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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Leadership & Innovation for Health & Social Inclusion
Module Code HEA1039 (ITS: NS5117)
Faculty Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health School Science & Health
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Description

As Ireland’s population becomes increasingly diverse, equity-based challenges for the Irish health and social care systems intensify. The development of leaders who have the necessary knowledge, mindset, and skills to effectively identify and address health inequities is essential. The aim of this module is to facilitate advanced insight into relevant leadership styles and models of change management which can be utilised to promote equity-centred workforces, cultures, and practices within our contemporary health and social care environments. By focusing on integrated competencies across four domains (personal, interpersonal, organizational, and community and systems), students will be equipped with the mindset and skillset to thoughtfully challenge the paradigms that lead to inequity and health disparities, to approach their work in more equitable ways, and to capitalize on strategies that have long been embraced for their effectiveness in leadership and change management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse the strategic and socio-political contexts of health and social care organizations within a socio-ecological framework.
2. Critically evaluate relevant leadership styles and models of change management which can be utilised to promote equity-centred workforces, cultures, and practices within our contemporary health and social care environments
3. Demonstrate an understanding of equity-centred leadership competencies across four domains (personal, interpersonal, organizational, and community and systems).
4. Undertake a needs assessment in relation to their own/a community organisation and strategically plan a creative response to facilitate change.
5. Develop a personalised leadership approach through which to support the workforce to achieve personal and organisational goals, and enact effective change management initiatives.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture18On-campus lectures & group work
Assessment Feedback18Online synchronous lecture/discussions/group work
Independent Study214Module coordinator facilitated/guided learning activities, including readings and group and individual challenge-based learning activities
Total Workload: 250
Section Breakdown
CRN20845Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorRebecca MurphyModule Teacher
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
PresentationGroup presentation based on face-to-face workshop activities30%Week 9
AssignmentProblem based essay assignment focused on planning a change initiative in response to an example patient journey case study (2000 words)70%Sem 2 End
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative content
- Strategic, social and political contexts of health and social care organisations. - Health and social policies that influence (both enhance and restrain) the structure and activity of the organisation. - Leadership theory in the context of contemporary health and social care organisations. - Models and styles of leadership and the impact on organisational culture, values, performance, creativity and innovation. - Collaboration for solution focused leadership. - Project /programme management skills (including needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation). - Theory and practice of innovation and entrepreneurship for service development in health and social care. - Using real world examples, examine individual and organisational capacity to act as a catalyst or stimulus for innovation. - Risk management in projects. - Change management in organisations. - Validation strategies for innovation and change in health and social inclusion. - Practice development concepts and theories. - Effective teamwork. - Inclusion, agency, empathy and self-management in the workplace.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Turner, P.: 2019, Leadership in Healthcare: Delivering Organisational Transformation and Operational Excellence, Palgrave Macmillan,
  • Jan Dewing,Brendan McCormack,Angie Titchen: 0, Practice Development Workbook for Nursing, Health and Social Care Teams, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 9781119180395
  • Manley, K, McCormack B and Wilson V.J.: 2008, International Practice Development in Nursing and Healthcare, Blackwell Publishing,
  • McCormack, B, Manley K, and Titchen A.: 2013, Practice Development in Nursing and Healthcare, 2, Wiley-Blackwell, 978-0-470-673
  • Melnyk, B and Raderstorf T.: 2019, Evidence-based Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Nursing and Healthcare, Springer Publishing, 9780826196187
  • Porter-O’Grady, T., & Malloch, K.: 2010, Innovation Leadership: Creating the Landscape of Healthcare, Jones & Bartlett Learning,


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

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