Studying for a Master’s at the University of Northampton leads to public health career for student Lucy

Since finishing her Master’s in Leadership for Health and Social Care at the University of Northampton, Lucy Douglas-Green has embarked on a career in public health.

A consultant in public health at Northamptonshire County Council, Lucy leads on several programmes for the authority, including community infection prevention and control, health improvement and long term conditions management, while also being the link consultant with two clinical commissioning groups.

“I’m passionate about public health and want to raise awareness, and activate people locally, to make healthier choices and live longer, happier lives,” Lucy explained. “Working in public health allows me to be involved in such health improvement work, yet is also so varied that I am able to contribute to clinical pathway design and ensure high quality services are consistently provided locally.”

Lucy qualified as a nurse in 2007, and worked in the community for a number of years. “I primarily cared for patients with long-term conditions and those at the end of their lives. This made me consider a career in public health, specifically preventative medicine.

“During my nursing career I completed a number of Master’s-level clinical modules but didn’t follow a traditional MSc programme.  When I made the transition into public health, I decided to try to convert these standalone modules into an MSc programme – and the University supported me to get my previous study formally recognised into the MSc Leadership for Health and Social Care, resulting in a qualification which had clinical and business leadership modules.  These qualifications were further enhanced by my undertaking the Public Health Speciality Training Programme in 2015, which included the completion of an MPH (MSc Public Health).”

Lucy added: “Studying a Master’s that combines clinical and leadership modules has allowed me to demonstrate my ability to lead in a clinical environment and that I can apply academic theory in practice. This has been particularly important in my healthcare public health role, as I have needed to develop programmes of work that are evidence-based but that can be applied in every day clinical practice.

“The Master’s provided me with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills I needed to take further steps along my career path which, I hope, will lead to my becoming a director of public health in the near future.”

The University of Northampton’s Master’s in Leadership for Health and Social Care is available as a part time programme. The next available start date is September 2017.

Leadership for Health & Social Care MSc

Tomorrow’s professionals are expected to be efficient and innovative practitioners, partners and leaders. Based on the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model’s nine dimensions of leadership behaviours, this programme gives those leaders, and aspiring leaders, the practical skills, knowledge and behaviours to work confidently in developing safe, high-quality clinical care and support services. The programme provides you with critical appraisals of current policy, up-to-date ideas, case studies and innovative practice. Central to the work-based learning approach is the direct application of learning to your practice and the focus of live assessments on live projects and a personal development plan. Selected course modules are facilitated by Alternative Strategies (UK) Ltd. – a partner organisation of the University of Northampton.