Appendix 1 – Confirmation of Receipt of Handbook

FACULTY OF BIOLOGY, MEDICINE AND HEALTH

CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF PROGRAMME HANDBOOK

All students are required to send us the following declaration.

Name: (in block capitals)

Student ID/Registration Number:

Programme:

Date:

DECLARATION: I have received, read and understood a copy of the programme handbook, containing information on the content, delivery, assessment and management of the course. I have read and understood the University of Manchester’s regulations for postgraduate taught courses. I agree that any assessed coursework submitted throughout the academic year will include no plagiarism as defined by the University. I have also noted the pass marks for assessments and the dissertation as relevant to my chosen programme of study. Signature:

 

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO THE EDUCATION TEAM BY 30 OCTOBER 2016

Postal address: Jo Chesters, Education Team, COEH, The University of Manchester, Block C, 4th Floor, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL.
Fax: +44 (0) 161 275 5625
Email: PGT-COEH@manchester.ac.uk

 

Appendix 2 – Syllabus

Postgraduate Programmes in Occupational Medicine

CPD LEVEL

 

Module 1: Foundation for Postgraduate Practice

Occupational Health in Perspective

Introduction to Occupational Health Law

Introduction to Communication

Ethical Considerations in Practice

Introduction to Toxicology

Introduction to Occupational Hygiene

Introduction to Lighting

Introduction to Temperature and Work

Introduction to Noise and Vibration

Introduction to Hazardous Substances

 

Module 2: Fitness for Work

Recognising Occupational Disease

Introduction to Occupational Dermatology

Introduction to Musculoskeletal Disorders

Introduction to the Respiratory System

Introduction to Occupational Infections

Mental Ill Health and Stress at Work

Introduction to Epidemiology

Health Assessment, Surveillance and Screening

Sickness Absence

Disability Assessment

 

Module 3: Health and Workability

Workplace and Clinical Assessment Skills: the Portfolio

Advanced Portfolio

Case Based Management

 

The remainder of Module is not available to students on the CPD level.

 

Appendix 3 – e-Tutorials (or ‘e-Portfolios’) Programme

This programme covers a total of 5 weeks. You will work in a small group of students and have a tutor who is an occupational medicine specialist.   You will use the Discussion Board tool within your group to engage with your fellow students and your tutor.  Please note that this exercise is optional and not assessed but if you do not take part there is no further opportunity for portfolio training during your course.

 

Objectives of the UofM’s e-tutorials/e-portfolios programme

1. To apply the theory you have learnt from Modules 1 and 2 to your practice – both for a clinical case and for a workplace assessment;
2. To show a clear understanding of the principles of risk assessment and management;
3. To provide you with a chance to refresh your relevant clinical skills.

Aim: by the end of the 5-week programme, you should be able to produce a draft form of a portfolio, which should (with some additional input on your part) be suitable for submission for the Faculty of Occupational Medicine’s (FOM’s) Diploma level qualification.  The FOM’s Diploma in Occupational Medicine (DOccMed) is designed for medical practitioners who are working part-time in the practice of occupational medicine or who have an interest in occupational medicine as it affects other branches of medicine.  The DOccMed was established to demonstrate that the holder has achieved a level of competence appropriate to the generalist working in occupational health.  For further information visit the FOM website.

 

How to use the tutorials

You will be allocated a group and tutor.  You will need to access Module 3: Health and Workability in Blackboard.  To engage in discussions with your group, select the e-Portfolio Discussions area (you will be notified when the area becomes active).  At first, your tutor may set you a task or question to engage people in discussion/exchanges of ideas.  The more discussion there is between you and your group, the more you will all get out of this process.

 

Benefits of the e-tutorials

• Access to a tutor;
• Provision of guidance on producing a portfolio;
• You can use the forum to ask about any queries you have;
• You will find the tutorials help you apply the theory to practice, which can be difficult if you are not undertaking OH clinics;
• Your co-students are a valuable resource as you will all have different clinical backgrounds and experience;
• You will gain more experience in e-learning.

 

Your tutor

You may ask your tutor anything; the tutors are there to help and guide you.  You may find you receive questions/tasks in response, but these are designed to help you work out a way forward for your portfolio work.

