School of Community Health and Social Studies

School of Health Care Practice

Job Description

Job Title:Associate Dean

Grade:Senior Management Grade

Responsible to:The Dean of School

Responsible for:The academic staff of the department

Liaison with:Deputy Dean

Other Department Heads/Associate Deans

Director of Health Business Development

Professor of Public Health

Directors of Studies

Director of Research

Research & Development Leads

Teaching and Learning Advisors

Field Leaders/Set Co-ordinators

Administrative managers / support staff

Other central and support units

Professional Bodies

External bodies/organisations

Purpose of Job

 To lead the development and provision of learning and teaching, research and other activities within the Department in accordance with the University’s strategic objectives and the agreed strategic plan for the School.

 Work in partnership with the Dean / Deputy Dean & other Associate Deans to ensure that the Department is able to anticipate the future & build resource plans

 To take a lead on Public Health issues within the School and promote business development within this Field.

 To oversee the development of staff managed by the Department and to contribute personally to the teaching, research and other scholarly activity undertaken within the School/ Department.

 To work co-operatively and collaboratively with the Dean and other senior academics to promote effective quality management and enhancement of all School processes.

 Work closely with the Director of Research & Professor of Public Health to establish research capability and capacity within the Department

Main Duties

1. To represent the Department within the School and in the wider academic and professional community, so as to secure recognition of the School/University and the excellence of its work.

1. To allocate to the Department’s academic staff, timetables to ensure that the Department ’s teaching, research, scholarly and other academic activities are properly supported and that it’s short courses and consultancy activities are developed.

1. To ensure that the Department’s academic staff are appraised annually in accordance with the approved scheme.

1. To take a proactive role in ensuring that appropriate developmental activities are agreed for, and with Department al staff, taking into account the outcomes of appraisal; and to monitor the effective delivery of these activities.

1. To contribute to the development of the School’s strategic plan and to ensure that resources are effectively deployed to achieve agreed objectives.

1. To represent and actively promote the School externally seeking to increase opportunities for consultancy, research and/or income generating activities.

1. To have overall responsibility for the development of the Department’s research profile and to ensure that appropriate support is provided for the development of research and scholarly activities undertaken by staff within the Department.

1. To ensure that the resources of the Department are deployed effectively in support of agreed objectives within School / University Strategic plan.

1. To assume overall responsibility for health and safety matters within the Department, in particular the establishment of safe working practices.

1. To be responsible for promoting equality opportunity for the Department ’s staff in accordance with University Policy.

1. To ensure effective internal communications and dissemination of information, according to School policy, occurs to all staff in the Department.

1. To contribute to the teaching and research undertaken by the Department.

1. Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required, commensurate with your grade.

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is normal University practice to review periodically job descriptions to ensure that they are relevant to the job currently being performed, and to incorporate any changes which have occurred or are being proposed. The review process is carried out jointly by manager and employee and you are therefore expected to participate fully in such discussions. In all cases, it is the University’s aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes, but where it is not possible to reach agreement the University reserves the right to make reasonable changes to your job description which are commensurate with your grade after consultation with you.

October 2003

School of Health Care Practice

Person Specification

Associate Dean (Public & Family Health)

Education/Qualification

Skills/Abilities

Experience

Additional

SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE PRACTICE

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC & FAMILY HEALTH

No Company is worth anything without its people – value them.

Introduction

The School of Health Care Practice was established in 1997 and has recently undergone a re-structure. This was in response to internal factors including improved resource management and academic processes, and external factors driven by the demands of existing stakeholders as part of the new NHS, as well as evolving business partnerships and research interests.

Two new Departments have been established with effect from 1st September 2002. All staff will be located for management & organisational purposes within either the department of Clinical Health Interventions or Public & Family Health. However, staff are required to manage their own academic & professional work commitments across departments to foster an inter-professional & inter-dependant culture.

The School has an established track record of success, that is largely attributed to the combined efforts of a strong team of lecturers and administrators who work together to achieve excellence in all aspects of our provision. Each member of the School has a defined area of responsibility, and collectively we achieve the high standards that have become the hallmark of Health Care Practice Education & Training in Essex. The School is comprised of a team of enthusiastic, innovative and highly motivated individuals who are each committed to the provision of quality Health & Social Care education, actively researching, and disseminating best practice.

Lecturers with the School of Health Care Practice in APU are uniquely creative and keen to offer practice-based programmes of study where education is not confined to the lecture theatre or classroom. An exciting adult centred, Inquiry based learning approach that acknowledges each individual’s unique skills, and building upon these towards achieving excellence in practice facilitates learning in practice. The School has developed a reputation for achieving excellence in Learning & Teaching through Inquiry Based Learning, Flexible Learning, Interactive Practice Assessment, and innovative curriculum design and development.

