Advanced Health and Social Needs Assessment (MACP4022)

Advanced assessment skills sit at the heart of advanced practice. Practitioners working at an advanced level draw on a wide range of assessment methods, synthesising clinical, psychological, social, and contextual information to support safe, person-centred decision-making. This module prepares you to develop and apply advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills relevant to your role, scope, and professional context.

Part of MSc Advanced Clinical Practice/ Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship

This module is part of the University’s MSc Advanced Clinical Practice/ Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship. You will study alongside other students on these courses. The module is also part of the Professional Development MA/MSc course - a flexible course that you help design to take your career to the next level.

Overview

This module equips experienced clinicians with the skills and confidence to perform advanced clinical assessments in complex scenarios. Through a blend of face-to-face teaching, online learning, and supervised practice, you'll learn to gather, interpret, and justify clinical decisions using evidence-based guidance and structured frameworks.

Teaching includes case-based workshops, specialty-specific scenarios, and preparation for professional discussion. You will complete a mapped competency document and engage in reflective practice to consolidate learning in your own clinical environments.

Assessment includes a graded professional discussion and a pass/fail competency portfolio, supported by formative feedback and supervisor engagement. The module is aligned to the clinical pillar of the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (HEE 2025) and is designed for practitioners working autonomously in roles requiring advanced reasoning, accountability, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Completion of this module also supports progression into the Professional Development MSc, providing evidence of advanced capability and reflective learning.

It is expected that all advertised modules will run, but there may be situations where there are insufficient students to make a particular module viable.

Career benefits

This module supports career progression into advanced practice roles by developing high-level assessment and decision-making capabilities. You'll gain confidence in managing complex presentations, interpreting diagnostic findings, and communicating decisions across teams.

The competency document provides structured evidence of capability, mapped to national standards, and the professional discussion allows students to articulate their reasoning in a format aligned with clinical interviews and portfolio reviews.

Completion of this module contributes to the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice and supports readiness for roles involving extended scope, leadership, or specialist responsibilities. It also feeds into the Professional Development MSc, offering a pathway for continued academic growth and sector-wide impact.

Completion of the module will with your employer support enable you to also study Independent & Supplementary Prescribing.

Module delivery

The module is delivered through six two-day blocks of face-to-face teaching, supported by asynchronous online activities and a minimum of 72 hours of supervised clinical practice.

Teaching methods include lectures, case-based workshops, practical skills development, and peer learning.

Assessment includes a 30-minute professional discussion (graded) and a competency document (pass/fail), with formative OSCE-style activities and supervisor feedback embedded throughout.

The module is led by Rhiannon Eley, Principal Lecturer and sector advocate, alongside a team of advanced practitioners who bring current clinical expertise and interdisciplinary insight to teaching and supervision. Inclusive teaching and assessment methods are embedded throughout, with flexible formats designed to support varied learning preferences and professional contexts.

Module dates

Semester 1	2026 dates
September	30th
October	1st, 7th, 8th, 21st, 22nd
November	18th , 19th
December	2nd, 3rd
January	13th, 14th (2027)
Summative Assessment	18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd January 2027 (allocated a 40-minute slot)

Entry Requirements

BSc 2:2 or above
Relevant role professionally and access to a Clinical Supervisor (A Consultant/Registrar or Qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner) in the workplace
Registration with either the GHPc, HCPC or NMC