 

Your group

Your co-students are a valuable resource, as you will all have differing clinical backgrounds and experience.  The knowledge contained within your discussion group as a whole is immensely helpful, especially if you are willing to share experiences and discuss the different ways you have overcome problems. The more discussion there is between you and your group, the more you will all get out of this process.  Every iteration of student feedback from the e-Portfolio exercise underlines the importance that participants place on peer involvement: “Discussion with other group participants was essential for me to start seeing things through different eyes to those of my normal role as a GP” (April 2014 cohort).

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it compulsory to produce a portfolio at the end of the 4 weeks?

1. No, but we recommend that you provide a portfolio during the 4-week period, as this is the only time when a tutor will be available to advise you.
2. The aim of the tutors and e-tutorials is to guide you as you produce a portfolio that meets the FOM’s requirements.
3. The dates for submission of the portfolio to the FOM depend on when you take the FOM’s written exam. The FOM’s website contains all the information about its requirements – please read these before commencing your e-tutorials.

 

Are we required to produce a definitive portfolio? (Or are we required to produce a ‘real’ portfolio?)

1. You do not have to provide a definitive portfolio, but you should aim to produce at least a draft within the 4-week period allocated by the UofM for this process.
2. At the very least, you should use the e-tutorial forum to discuss cases which might be suitable for a portfolio, and be prepared to learn from each other and the discussions. Students have previously found that the knowledge contained within the group as a whole is immensely helpful.

 

Is the tutor marking or grading the portfolio?

1. The UofM’s course within the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) is NOT the same as the FOM.   The UofM is providing you with background information on how to produce a portfolio, in order for you to have this examined by the relevant professional body (i.e. the FOM).
2. Although our tutors may also be FOM examiners, in these e-tutorials (i.e. the e-portfolio discussions), tutors are there to provide you with guidance and support, so that you can produce a portfolio which fits in with the FOM’s requirements.
3. The e-tutorials are part of the UofM course’s educational support.

 

Appendix 4 – Award Bearing Programmes

The following regulations are included in this handbook for your information should you wish to progress to the Certificate, Advanced Diploma or Masters level course.  Please note that the CPD Diploma course is a non-award bearing programme, comprising 2 x 15 credit modules and therefore does not fall under the same regulations as the award bearing programmes.

 

Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations for Students (September 2016)

Postgraduate Taught degrees at the University of Manchester are based on the National Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). This framework requires students to achieve credit at masters’ level in order to get an award. For a standard postgraduate taught Masters programme this will normally mean passing 180 credits. A standard advanced diploma will normally have 120 credits and a postgraduate certificate 60 credits. The way in which you study these credits will be defined later in the programme handbook and the programme specification.

The University sets standards relating to your performance on every unit but also on your progression through the programme. The programme and course unit specifications will set out the requirements for passing the credit on individual units.

Please be aware that the programme has some higher requirements to the University degree regulations and details of these are outlined in the section ‘Programme Exemptions to PGT Degree Regulations’

 

Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations

Please find below the link to the degree regulations:

Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations (for new PGT students registering from September 2016)
The following guidance should be read in conjunction with the regulations policy document.

 

Criteria for Awards

Award of Masters Degree

The award of Master degree is based upon credit accumulation using a pass mark of 50%.

 

Distinction

Exceptional achievements over the course of the Programme according to the taught masters marking scheme will be rewarded with the degree of MSc with Distinction.

To obtain a Distinction, students must have:

• accrued 180 credits;
• have passed all units with no compensations or referrals;
• have achieved an overall weighted average of 70% or more across the programme;

Students who have compensated or have been referred in any course units are not eligible for the award of Distinction. In addition, the dissertation must be submitted by the end of the period of programme, unless there are significant mitigating circumstances, approved in advance for missing the end of programme deadline.

 

Merit

To obtain a Merit, students must have accrued 180 credits AND have achieved an overall weighted average of 60% or more across the programme, including any provision made for compensated or referred units.

 

Pass

To obtain a pass, students must have accrued 180 credits including any provision made for compensated or referred units.

 

Award Advanced Diploma

To obtain an Advanced Diploma award, students must have accrued 120 credits (as specified by the programme) including any provision made for compensated or referred units.

