Newcastle University

A new graduate healthcare management course has been developed by Newcastle University Business School in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 

The MSc Healthcare Management is the first degree programme of its kind to be commissioned by an individual NHS trust and is specifically designed to give suitably qualified employees working within the Trust an opportunity to develop. 

“The rationale behind the course we have developed in partnership with Newcastle University Business School is to offer our existing staff the opportunity to progress into management,” explained Ann Stringer, director of human resources and operational development at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 

“By doing this we have not only ensured numbers of suitably qualified managers within the Trust will be bolstered but also that our best people will be retained due to the training and career progression on offer.” 

The two and a half year course is structured so that those taking part are able to continue in their existing healthcare roles alongside their studies. It consists of six modules requiring a commitment of six full days per module to be spent at Newcastle University Business School.  

The qualification is designed in two stages, with the first stage involving examinations, assignments and course work and the second involving the completion of a dissertation. Both stages must be completed to be awarded the full MSc qualification.  Juli Campey, executive programmes manager at Newcastle University Business School, said:

“The initial brief from the Trust was to develop a management training programme, which after extensive discussions resulted in a universally recognised educational qualification.”   

The first, 12 strong, cohort began the course in September this year and are scheduled to complete their studies in January 2012. The course is open to people from all backgrounds including dentistry, nursing, laboratory work, human resources, administration, finance and midwifery.  

“As well as Newcastle University Business School offering mentoring and support, we have also trained a number of senior managers within the Trust who will act as individual mentors offering extra support to those taking part,” explained Juli. 

“With such a large amount of time spent away from the business school those taking the course need to know there is help available as and when they need it.” 

“We are absolutely confident that the course will be a success and hope to be able to offer this programme to other trusts or healthcare organisations looking to develop  their employees in this way,” she concluded.