Postgraduate Certificate in Stroke Care

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Entry requirements

Evidence of the ability to study at Master's level is required :
This will normally be a first degree (2:2 or above) in a health or social care related professional subject area
OR
The University of Leeds APL and APEL procedures may apply to exceptional applicants who do not meet the above criteria.
AND
Current registration with the relevant regulatory body (NMC, HPC, GSCC or GMC) with a minimum of two years post-qualifying experience (normally in stroke care or a related area) and currently practicing in an appropriate secondary or primary health care setting.
Applicants will be expected to provide evidence of recent study - this will normally be within the last 5 years.

Fees

Normal University of Leeds postgraduate fees apply. However, the programme is free to all NHS employees working in the area covered by the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority as the fees are paid by the strategic Health Authority. You should always discuss any proposed study with your manager as they maintain interest in your educational and professional development.

Modes of study and duration of the course

12 Months Part Time

Why study?

This Post Graduate Certificate in Stroke Care is an exciting new multi-disciplinary programme developed by experienced clinicians, academics and researchers. Leeds is a nationally recognised centre for stroke care and research. The post graduate certificate is designed to enable health and social care professionals to understand, implement and disseminate evidence-based stroke care for patients and their families. The National Stroke Strategy and the NICE Guidance clearly identified the need for specialist stroke services and for targeted education programmes for staff working in stroke care. This programme is aimed at experienced health and social care workers who wish to extend their knowledge and understanding of people who have experienced a stroke. Stroke care and interventions are likely to develop rapidly in the next 5-10 years with Stroke Networks providing focus and direction for improvement of services. We anticipate that on completion of the programme you will have the knowledge and skills to take a lead role in the continued development of evidence based stroke services in this or other regions of the UK.

What you Study

The proposed post graduate certificate will focus specifically on the key clinical, interprofessional, organisational and policy issues related to the stroke care pathway. There is conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of stroke unit care (Stroke Unit Trialist's Collaboration, 1997). This was incorporated into Government policy with the recommendation in the National Service Framework for Older People (Department of Health (DoH), 2001) that all general hospitals should include a stroke unit. Key features of stroke unit care include a multidisciplinary team and a skilled workforce. Following the recommended in-patient stay, stroke patients are discharged home to be supported by community based staff. Early work on the effectiveness of stroke unit care indicated that the results were not sustained when patients were discharged (Murray et al, 2003) and this highlights the need for an appropriately trained workforce throughout the stroke care pathway: in the acute setting; the rehabilitation setting; in primary care and residential and nursing homes. This need has been recognised by the recently published National Stroke Strategy (DoH, 2007), which recommends ""nationally recognised, quality-assured and transferable training and education programmes for stroke linked to professional roles and career pathways"" (see appendix 1). Currently very few Universities have responded to this national call for new education programmes in stroke. Consultation with service users on the programme design and content and direct involvement of service users and carers in the programme delivery will require students to engage in discussion and debate with those who have experienced and use stroke services locally. This in turn is designed to promote critical reflection on students' role in contemporary stroke service provision in secondary or primary care. The programme team hold the view that the programme with its emphasis on partnership working with other professionals and with service users and carers, and learning as part of an interprofessional group, will prepare and equip students to take lead roles in developing and enhancing patient centred and evidence based service provision in stroke care.

Whilst designed to contribute directly to the above recommendation in the National Stroke Strategy (DoH, 2007) this postgraduate certificate programme is focused specifically on the development of underpinning knowledge and understanding of the research evidence base for effective, evidence based practice in stroke care. The programme is not designed to train those working in stroke care in the clinical and professional skills required to provide direct care in stroke units or in primary care. Such skills based training is provided at a local level in stroke units/primary care and more broadly now across NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts where appropriate (an example is in relation to teaching sip testing to nurses and other health professionals working with stroke patients in order to assess swallowing deficits as soon as possible after admission to hospital). The Post Graduate Certificate in Stroke Care is designed to develop and enhance the knowledge and understanding of those working in the field in order that they contribute more effectively and where appropriate, lead the provision of patient centred multidisciplinary stroke care in hospital or in primary care settings. A particular strength of the programme will be the opportunity for learners to actively engage with students who come from a range of different professional backgrounds. The programme team will take a proactive approach to facilitating interprofessional learning and encourage critical engagement with current research and policy that supports more effective team working in health and social care.

The modules making up the programme are focused around four cross cutting themes, which now underpin stroke service provision in the UK. These include critical examination of t he research evidence base and current policy drivers relating to stroke care; supporting and maximising multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary working in stroke care; partnership working with stroke patients, their families and carers; critically reviewing the quality of information provision for stroke patients, their families and carers.

The current demand for reintroduction of a taught programme in stroke care at the University of Leeds is high and is considered to be a priority within the School's postgraduate framework strategic plan. We anticipate that a significant number of practitioners across the Yorkshire region and beyond will wish to undertake a taught programme of stroke education at the University. The programme development team recognise however that whilst many students will choose the post graduate certificate to broaden and deepen their knowledge in stroke care, a number will be encouraged to continue their studies here at Leeds It is anticipated that the post graduate certificate programme would link to or provide access into the proposed Post Graduate Diploma or Masters in Advanced Practice here in the School of Healthcare.

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