 

Award Postgraduate Certificate

To obtain a Postgraduate Certificate award students must have accrued 60 credits (as specified by the programme) including any provision made for compensated or referred units.

Unless otherwise specified in the exemptions, the awards of Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate degree are based upon credit accumulation using a pass mark of 40% for which there is no classification other than pass/fail.

 

Exit Awards

Exit awards are available for students who do not satisfy the criteria for the programme they are registered on or who needs to exit the programme early due to unforeseen circumstances.

To be considered for a PG Diploma (120 credits; exit point) students must have accrued 120 credits across the programme.

To be considered for a PG Certificate (60 credits; exit) students must have accrued 60 credits across the programme.

Please note the pass mark for course units making up the Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate exit awards is 40%.

 

Compensation

MSc Degree

Students may be awarded compensated credit if they receive fail marks in the range 40‑49% in no more than 30 credits in the taught component.

Advanced Diploma

Students may be awarded compensated credit if they receive fail marks in the range 30‑39% in no more than 30 credits in the taught component.

Postgraduate Certificate

Students may be awarded compensated credit if they receive fail marks in the range 30‑39% in no more than 15 credits in the taught component.

The combined total number of credits compensated and referred cannot exceed half the taught credits.

 

Compensated credit retains the original failed mark for the course unit and this is used in the weighted average for the calculation of the final classification/award.

Please note that some programmes do not allow compensation. Please refer to the Programme Exemptions section of the handbook where specific exemptions applicable to the programme will be listed.

 

Reassessment

Where the overall unit mark is below the compensation zone (40% for Masters and 30% for Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate) OR the number of compensatable fails (30 credits for Masters/Diploma and 15 credits for Postgraduate Certificate) has been exceeded, reassessment may be taken.

Reassessment as a result of a fail is known as a “Referral”. Reassessment as a result of approved and verified mitigating circumstances is known as “Deferral” and may be permitted where students are reassessed as a first attempt, for which no penalty applies.

Students may be referred in up to half of the total taught credits. The combined total number of credits referred and compensated cannot exceed half the taught credits. Decisions with regard to which components should be reassessed are made by the Examination Board. When a student is referred they will normally be permitted to retake the assessment/exam on one further occasion.

At the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, students will normally be allowed one resubmission of a failed dissertation or project and this will normally be within four months of the date of the publication of the result. For September 2016 starters only, failed PGT dissertations can only be re-submitted if they achieve a mark of 30 or above. The Board of Examiners, in agreement with the External Examiner may, exceptionally, decide not to allow resubmission.

The pass mark for a reassessment is the same as the first attempt (i.e. 50% for masters and 40% for Advanced Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate).When a reassessment is passed, the mark is capped at the lowest compensatable fail mark (i.e. 40R for Masters and 30R for Advanced Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate), unless the previous mark was within the compensation zone, in which case the original mark will stand with a suffix ‘R’. This mark is used in the weighted average/total mark for the final award. The capped mark is applied to the whole unit and not the failed component.

Referrals may also be compensated providing the number of quota of compensations has not been exceeded. When a student’s referral mark is in the compensation zone (and the student/unit is eligible for compensation), the student’s mark will be capped at the lowest compensatable fail mark (i.e. 40R for Masters and 30R for Advanced Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate).

Please note that some programmes do not allow referrals. Please refer to the ‘Programme Exemptions to PGT Degree Regulations’ section of the handbook where specific exemptions applicable to the programme will be listed.

 

Programme exemptions to PGT Degree Regulations

Occupational Medicine (CPD, PG Cert, Adv Dip, MSc)

The programme will not permit compensation rules to be applied to the following units:

• MEDN68880 M1 Foundation for Postgraduate Practice
• MEDN68860 M2 Fitness for Work

The programme will apply a 50% pass rate to the following units at all levels:

• MEDN68880 M1 Foundation for Postgraduate Practice
• MEDN68860 M2 Fitness for Work

 

Appendix 5 – University of Manchester Programmes and Training/Examination Structures for the Faculties of Occupational Medicine (London & Ireland)

The University of Manchester (UofM) is a long standing provider of postgraduate education in occupational health, for both non-specialist (e.g. DOccMed and LFOM) and specialty training (e.g. MFOM and MFOM-I).

