Co-producing and co-designing health & social care interventions - Level 7 - 7KMES001

Participatory methods, such as co-production and co-design, are increasingly utilised in health and social care to (re-)design better and fairer services. They provide a range of processes and tools through which healthcare staff, patients, service users, carers, and citizens can work together in new and creative ways to ensure a diverse range of expertise and experience can be used to improve services.

Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and self-directed study, the module will provide students with expertise and mentoring in selecting and applying participatory methods, tools, and processes that have been tested in the health and social care contexts. The knowledge students gain will support them to confidently and competently work with participatory methods to facilitate multi-stakeholder groups (including patients and healthcare professionals) to work together effectively and fairly to develop interventions that meet the needs and preferences of both those who rely on and those who deliver these interventions.

The module will draw on our extensive experience of studying and practising co-production and co-design in the health and social care contexts. This will be illustrated by several recent and ongoing case studies led by our staff.

Students will develop an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of participatory methods used in healthcare. They will learn about the origins of and rationales for participatory methods and how to match the most appropriate method to any healthcare context. They will also learn how to co-produce and/or co-design health and social care interventions with staff, patients, and citizens in ways which lead to better staff and service user experiences, more effective and safer services, and inclusive and equitable processes and outcomes.

This credit-bearing module provides you with an opportunity to undertake postgraduate assessment to achieve 15 credits at HE Level 7. We also offer an ‘attendance only’ version the module, which will allow you to join lectures and seminars. However, you will not be required to undertake module assessment. If you attend 100% of the lectures, you will receive a certificate confirming your attendance.

Those interested in co-production and co-design who wish to study at postgraduate level, and those planning a career in research or policy who want to learn how to develop successful healthcare interventions. This course will prepare you for designing and conducting projects with appropriate participatory methods and structuring/writing a funding application for participatory projects (for example, for NIHR calls).

1,500-2,000 project proposal (coursework)

A project proposal with two components (1) problem statement – drawing on relevant literature, outlining a health and social care issue that requires intervention/further research (2) development of an appropriate project design to address this problem statement – selection of a participatory method that is fit for purpose (this may include modifying a chosen method).

15/01/2025, 22/01, 29/01, 05/02, 12/02, 19/02, 26/02, 05/03, 12/03