Patient Safety is an essential part of health and social care that aims to reduce avoidable errors and prevent unintended harm. Human Factors looks at the things that can affect the way people work safely and effectively, such as the optimisation of systems and processes, the design of equipment and devices used and the surrounding environment and culture, all of which are key to providing safer, high quality care.

This course focuses specifically on Human Factors within the Health and Social Care sectors with the aim of helping health and social care professionals to improve performance in this area.

The PgCert provides you with the skills to apply Human Factors to reduce the risk of incidents occurring, as well as to respond appropriately to health, safety or wellbeing incidents. Through the study of Human Factors, you will be able to demonstrate benefit to everyone involved, including patients, service users, staff, contractors, carers, families and friends.

The PgDip extends your insights and capabilities, providing you with a deeper understanding of the philosophy, theories, science and application of Human Factors within Health and Social Care sectors. This will be achieved by addressing Human Factors principles for both management and physical elements of the systems that you work within. The PgDip will also provide you with an in-depth critical understanding of research methodology and methods for use within Health and Social Care settings. Together, these elements will help you to develop the necessary skills to undertake your MSc dissertation project or evaluation of a project-based change.

Upon completion of the MSc, you will have achieved a comprehensive understanding of the subject area and be able to undertake a critical evaluation of Human Factors in your workplace and elsewhere. You will have developed your reflexive ability to undertake Human Factors research and to deliver achievable Human Factors solutions.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Human Factors for Patient Safety.

Assessment

There are a variety of assessment methods used throughout all the awards and all modules. This enables you to evaluate your Continuing Professional Development as well as for assessment of your attainment for the PgCert and PgDip. All the assessment methods used are commensurate with University regulations for Masters level work and are designed to verify that learning outcomes have been achieved.

Careers

Successful completion will provide part of your evidence to show your suitability to lead or contribute to human factors developments within your health or social care organisation and to move into roles such as:

• Incident Investigator
• Human Factors Specialist
• Healthcare Manager
• Clinical Information Officer
• Director within an NHS Trust
• Patient Safety and Quality Leader
• Leader of transformational change programmes
• Leader of clinical improvement programmes