At national levels, education and training in occupational medicine is the responsibility of the Faculties of the Royal Colleges, namely:

• The Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians (FOM-London);
• The Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FOM-I).

The UofM’s educational material covers the Faculties’ curricular specifications, and the UofM’s programmes are compatible with the requirements of FOM-London and FOM-I (summarised in the tables below).

FOM-London:  Requirement	UofM:  Provision/Award
Diploma level (DOccMed) DOccMed examination DOccMed portfolio	UofM: UofM:	Module 1 & Module 2 Portfolio section (in Module 3)
Specialty training (1) Knowledge base MFOM London part 1 examination MFOM London part 2 examination   (2) Research competency *Dissertation/published research	UofM: UofM:     UofM:	Module 1 & Module 2 Modules 1-8 AWARD = Advanced Diploma   Module 3 & Module 7 include material which allows preparatory work for the research competency.  The UofM’s Dissertation is undertaken after successful completion of Modules 1-8. AWARD = MSc

• MFOM London candidates are required to undertake and complete a piece of primary or secondary research or substantial audit and present their findings as a dissertation of prescribed format – a UofM’s MSc thesis may be submitted for this purpose.

 

 

FOM-I:  Requirement	UofM:  Provision/Award
Licentiate (LFOM) LFOM examination   LFOM portfolio	UofM:   UofM:	Modules 1-8 AWARD = Advanced Diploma Portfolio section (in Module 3)
Specialty training (1) Knowledge base MFOM-I examination   (2) Research competency Dissertation / published research	UofM:     UofM:	Modules 1-8 AWARD = Advanced Diploma   Module 3 & Module 7 include material which allows preparatory work for the research competency.  The UofM’s Dissertation is undertaken after successful completion of Modules 1-8. AWARD = MSc

 

Please note that it is very important for any candidate to look at the specific requirements of FOM-London or FOM-I, for example in relation to specialty training, submission of case studies, and examinations (processes/procedures/formats).   

 
 

Appendix 6 – Reading List

There are a number of basic or introductory books that you may well want to buy immediately. The following are strongly recommended:

1. Agius R, Seaton A. Practical occupational medicine 2nd ed. London: Hodder Arnold 2005. ISBN 034075947X.

OR

Tar-Ching A, Gardiner K, Harrington, JM. Occupational health (Pocket Consultants) 5th ed. Wiley-Blackwell 2006.  ISBN- 10 1405122218; ISBN-13 978-1405122214.

2. Coggon D, Rose G, Barker DJP. Epidemiology for the uninitiated 5th ed.  BMJ Publishing 2003.  ISBN 0727916041.
3. Palmer K, Brown I, Hobson J (Eds). Fitness for work: the medical aspects 5th ed.  OUP 2013. ISBN

 

The following may be helpful for reference purposes:

1. Adams RM. Occupational skin disease 3rd ed. London: WB Saunders & Co 1999. ISBN 0721670377.
2. Altman D, Machin D, Bryant T, Gardner S (Eds). Statistics with confidence. BMJ Publications Feb 2000. ISN 0727913751.
3. Ashton I, Gill FS. Monitoring for health hazards at work 3rd ed. OUP Blackwell Science 1999.  ISBN 0632050411.
4. At a glance – medical aspects of fitness to drive. Can be downloaded from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/at-a-glance

