Unit Outline

Students completing this unit will have acquired knowledge of existing health service models, the internal and external factors that influence the delivery of quality services, and the best-practice models for quality service design.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Identify and discuss a range of pressures necessitating health service quality improvement, including political, economic, social and technological factors.
2	Identify and critically assess relevant evidence to communicate improvement opportunities to health services practitioners and other audiences.
3	Integrate and apply theoretical frameworks to support comprehensive assessments of factors likely to support or hinder service quality improvement in a wide range of health services settings.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Assessment resources amended in response to student feedback.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Online Discussion	Week 6	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Presentation on Quality Safety in Healthcare	Week 8	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Simulated Incident Response	Week 11	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion

Task Description:

This assessment task provides opportunity for you to identify and critically assess relevant evidence in relation to quality improvement opportunities in your health service and communicate this with your peers.

Task Length:

Total of 1200 words

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Discuss pressures necessitating health service quality improvement.	LO1
2	Assess relevant evidence in relation to quality improvement opportunities in your health service using the literature and own experience.	LO2, LO3
3	Critique the view of your peers in relation to their assessment of improvement opportunities and compare it to yours.	LO2, LO3
4	Communicate clearly in an appropriate academic style using current APA style.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Presentation on Quality Safety in Healthcare

Task Description:

This assessment task provides an opportunity to develop analytical skills regarding the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards and cultivate the ability to critically analyse and define healthcare quality and safety problems.

Task Length:

10 minutes

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify performance information and compare this to the desired level of performance in the NSQHC Service Standards.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Discuss quality and safety in the workplace and its relevance to improving the quality of care.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Analyse issues of leadership, potential barriers and strategies to overcome.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Reflect on the implementation of the improvement project, examining how it was managed by drawing on relevant literature to support observations and arguments.	LO1, LO2, LO3
5	Argue a comprehensive range of alternative techniques that could have been used in the project implementation process.	LO2
6	Communicate clearly in an appropriate academic format throughout the report using current APA style. Utilise correct English conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Simulated Incident Response

Task Description:

You will undertake a scenario-based assessment simulating a real-world incident response. Acting as a Quality Manager, you will be presented with a realistic healthcare scenario and asked to deliver a strategic response to a simulated Board. The task requires application of key frameworks such as PESTEL, macro/meso/micro analysis, and gap analysis, alongside consideration of health equity, sustainability, and system pressures. A written proposal will follow, justifying your recommendations with scholarly evidience.

Due by Date; Part A - Week 11
Part B - Week 12

Task Length:

Part A: 15min Simulation Part B: 800 words +/- 10%

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Part A: Discuss relevant political, economic, social, and technological pressures influencing the scenario. Uses tools like PESTEL or macro/meso/micro analysis to frame the urgency and context of the incident.	LO1
2	Part A: Apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to guide the response. Identify enablers and barriers to quality improvement.	LO3
3	Part A: Communicate clearly, confidently, and professionally. Respond appropriately to the scenario within the time limit, demonstrating adaptability, strategic thinking, and stakeholder awareness.	LO2, LO3
4	Part B: Critically select and integrate relevant scholarly evidence to justify the proposed actions. Demonstrate understanding of the literature and its application to the scenario.	LO2
5	Part B: Provide a clear, structured rationale for the response, integrating theoretical frameworks to support the analysis. Shows depth in assessing feasibility and implications.	LO3
6	Part B: Reflect on the decision-making process, including the challenges, assumptions, and learning. Demonstrate insight into how the response aligns with broader organisational goals and quality improvement principles.	LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.