Lecturer in Health and Social Care

About the University

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

At the heart of shaping future professionals and creative thinkers, the College of Health and Humanities brings together three dynamic and diverse schools: School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation, and School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts.

The School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation unites subject areas including Public Health and Social Care, Diagnostics and Clinical Interventions, Sport and Exercise Science, and Therapy and Rehabilitation.

About the Team

The discipline of Diagnostics and Clinical Intervention at the University of Derby plays a vital role in training the healthcare professionals who are often the first to detect, diagnose, and manage illness. Bringing together areas such as Diagnostic Radiography, Operating Department Practice, and other advanced clinical specialisms, we offer students a blend of cutting-edge theory, hands-on clinical training, and interprofessional learning. Our programmes are closely aligned with NHS standards and delivered in collaboration with industry-leading partners.

Our provision is underpinned by a strong commitment to interprofessional education (IPE), with programmes designed to reflect the realities of contemporary healthcare practice. Central to this is our Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship, delivered through a flexible hub-and-spoke model that supports both core clinical development and discipline-specific pathways. The Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship forms a key part of our progression pipeline into Level 6 provision, including radiography, ODP, and occupational therapy, with established links into nursing. We are also actively developing a proposed physiotherapy pathway.

About the Role

As a member of our academic team, you will play a key role in delivering an outstanding student experience through innovative, inclusive and flexible approaches to learning and teaching. You will develop and deliver high-quality learning materials across a range of modules, ensuring that employability, professional development and real-world learning are embedded throughout the curriculum.

You will teach and facilitate learning across undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes, contributing to assessment, feedback and the ongoing development of modules and programmes. You will use innovative teaching methods and learning environments to engage and inspire students, helping them develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to succeed as a Derby Graduate. You may also take responsibility for module or programme leadership, supporting areas such as curriculum development, recruitment and programme delivery.

Research and scholarship will be an important part of the role. You will undertake and collaborate on research that contributes to leading-edge practice, informs research-led teaching and strengthens subject expertise. You will have opportunities to publish your work, present at conferences and scholarly events, develop external partnerships and contribute to bids for externally funded research, supporting the University's contribution to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

You will also make a valuable contribution to the wider student experience through personal tutoring, mentoring and pastoral support. Building strong relationships with professional, research and industry organisations, you will help develop opportunities for student recruitment, placements, outreach and knowledge exchange.

This role is a full-time position of 37 hours a week, however we would welcome applications from candidates who wish to be considered for a job share.

Principal Accountabilities – Learning/Teaching

- Effectively teach and facilitate learning on a range of subjects/modules within the subject area on undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes.
- Ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities.
- Ensure that module/programme design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University.
- Participate effectively in the assessment process, including the setting, marking and moderation of student work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring it is in accordance with quality assurance procedures.
- Participate in the continuing review and development of module/programme delivery, incorporating innovative study modes, learning environments and pedagogic practices.
- Take on relevant module leader and/or programme leader responsibilities, including associated marketing, recruitment, delivery and ongoing programme development activities.

Principal Accountabilities – Research/Scholarship

- Engage in individual research and collaborate both internally and externally on research projects consistent with the College, contributing to influencing leading-edge practice and the REF.
- Sustain and enhance the reputation of the University by publishing in appropriate quality journals and presenting at scholarly activities such as workshops, conferences and other similar events.
- Develop and maintain contacts and relationships with relevant professional, research and industrial organisations.
- Contribute to writing bids for externally funded research projects.

Other Accountabilities

- Act as a personal tutor, supporting and mentoring students as appropriate.
- Provide pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to services that provide further support.
- Support marketing and student recruitment activities as required.
- Develop external links in order to support student recruitment, secure student placements, facilitate outreach work, generate income or build relationships for future activities.
- Be responsible for administrative duties in areas such as admissions, timetabling, examinations and assessment of progress and student attendance.
- Contribute to effective cross College/University working.
- Observe and implement University policies and procedures.

Person Specification – Essential Criteria

Qualifications:
- Good Honours Degree in relevant subject discipline or equivalent
- Fellowship of the Advanced HE (HEA) or willingness to work towards
- PhD (or submitted and awaiting examination) or equivalence accepted in a relevant subject area, for example by publication or through appropriate professional achievement, or willingness to work towards within an agreed timeframe
- Subject specific qualifications
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Experience:
- Experience or knowledge of quality assurance and validation of HE modules/programmes
- Experience or knowledge of higher education and ability to use a range of delivery techniques to inspire and engage students
- Demonstrable experience of own discipline to enable the development of new knowledge and understanding within the field
- Experience of research/enterprise activity
- Evidence of active publishing in high-quality journals or other outputs in research or practice that will contribute to the REF or other areas identified in the College/University Research Strategy

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
- An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which aid student learning
- Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups
- Ability to work flexibly and in different environments
- Proficient in using IT to support own work and for application to technology-enhanced learning/teaching and research activities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including networking and relationship building skills, both across the University and externally
- Able to demonstrate both independent self-management and team working
- Able to work with competing priorities and to tight deadlines
- Demonstrates professionalism in learning/teaching and the values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for HE
- A sound understanding of the current higher education environment and its implications for the student learning experience
- A sound understanding of the employability agenda and its relevance to learners and the curriculum
- A sound understanding of internationalisation and its relevance for learners and the curriculum
- Innovative and creative; committed to continual enhancement and a high-quality student experience
- Committed to continued professional development, particularly in relation to mentoring, coaching or teaching

Business Requirements:
- Able to take a flexible approach to work
- Travel between sites and occasionally overseas for research or teaching
- Some evening and occasional weekend teaching
- Attendance at Open Days, Graduation events etc.

Benefits

- Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Teacher's Pension Scheme
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development