Legal and Ethical Concepts in Healthcare and Social Care PGCert

This post graduate course aims to give you a critical understanding of law and ethics as they apply to professional practice in health and social care. It will help you understand ethical theories, legal principles and precedents that underpin the provision of care, decision making and the concept of professional accountability. Care provision is often confounded by complex legal and ethical issues and as the healthcare professional is duty bound to act within the limits of the law, their professional code of practice and engage in best interest decision making which can be subjective, as different people have divergent views of what is ethically correct. This includes the provision of life extending treatments within limited healthcare budgets and competing resources, genetic testing for life limiting conditions, organ donation, withdrawing and withholding treatments, artificial nutrition and hydration, capacity and decision-making powers and last, but not least, euthanasia. Legal and ethical issues within health and social care are frequently featured in media reports meaning patients, clients, and families are more assured of their rights. Underpinned by the latest developments in healthcare law and ethics this exciting new post graduate certificate will be of interest to all professionals working within the health and social care setting.

If you are interested in learning more about the professional and legal /ethical responsibilities of your role and want to develop knowledge which will support robust decision making then this programme is for you. The programme will allow students to consider legal and ethical issues from their areas of practice and enable them to develop their professional, clinical or leadership roles in modern healthcare services and settings.

Our employability record is excellent and recently have achieved 100% employment rates from our Nursing, Midwifery and Radiography programmes. The programme will enable the individual to develop graduate, lifelong learning skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and the use and of evidence based practice to enhance current professional and academic skills; this in turn will develop transferable skills which will enhance the employability of the registered professional overall.