Advanced Certificate in Health Service Governance

Summary

The challenges faced by the NHS are unique and the provision of high quality services requires robust governance systems and practices. This qualification is designed to equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to ensure effective governance service delivery in your NHS organisation.

This Level 6 qualification is the only one of its kind and covers the specific governance needs of the NHS in England and Wales. It is ideal for those who work in a management or administrative role in the NHS with governance responsibilities, such as board or trust secretaries in Clinical Commissioning Groups, Commissioning Support Units, Trusts or Foundation Trusts, directors of corporate governance or affairs, governance officers, those in non-executive or lay roles or General Practice managers.

Entry

This qualification is designed for those working in a management or administrative role in the NHS, usually in CCGs, NHS Trusts or Foundation Trusts, with responsibility for health service governance/administration, or for those wanting to work in the health service sector in a governance capacity, for example:

• Board or trust secretaries in Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Commissioning Support Units (CSUs), NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts
• Directors of corporate governance, corporate affairs, legal, or compliance in CSUs, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts
• Governance officers or managers in CCGs, CSUs, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts
• Non-executive directors in NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts
• Lay members and accountable officers in CCGs
• Practice managers in GP practices

The Advanced Certificate in Health Service Governance is an open-entry qualification, although we recommend that students are working in a relevant role and have some work experience in the area.

If you would like advice on how well your prior work experience or qualifications prepare you to undertake this course, please contact Student Support or call +44 (0)20 7580 4741.

Content

The course includes a programme which starts in September and is supported by live webinars until the following May.

Webinars are delivered at least once per month and are run using the Adobe Connect platform (you will need an internet connection to attend). You will be able to hear the presenters and you can communicate with the speakers and other attendees via the chat function. You will get a copy of the slides, accompanying material and recording after each webinar session.

Two practice tasks are set during the course which are intended to support revision around certain topics and will help you to prepare for the exam. These do not count towards the final assessment but will provide feedback on your progress.

Assessment of the course is via one exam (3 hours with an extra 15 minutes reading time), taken in June each year. The exam paper contains 100 marks and the pass mark is 50%.  

The course will cover:

• Introduction to the course and study skills
• The governance landscape and theoretical frameworks
• Governance Structures and individual duties
• Roles and responsibilities
• Exam Strategy
• Foundation Trusts
• Clinical Commissioning Groups and new models of care
• Risk Management, Assurance and Audit
• Exam overview and skills

Study

Assessment of the course is via one exam (3 hours with 15 minutes reading time), and can be taken in June each year.

The recommended study time for the Health Service Governance course is 200 hours which includes the webinars, practice tasks and exam time. The course is based around a self-study model and you will be expected to study approximately eight hours per week to prepare for the exam. Most students commencing study on this course are in full time employment within the NHS and therefore we recommend that you carefully consider which exam session you are able to prepare for. 

An electronic copy of the study text is given to you when your qualification registration is approved, however, you can purchase a hard copy from the our bookshop.   

As a student of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, you also have access to our online student website, MyCG, where you will find the syllabus, past papers, suggested answers and study support material. 

Fees

The fee for this qualification is  £1,141.

This includes:

• Registration and certificate
• One exam entry
• Electronic copies of the syllabus, sample assessment materials and study text on the MyCG area of our website
• Access to study support webinars
• Student membership and benefits for the duration of your course.

Register

Are you ready to start the Advanced Certificate in Health Service Governance? Click the button below to begin your registration.