

Julie is looking forward to working at Edge Hill University where her welcome has been warm and friendly. She states that “settling into working life at Edge Hill has been one of the easiest things I have ever done”. Julie goes on to say that “everyone has said how wonderful the University is to work in and all staff across the entire organisation go out of their way to make you feel extremely comfortable. Nothing is too much trouble and I am excited about working with an amazing team.”

She says “my job is very much a strategic role, which will incorporate liaising with the local health care providers, education commissioners and students themselves. But perhaps the most important part of my job is to raise the profile or nursing education at Edge Hill University locally, nationally and internationally. By maintaining an excellent student experience with high quality, high impact education we will be creating the nurses of the future.”

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 20

Dr Julie Williams on: Why education is the key to providing a competent and caring nursing workforce

The very real demands on healthcare and nursing in the modern day NHS recognises that nursing is undertaken in increasingly varied and complex environments. This includes a growing need for flexibility and for multiprofessional/multi-disciplinary working across traditional professional boundaries. The development of new roles and an awareness of the increasing complexity and application of new technology in the delivery of care are also paramount.

A favourable set of circumstances enhances and enables the provision of inter-professional learning and working experiences for student nurses and student social workers. In the light of recent events and reports regarding the safeguarding of children and adults in the UK, this is seen as a priority.

Additionally, consideration of local service workforce needs and issues, such as forecasting future recruitment and retention, are key aspects that should be intrinsic to educational commissioning discussions as well as to the provision and capacity of practice learning opportunities for all students. Critical to these debates are the development of strong trusting relationships with Directors of Nursing, Workforce Development Managers and Service Users.

In order to prepare students for employment, undergraduate preregistration nursing curricula needs to be designed to offer a graded and integrated approach to career development throughout the three years, with a significant level of engagement with local and wider stakeholder communities. Our task at Edge Hill University is to work very closely with our partner organisations and commissioners throughout the North West, to ensure the education we provide serves the local health community, now and in the future. Given the less than complementary media coverage in recent times it will be important to raise the profile of nurse education across the county, and nationally, in order to reassure everyone that we will be educating nurses to a very high standard so that they can join healthcare workforces of the future.

The pre-registration BSc (Hons.) Nursing award of Edge Hill University is very demanding but has the student experience at its very heart. It is dynamic and exciting, providing students with a wealth of experiences and

key transferable skills suited to the delivery of the complex health care services of the future, any beyond. From its inception, this award has featured a strong clinically orientated student focus at undergraduate degree level that complements and helps meet the emerging needs of the profession within the local health economy.

The programme ensures that it embraces diversity in order to develop professionals who are able to provide the required services to the whole community. It is without dispute that educational provision for nurses, now and in the future, aims to prepare students for employment by developing positive attributes and attitudes to work, enhancing and consolidating practice-based skills, building emotional intelligence and personal confidence and defining individual professional responsibilities and boundaries.

The curriculum includes a focus on the central role of public and community practice in improving health and life chances. Each constituent module within the programmes is vocational in nature and engages the learner in terms of enhancing their practice while equipping them with the capacity to critically reflect upon practice as part of their contribution to service enhancement strategies.

The majority of the practice experiences offered to students reflect a broad base of community, public health and acute care provision. The curriculum combines a strong research element with practice focused modules improving the students’ knowledge and skills in both the ability to undertake research activity and individual understanding of how this informs the delivery of evidence-based practice in health and social care environments.

The creation and maintenance of meaningful partnerships between health, social and education service providers and educational institutions is key to delivering effective education which in turn, is critical to the realisation of a future nursing workforce that is undeniably safe, competent and effective. I believe our future nursing workforce is in very safe hands at Edge Hill University.

PAGE 21 | PULSE

New initiative puts sustainable food at top of local agenda

The Faculty of Health and Social Care has helped to launch a new initiative that aims to give people in the region plenty of food for thought when it comes to choosing local, sustainable produce.

Food Sustainability Lancashire was set up by Foodlink Northwest (Foodlink NW), an organisation that champions local food in Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester. The idea was borne from a passionate desire to enrich lives in Lancashire through local food by linking local food and drink producers, shops, community projects, farmers, restaurants and local food enthusiasts.

Due to the passion shown at Edge Hill about local food – as an example, the university recently obtained the Food for Life Partnership Bronze medal for serving seasonal meals that are at least 75 per cent freshly prepared by a well-trained cook – Foodlink NW collaborated with the faculty to help launch the initiative.

A launch event, the organisation of which involved students on the BSc Nutrition and Health course, was held on campus and saw delegates from public health organisations, food retailers and farmers in attendance, as well as students from various programmes.

“The purpose of the Food Sustainability event was to increase awareness of food sustainability among health professionals in the region,” says Kathleen Mooney, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Health. “A working committee has now been established to take Food Sustainability Lancashire forward, the aim of which is to put food sustainability on the public health agenda.

