2006
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Programme Specification
Postgraduate Programmes in Back Care Management
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be
expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning
opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in
Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be
checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution;
Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if
different);
Not Applicable
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body;
Not Applicable
Name of the final award;
Programme title;
MSc in Back Care Management;
Postgraduate Diploma in Back Care Management;
Postgraduate Certificate in Back Care Management
Back Care Management
UCAS code;
Not Applicable
Date at which the programme
specification was written or
revised.
June 2006
1. Aims of the programme:
The programme is intended for Back Care Advisors/Manual Handling Co-ordinators within
organisations and for independent consultants, who have responsibilities for assessing the
risks involved in load movement and advising on the means of eliminating or reducing
them.
The programme aims to:


Provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the multi-disciplinary role of
effectively managing the problems and risks associated with load movement and
manual handling
Establish qualifications which will give national recognition to the holders’ abilities.
The programme, which is part-time, is delivered by means of short courses.
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2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference
points used to inform programme outcomes:
The programme is based on:
 The Curriculum Framework for Back Care Advisors, jointly produced by the
National Back Exchange, Ergonomics Society, Royal College of Nursing,
College of Occupational Therapists and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
 The Manual Handling Training Guidance and Competencies for Manual
Handling produced by the Royal College of Nursing.
3. Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:






The principles of risk management and health & safety management
The law relating to manual handling
The major functions of Occupational Health
The principles of Ergonomics
The principles of training and exercise
Research techniques in back care management (M.Sc. only)
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:



Presentations by university staff and visiting lecturers
Syndicate exercises requiring the analysis of case study material and the
presentation and discussion of results.
Directed reading, post-module.
Assessment of knowledge and understanding is by:


A workplace – based assignment for each taught module, requiring the
investigation of a manual handling situation within the student’s workplace,
together with further study of the subjects via literature search and the use of
databases. The subject of the assignment is chosen by the student, with
guidance from the academic staff and must involve the application and
extension of the knowledge and understanding pertaining to that particular
module.
A research project, requiring the collection of original data, its analysis,
interpretation and presentation (M.Sc. only).
Skills and other attributes:
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
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Analyse and apply the law to a range of manual handling situations.
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


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Identify the major issues relating to the management of back care.
Analyse human movement via the application of anatomical and
biomechanical principles
Assess handling-related needs
Analyse and evaluate models of the management of people and
organisational and behavioural change.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:




Presentations and demonstrations by university staff and visiting lecturers.
Case studies, presentations and discussion.
Practical exercises and feedback
Directed reading, post-module.
Assessment of subject-specific cognitive skills is by:
 A workplace – based assignment for each taught module
 A research project (MSc.only).
b. Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: Analyse accident data in order to identify trends.
 Apply ergonomics principles to both the evaluation of existing situations and
new workstation designs.
 Recommend appropriate handling techniques.
 Assess the appropriateness of manual handling equipment for a particular
situation.
 Produce comprehensive supporting documentation, including manual
handling risk assessments.
 Evaluate functional disability and design safe work activities for people with
special physical and psychological needs.
 Apply methods of fitness assessment and develop programmes of health
promotion.
 Apply the principles of organisational and behavioural change in the
workplace.
 Apply a systematic approach to the development and evaluation of training.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:




Demonstrations by university staff and visiting lecturers.
Case studies, presentations and discussion.
Practical exercises, individually, in pairs and in groups, with feedback and
discussions.
Simulations of workplace situations, with appropriate equipment, with
feedback and discussions.
Assessment of subject-specific practical skills is by:
 A workplace – based assignment for each taught module
 A research project (M.Sc. only).
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c. Key/transferable skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
 Apply the skills of problem identification, specification and analysis.
 Facilitate change in the workplace.
 Make oral presentations.
 Make written presentations.
 Acquire, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
 Select investigative/research methods appropriate to a particular situation
and apply them, to produce evidence-based practice.
 Plan and manage a research project (M.Sc. only).
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:






