A Buckinghamshire New University Postgraduate Certificate
in Health Communication, Engagement and Consultation.
The Consultation Institute is working with Buckinghamshire New University, to develop a new postgraduate qualification in health communication and consultation.
The proposed course will cover the full range of skills, knowledge and behaviours required to be proficient and effective in the fields of health engagement, involvement, communication and consultation. It will reflect and address current challenges across the health and care sector including those faced by NHS Trusts and those faced by the new Integrated Care Systems. It will be open to all those who aspire to become better professionals in these important fields.
In December 2023, we received formal University accreditation for the course, with the University Academic Approval Panel saying they felt the course was “unique sector leading programme”.
This important initiative is also supported by NHS Providers, NHS Confederation and the Shelford Group, a collaboration involving the ten largest teaching and research NHS Trusts in England.
“This course is a major update to the health communication course I was pleased to help launch almost ten years ago. With the support of the Consultation Institute the course has now been extended to include in depth teaching on the specialist communication fields of consultation, engagement and involvement which is now central to NHS communications practice. The course is directly relevant to the career development of professional health communicators and includes a new and additional focus on leadership competencies. It is precisely what is required by the NHS of its senior communication and engagement professionals.”
Rob Checketts (Chief Officer for Policy, NHS Birmingham and Solihull)
The course will cover:
Consultation, Engagement and Involvement
o Making consultation and involvement meaningful
o Preparing for and conducting a public consultation
o Better data analysis for public consultations
o Consultation law, policy, regulation and guidance
o Equalities essentials
o Understanding community engagement
o Managing significant change in health & social care
o Options development in service change
o Better focus groups
o Better surveys and questionnaires
o Co-Production
Health Communication
o Developing communication strategies
o Staff and stakeholder communication
o Interpersonal communication
o Culture change
o Marketing
o Media skills and crisis management
o Reputation management
o Digital communication
o Influence at board level
o Public affairs
View our FAQs
Who is this course for?
Our aim is to develop a qualification that becomes recognised as the gold-standard qualification for all health and care professionals in the fields of communication, engagement and public consultation. Typically course participants will be NHS employees or employees of NHS partner organisations such as local authorities.
What qualifications do I need to apply?
There are no formal course requirements, but typically previous course participants have had an undergraduate degree or two-three years’ experience working in health communication or engagement or a related field.
How long does the course last and how much time will I need to devote to it?
The course is a part time course. It is can easily be completed while continuing with a full time job. The first cohort is scheduled to begin in early 2024 and teaching is spread over the calendar year. The course involves twelve days residential teaching – spread over the year in three-day blocks – plus a further ten to fifteen lectures that are delivered online. Typically, public sector employees are given “study time” off by their employer in order to complete the residential teaching. This avoids the need for course participants to use their holiday allowance to complete the course.
What are the time commitments beyond the residential teaching days?
Apart from the 12 days of residential teaching the course does not involve a significant amount of your time. You will need to complete three short essays and a personal project over the course of the year but this can be done at your own pace and previous course participants have not found this to be difficult or onerous. We try to deliver the course in a highly flexible manner so that people can largely follow it at their own pace.
What is the personal project about?
The personal project is something course participants may work on over the course of the year. Projects vary depending on the interests of the participant and the type of health or care organisation they work for. We encourage people to make their project as practical as possible and – if possible – to be of real use and relevance to their organisation.
How much does the course cost and how is my place funded?
The course costs £12,000 per person. This includes all University fees, all teaching costs AND the residential teaching “hotel” fees. Course fees are normally paid by the course participant’s employer. It is possible, however, for participants to be self-funding. If you need further help or information on this please contact John Underwood on 07730 955689.
What level is this postgraduate course?
This is a fully accredited University postgraduate course at the Postgraduate Certificate level. It is a Level 7 University course. Course participants receive a University graduation certificate and can use the appropriate letters after their name. They can also use the completion of this course to shorten other postgraduate courses such as a Master’s degree.
Is there mentoring between modules?
Yes. Course participants receive comprehensive and flexible support throughout the year of the course and this support can be tailored to their particular needs, working arrangements and family arrangements.
An expression of interest
You can express a “no obligation” interest in being on the
inaugural course by registering your details below.