5. Baxter P, Durrington P, Aw TC, Cockroft A, Harrington JM. Hunter’s diseases of occupations 10th ed. London: Arnold 2010. ISBN 0340941669 (HB).
6. Bridger RS. Introduction to ergonomics 3rd ed. CRC Press 2008. ISBN 0849373069.
7. EH40 published by HSE annually: Workplace exposure limits 2005. ISBN 9780717664467.
8. Gardiner K, Harrington J. Occupational hygiene 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing 2005. ISBN 9781405106214.
9. Rose P, Rose V, Cohrssen B (Eds). Patty’s industrial hygiene and toxicology 6th ed. Chichester: Wiley 2011. ISBN 0470074841 (Vol 1); 047007485X (Vol 2); 0470074868 (Vol 3); 0470074876 (Vol 4).
10. Health & Safety Commission Health and Safety Statistics. 2004/5 (HSS 04/05) HSE Books.  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/publications/general.htm
11. Kloss DM. Occupational health law 5th ed.  Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell 2010.  ISBN 9781405185905.
12. Parkes WR. Occupational lung disorders 3rd ed.  London: Butterworths 1994.  ISBN 075061403X.
13. Snashall D, Patel D, (Eds). ABC of occupational and environmental medicine 3rd ed. London: BMJ Publishing 2012.  ISBN 9781444338171.
14. Waldron HA, Edling C. Occupational health practice 4th ed. London: Hodder Arnold 1997.  ISBN 0750627204.
15. Winder, C, Stacey, Neill ed. Occupational toxicology 2nd ed. London: CRC Press 2004. ISBN 0748409173.

The Health and Safety Executive also provides a range of downloadable free guidance literature and research data at and other relevant documentation is available from the TSO (The Stationery Office).

 

Periodicals

A keen physician will always keep abreast of the BMJ and the Lancet which contain seminal articles from time to time.  The monthly Occupational and Environmental Medicine is an important source of knowledge for scientific developments.  The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Ergonomics and the nursing journal Occupational Health are also well worth scanning.  Access to all of these titles is available online to registered students via the University’s website.  Visit the following web page for further information on accessing electronic resources:
http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/search-resources/

 

Appendix 7 – Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Online Skills Training Resource

The Faculty has developed a skills training resource to support you through your postgraduate taught programme. This online material should supplement the assessed learning material and activities undertaken in your taught programme.

 

Accessing the online skills resource

You can access Blackboard through the My Manchester portal (http://my.manchester.ac.uk). The skills training resource is available in an academic community space available to all registered PGT students in the Faculty through Blackboard.

If you cannot see these units in your Blackboard please contact your Programme Administrator.

 

Content

Full details of all these resources can be found in the introduction to each unit. These resources have been designed to give you formative feedback on your progress through them. If you experience any problems and would like to talk to someone please contact your Programme Director. If you have questions about referencing and how it applies to your own work, please contact your Programme Director or dissertation supervisor/module lead.

Academic Writing	This is an excellent resource that supports you to write your assignments and dissertation. It is split into units that focus on key areas that previous students have found difficult and aims to enhance your academic writing style.
Understanding Academic Malpractice	Good academic writing is underpinned by evidence, and this must be correctly referenced. This resource explains good referencing practice and also enables you to test your understanding of the University’s plagiarism policy.   The Academic malpractice driving test should be completed as soon as possible after you begin your programme, but must be completed before you submit your first piece of academic writing for assessment.
Research Methods*	This course is spilt into 3 units that cover introductions to study design, statistics and dissertation skills. It has a number of online quizzes where you can test your knowledge.
Statistics*	The course provides a valuable foundation for understanding and interpreting biostatistics. It aims to provide you with the fundamentals of quantitative analysis.
Presentation Skills	This short interactive unit is designed to help you to enhance your presentation skills. Regardless of whether you are presenting in public, preparing for conferences, an oral examination or more informal settings this unit will give you the tops tips to improve your delivery.
Qualitative Research Methods*	This unit has been designed to give you an introduction to Qualitative Research.
SPSS*	This is an introduction to statistics, using SPSS, a popular and comprehensive data analysis software package containing a multitude of features designed to facilitate the execution of a wide range of statistical analyses.
Intellectual Property Awareness Resource	This Intellectual Property (IP) awareness resource has been created in order to improve your understanding of IP. Topics include: Types of intellectual property • Copyright and IP clearance • University policy on IP • IP commercialisation • IP in research or consultancy • IP issues to be aware when dealing with academic materials

* NOTE: the material in this online resource is for reference and formative learning purposes only. In some of your taught programme you may be required to undertake assessed course units for Research Methods, Qualitative Research or Statistics. If your programme involves taught units then you should refer to the Blackboard material relating to that course unit. Please contact your Programme Administrator if you are unsure which material relates to your assessed work. You will still be able to refer to the online skills resource in later years.

 

Appendix 8 – Academic Reporting Structure for the Programme