The concept of lifelong, work-based learning is firmly embedded within the philosophy of the School and is evidenced by the core activities underpinning each Lecturers role. This is achieved in partnership with service colleagues within NHS Trusts & Work Force Development Confederation.

Department profile

The Department of Public & Family Health represents both the academic and resource management for forty academics supported by a team of admin staff, on behalf of the Dean of School of Health Care Practice. Each member of staff services the needs of the School and resources the academic functions of the University Module System

The Department team includes staff with expertise in public & family health, women’s health, complementary therapies, midwifery, sexual & reproductive health, social sciences, men’s health, health promotion, gynaecological nursing, neonatal health, parenting and loss & bereavement, palliative cancer care, nutrition, hypertension, counselling, research, management, education and ethics. .

All staff development activities are planned to ensure that staff maintain their subject and professional expertise, whilst also developing new skills in response to the expanding portfolio within the School. Each member of the team contributes a unique blend of qualities and expertise resulting in a highly skilled, creative and dynamic team. A central element of the team’s philosophy is that each person is recognised for the significant contribution made to the collective achievements of the whole team. Underpinning this is staff development to enable staff to become stars in one area, whilst also contributing to the success of the shared provision across the School. .

To complement the expertise within the Department team, and in recognition of the expanding portfolio of provision, particularly within Public & Family Health, the Department has established Practice Educator and Associate tutor posts. These include experienced healthcare practitioners that promote strong collaborative partnerships between education and service providers. The Department equally recognises the importance of user involvement at all levels of service delivery and has established a number of forums that foster stronger links with the communities we serve.

Core Business

The Department provides an extensive portfolio of provision of education and training, including a range of professionally and academically accredited programmes. These are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of multi-disciplinary groups. Primarily, the Department is responsible for servicing the NHS education & training contract for a range of pre & post registration programmes at undergraduate & post-graduate level in family & public health including complementary therapies, men’s / women’s health, parenting, neonatal health, midwifery, sexual health, reproductive health, loss & bereavement, nutrition, hypertension & coronary care, education, social sciences, management & ethics.

The Department has extensive experience of working collaboratively with a range of organisations, including nhs Hospital & Community Trusts, Nursing Development Units, Health Promotion Authorities and health care providers within both the private & voluntary sectors. A key function of the provision is to make a significant contribution to the personal and professional development of individuals, whilst reflecting national / social trends within health & social care provision in order to make a significant contribution to health improvement.

Department’s Mission Statement

‘To create collaborative partnerships and sustain a supportive environment to the mutual benefit of our customers and our staff.’

Core Values

The Department’s core values represent those expressed by the team during the Away Days and embrace the School’s Strategic Plan.

i.Our Students

► To provide a considerate, efficient, effective and enriching experience for all our students.

► To provide a stimulating and challenging environment, which promotes the development of a critical, reflective thinker, equipped for purpose, practice and academic award.

► To facilitate each individual to realise their full potential through empowerment, liberation and lifelong learning

ii. Our Customers

► To promote a customer focused approach, underpinned by visible quality standards and service level agreements, which are consistently achieved.

► To provide an exceptional service and positive experience of any contact with the organisation

1. Ourselves

► Each member of staff is recognised and valued for their individual talents and personal worth.

► We are a unique team that strives to provide an innovative service and achieve excellence in learning & teaching.

► Collectively, we each share responsibility for the progress made in achieving our goals and maintaining a strong team spirit.

Core Purpose & Aims

Our aim is to provide quality programmes of education, which prepare individuals who work primarily in the fields of Public & Family Health, for fitness for practice, purpose and academic award. This will facilitate personal and professional development and make a significant contribution to the health and well being of individuals within the community at a local, national and international level.

Aims:

 Ensure each member of staff is able to work in an environment conducive to achieving maximum efficiency, effectiveness and excellence in relation to all work related to the School’s / Department’s Business.

 Foster collaborative, supportive working relationships with our students and our customers based upon mutual trust and respect.

 Provide a stimulating, challenging and empowering environment to promote creative thinking, lifelong learning and a reflective approach.

 Achieve distinction in Teaching and excellence in Learning through staff development, research, self and peer review, evaluation and critical reflection.

 To widen access and extend the range of provision, promoting a multi-disciplinary approach to inter-professional learning.

 To become a centre of excellence within Public & Family Health through research & development, dissemination and commitment at all levels.

 Develop and maintain an environment supportive of individual team members, facilitating the realisation of each person’s potential and contribution to the organisation.

People must come first in any organisation – they are our most important assets