Case studies and presentations.
Practical exercises, with feedback and discussion.
Simulations of workplace situations, with feedback and discussion.
Specific input from university staff on how to plan, structure and write
assignments and projects.
The process itself of carrying out and writing up assignments and projects,
supported by written feedback from university staff.
Specific input from university staff on research methods and the planning
and management of a research project, supported by regular, individual
guidance from the student’s supervisor throughout the course of the project
(M.Sc. only).
Assessment of key/transferable skills is by:
 A workplace – based assignment for each taught module
 A research project and report (M.Sc. only).
4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:
The awards available are the Loughborough Postgraduate Certificate (Postgraduate
Certificate) (60 credits), Loughborough Postgraduate Diploma (Postgraduate diploma)
(120 credits) and M.Sc. (180 credits). These are available only by part-time study.
Table 1
BSP630
BSP631
BSP632
BSP633
BSP634
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The Scientific and Organisational Bases of Back Care
Management
Or BSP640
Essential Applied Ergonomics
Or BSP641
Safe Manual Handling
Or BSP642
Advanced Applied Ergonomics
Or BSP643
Behavioural Change
Or BSP644
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Modular Weight
20
20
20
20
20
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Table 2
BSP635
BSP636
BSP637
BSP638
The Role of the Back Care Advisor in the PeriOperative Environment
Or BSP645
The Role of the Back Care Advisor in Paediatrics
Or BSP646
The Management of Handling Issues in Bariatrics
Or BSP647
Risk Management of Musco-skeletal Issues in
Transportation
Or BSP648
10
Masters Project
Or BSP649
60
10
10
10
Table 3
BSP639†
† by
partial distance learning (>50%)
Candidates for the Postgraduate Certificate must study the first three modules - The
Scientific and Organisational Bases of Back Care Management; Essential Applied
Ergonomics; Safe Manual Handling. This gives a total credit weighting of 60.
Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma must study modules listed in Table 1 plus any
two of the four optional modules listed in Table 2. This gives a total credit weighting of
120.
Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma, who have already been awarded the
Postgraduate Certificate, must study the Advanced Applied Ergonomics module and the
Behavioural Change module plus two of the optional modules listed in Table 2. This gives
a total credit weighting of 120.
Candidates for the M.Sc. must study the modules required for the Postgraduate Diploma
plus the Masters Project listed in Table 3. This gives a total credit weighting of 180.
5.
Criteria for admission to the programme:
As the programme is conducted at postgraduate level, candidates should:



Hold a degree from a HE institute of the UK; or
Have achieved the academic requirements for corporate membership of a British
chartered professional institution; or
Hold any other relevant qualification and experience approved by the university.
Prospective students whose first language is not English must possess GCSE (or O
level) English Language, or University Test in English (JMB) or Proficiency in
English (Cambridge) or a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOELF) score of
213 (or 550 under the old scheme) or an IELTS score of 6.5, or other qualifications
acceptable to the University.
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It will be a marked advantage if students have some years of relevant work
experience in one or more aspects of load movement and manual handling.
6.
Information about assessment regulations
Full information about the assessment regulations is contained in the programme
regulations for each programme.
The current regulations for all the Business School programmes can be accessed
via the University web site which lists all at:
https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/admin/registry/uniwide/2005-06%20Prog%20Regs/
The current regulations for each of the Business School programmes can also be
directly accessed from section 6 of our comprehensive statement to supplement
this programme specification which is available on our web site at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/bs/ug/progspec-6to9-05.html
7.
Indicators of quality:
The programme attracts as students some of the foremost practitioners in the back
care management field in the U.K., while others are involved in the programme as
visiting lecturers.
8.
Particular support for learning
Information about the support offered by the Business School for this programme
and the general support offered by the University for all programmes can be found
in section 8 of our comprehensive statement to supplement this programme
specification which is available on our web site at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/bs/ug/progspec-6to9-05.html
9.
Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning
The official University statement about improving quality for all programmes can be
found in section 9 of our comprehensive statement to supplement this programme
specification which is available on our web site at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/bs/ug/progspec-6to9-05.html
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