Program Overview

Professional Advocate for Healthcare Practitioners

Overview

The healthcare environment is ever-changing, with the requirement of the workforce to navigate diverse challenges. You will explore the AEQUIP model of advocacy, examining the four key areas of education and development, restorative clinical supervision, monitoring, evaluation & control and personal action for quality improvement. The module has been designed to meet the standards for Professional Advocates set by NHS England.

Module Aims

• Advance student’s knowledge and critical awareness of advocacy in the healthcare environment.
• Enable the student to access and apply tools and frameworks such as the AEQUIP model to improve workplace culture and support mechanisms.
• Develop essential communication, leadership and change management skills to benefit change initiatives.
• Support healthcare professionals to promote evidence-based, patient focused and cost-effective care.
• Develop students’ transferable skills such as problem-solving and conflict resolution, for future employability.
• To enable students to support goals outlined in key healthcare strategies, such as the NHS Long Term Plan.

Who is the course aimed at?

This is a 20-credit module that may be of interest to those within healthcare who wish to cultivate their leadership skills to undertake a professional advocacy role.

What you'll learn

The module provides the structured training necessary to understand and navigate complex healthcare systems, address individual and systemic barriers to care and represent the voice of vulnerable populations and ensure their needs are met. Learning will explore the tools and frameworks necessary to do this, such as the AEQUIP model. This encourages a culture of self-care and team cohesion, reducing burn-out through structured support mechanisms, restorative clinical supervision, and psychological safety. You will be able to develop essential leadership skills to lead change initiatives in healthcare settings, influence policies and decisions to enhance patient outcomes and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex healthcare challenges.

Module Dates

• 30/05/25
• 06/06/25
• 13/06/25
• 20/06/25
• 27/06/25
• 04/07/25
• 11/07/25
• 18/07/25
• 25/07/25
• 01/08/25
• 08/08/25
• 15/08/25

Course Team

Jayne Marie

Jayne joined the University of Suffolk in April 2023 as a Lecturer in Midwifery.

Course Details

• Duration: One Semester
• Date: Delivered over 12 taught days (30 May 2025 -15 August 2025).
• Location: Ipswich
• Cost: £1,010