“Food sustainability is inextricably linked to the field of nutrition, as it is important to determine if a healthy diet can also be environmentally sustainable. This is necessary to ensure that the UK population is provided with dietary advice that will achieve the desired short- and long-term health outcomes. Consumer understanding of sustainable diets is often poor and a more effective combination of research and communication is needed to establish dietary recommendations that can fulfil both of these societal goals.

Students studying nutrition need to know about how food sustainability can impact upon dietary intake and therefore the nutrient intake of the UK population, and so our close involvement with this initiative will ensure that Edge Hill students are well placed to do just that,” she adds.

To find out more about Foodlink NW, visit www.foodlinknw.org

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | PAGE 22

New online diabetes tool should help get to the foot of the problem

New combined online safeguarding module for Mersey Care... and beyond

Approximately three million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes, which costs the NHS over £600 million per year to treat diabetic patients with foot ulcerations and amputations.

The faculty has helped a leading local care trust to develop a new tool that will help health care professionals develop their adult and children safeguarding skills.

As a result, the work undertaken by the Merseyside Diabetes Network to educate health care professionals about diabetes and foot problems has led to a partnership with the faculty’s Enhanced Learning Department and the development of a bespoke online health tool for desktop and mobile devices.

“Within the package, the health practitioner is presented with key evidencebased information for identifying and treating people with diabetes who might be at risk of developing foot problems,” says Brian Smith, Head of Technology Enhanced Learning. “Imagery, audio-visual and narrative components are sequenced to increase the depth of awareness on the importance of diabetes foot care, while videos of foot examinations demonstrate how to detect potential risks. Challenging learning activities are also inserted into the package to provide a place for user reflection and stimulate further reading.”

The package is primarily aimed at health care professionals and the highquality imagery contained within the tool can be used as a practitioner–patient teaching tool, to help illustrate the importance of early self-detection of foot problems. Another advantage is that, thanks to the online nature of the package, practitioners can access it at any time.

A new online Safeguarding Level 2 training package has been created by the Technology Enhanced Learning department in conjunction with Mersey Care NHS Trust, and will be used by staff at the trust to focus on the safeguarding of both adults and children.

Learning Technology Development Officer, Alan Seatwo worked with Mersey Care over five months to ensure all relevant information was captured to develop an interactive, user friendly training package. The online learning materials consist of key information and scenariodriven activities, which incorporate a range of multimedia and an assessment. After completing the online course and passing the assessment the learners then receive an online certificate.

“Learners can quickly and easily gain access to key information and guidance at any time to suit their busy schedules, which they can then utilise within the care setting,” says Tracy Blackett, Faculty Business Operations Officer – TEL and Enterprise.

“We will continue to work with Mersey Care to identify new developments and direct learners and other potential healthcare organisations that may benefit towards this package. There are very few organisations that address safeguarding for children and adults within one package, and so this could prove to be a most useful resource.”

Faculty of Health and Social Care 2014 Events International Day of the Midwife Celebrations Communication: the Key to Success – Autism Conference WellChild Complex Care Conference

2nd May 2014 20th June 2014 9th July 2014

Faculty of Health and Social Care Public Lecture Series 2014/15 An annual series of evening guest lectures which are free of charge to attend and open to all, specifically to those interested in health and social care, education, and social sciences.

Dr Fred Pender: Life is a Minestrone

Dr Maggie Atkinson (Children’s Commissioner): Reflection on the Children and Families Act

Annie Coppell NICE Setting the standards for health, public health and social care Professor John Ashton CBE: Title TBC

Professor Richard Whittington Toxic Hospitals: from institutional abuse to compassionate care, and beyond in Mental Health Services Dr Ravi Jayaram: MMR and Autism: The anatomy of a public health disaster

30th Oct 2014 27th Nov 2014 29th Jan 2015 26th Feb 2015 26th March 2015

30th April 2015

Further details and dates will be published online over the summer at: edgehill.ac.uk/health/events

Open Events University Open Days at the Ormskirk Campus Saturday 11 October 2014, 10am to 3pm Saturday 15 November 2014, 10am to 3pm Saturday 20 June 2014, 10am to 3pm

Attend an open day to find about the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in health and social care that Edge Hill offers. You can tour the impressive Ormskirk campus and the Faculty of Health and Social Care Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre. Staff will also be on hand to advise about the application process, accommodation, understanding fees and finance and planning for your future career. Further details:

Further details: edgehill.ac.uk/undergraduate/events

Paramedic Practice Open Event at the Manchester Campus Friday 10th October 2014

Operating Department Practice Open Afternoons at the Manchester Campus Thursday 20th November 2014, 2pm to 5.30pm

Attend a Paramedic Practice or ODP open event at Armstrong House, our Manchester city centre campus, and you will get the chance to chat to tutors and current students about the course and view the clinical skills centre.

Further details: Further details: edgehill.ac.uk/health/odp