The unit aims to address the needs of managers/leaders in health and social care who are working in a culture of constant change and service development. Strategy is considered in respect of how it might be formulated and implemented locally within Health and Social Care. It will help leaders to consider and evaluate national and local strategy. Being strategic within the organisation and in collaboration/integration with others is a key principle here.

Key areas covered:

• Approaches to strategy - historical background, current practice and emergent thinking
• Developing and evaluating strategy in a public services environment
• Innovation and strategy development
• Strategic thinking
• Public value and measures of return on investment
• Preparing business cases and strategic planning documents
• Strategic tools and techniques
• Strategic collaboration

Normally students may enter Level 7 (Master's level) study if they have been awarded:

• Undergraduate degree (honours or non-honours)
• An equivalent qualification (the learning outcome of which are demonstrably appropriate in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills) equivalent to 120 credits at Level 6.

If you do not meet the criteria you are still able to apply for this unit but we may ask you for evidence to confirm your employer will support you and/or ask you to complete pre-admission work. Please contact the Course Leader for more information. 

Applicants need to undertake either our Self-leadership, Improving Personal and Organisational Performance (IPOP) and Leading for Change units prior to undertaking any of the other level 7 Leadership units.

Fees and funding:

You will need to pay or indicate employer support of payment for unit or course fees to the university.

Applicants should contact their employing organisation for further details.

Pre-purchased places

The Faculty of Health & Social Sciences has contractual arrangements with NHS organisations, Local Authorities and the Pan-Dorset & Wiltshire Teaching Partnership for pre-paid places on specified modules. If you work within Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset or Hampshire and Isle of Wight you may be able to access the pre-paid places. These arrangements allow organisations to nominate the staff they wish to send on each unit or course.

The pre-arranged agreements allow individuals, such as yourself, a route to access appropriate professional development opportunities that are seen as strategically important to your organisation (in consultation with your Line Manager/Education Co-ordinator). All requests for pre-paid places must first be agreed by your organisation prior to completing an application.

Students will be expected to critically evaluate organisational strategy and develop their own plan for a strategic initiative/change. 

The assignment coursework will be submitted on 8th Sept 2025. 

Students will be asked to give a short assessed online presentation on either 9th, 10th & 11th Sept 2025 to present their work. The timeslots will be confirmed on the first taught session. Students will therefore need to be available to present on either of these two dates. 

Having completed this unit, the student is expected to be able to:

1. Critically review strategy formulation and implementation in, and beyond, their organisation.
2. Critically evaluate national and local arrangements for Health and Social Care operation. 
3. Develop their capacity to think strategically and act thoughtfully.
4. Develop skills and knowledge which will allow them to be effective in leading or contributing to organisational strategy.
5. Develop their ability to lead effectively in collaborative contexts

Course review:

In order to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in practice to benefit our students we regularly review all of our courses. This course is currently going through this process and we will update this page to give you full information about what we will be offering once the review process has concluded.  These changes will come into effect for all new students from September 2025. Applicants will be notified by our admissions team of any changes.