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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
122349  Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management 
ORIGINATOR
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0724/24  2024-06-04  2027-06-04 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-04   2031-06-04  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management qualification is to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge and expertise in health service management specialisation. This qualification will enable the health services nurse manager to function with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that enhance professional independence. This includes preventing diseases, injury, and complications, and improving health-care service delivery to communities and the country at large. The qualification further equips the learner with the facilitation of teaching and learning including management skills at all levels of practice.

The qualification also aims to produce nurse managers who will be eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as health service managers.
From the health-specific specialization, the exit level outcomes will dictate that the candidates be proficient in financial management, research, negotiation skills, decision-making, emotional intelligence and be a professional of note.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Practice and facilitate specialist nursing in health services management within ethical-legal parameters of the profession and resolve ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
  • Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of nursing education.
  • Facilitate learning to promote the learner's ability to make sound clinical judgments and demonstrate metacognition in nursing education.
  • Facilitate curriculum or qualification development.
  • Implement strategies to develop self, peers, and nursing learners by promoting self-directedness through a process of mentoring and as a preceptor.
  • Evaluate the management of an educational qualification based on national, professional, and institutional standards.
  • Apply knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process, to evaluate the standard of guidelines used in nursing education.
  • Apply principles of evidence-based nursing education to improve the quality of education.
  • Demonstrate professional and clinical leadership.
  • Promote the professional development of self and others.

    Rationale:
    The qualification seeks to prepare nurse managers to address the increasing demand for nurses trained in management to support the national health system in the face of the emerging burden of disease as well as contribute to the human resource development to ensure an adequate supply of trained managers who can manage facilities and other resources in health care.
    The qualification seeks to prepare nurse managers to be able to manage health establishments including high managerial offices and facilities in general and to train learner nurses to combine nursing care that provides for curative aspects, prevention of diseases, promotion of health for individuals, families and communities in hospitals and in the community, urban and rural to affect a strong primary health care initiative.

    The qualifying learner will register with the South African Nursing Council as a nurse manager and will be eligible to work within the health, education, and management sectors.

    The qualification will enable the manager to:
  • Manage nursing learners within the ethical-legal parameters and resolve ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
  • Enable the learner to render comprehensive care across all spheres of health and of life, and function as a clinically focused, service-oriented and independent registered professional nurse.
  • Provide the learner with a comprehensive view of the field of nursing and the necessary skills to screen and refer patients as required; and enable him or her to work with all patients, stabilized or not, take responsibility for health care in any context, and take responsibility for managing nursing care in a health care facility.
  • Allow for a variety of learners from all spheres of life (provided they meet the admission criteria and are healthy enough), to carry out the duties required of them. The qualification is grounded in practice and is intended to provide access to further academic routes, specialisation, and research.
  • Improve the provision of health to manage care and finances in health to impact the economy of the country. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications.

    RPL for access:
  • Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

    RPL for exemption of modules:
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

    RPL for credit:
  • Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
  • Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

    Entry Requirements:
  • Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
    Bachelor of Nursing Science in Education, Management and Community, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Health Management, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Health Services Management and Leadership, NQF Level 7.
    And
    Proof of registration with the South African Nursing Council as a registered/professional nurse. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory modules, Level 8, 120 Credits.
  • Ethos and professional practice, 8 Credits.
  • Evidence-based practice, 12 Credits.
  • Professional and career development, 4 Credits.
  • Health services management and leadership, 48 Credits.
  • Personnel management, 48 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes
    1. Practice and facilitate specialist nursing or midwifery, nursing education or health services management within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession.
    2. Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice, nursing education or management in the specialist field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
    3. Appraise and develop self, peers, nurse, and midwife specialist learners by facilitating self-directedness leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.
    4. Facilitate advocacy for the profession and the provision of specialist professional support for personnel, patients, clients, families, and communities.
    5. Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing a specialist unit, an educational entity, or a health service.
    6. Engage in scholarly activities to inform evidence-based practice, education, or management.
    7. Utilise, manage and communicate data to support decision-making and research. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1
  • Apply personal attributes and behaviour to demonstrate conformity to the relevant code of ethics in the practice of specialist nursing or midwifery, nursing education and health services management.
  • Employ critical decision-making and moral reasoning models and principles to make clinical judgements to resolve ethical dilemmas within the specialist practice.
  • Show accountability for own professional judgement, actions, outcomes of specialist care, nursing education or health services management provided and continued competence.
  • Identify and apply the relevant current legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to specialist practice, nursing education and health services management.
  • Document care activities accurately, comprehensively, and timeously considering the legal requirements for record keeping.
  • Illustrate knowledge of the nurse specialist or midwife specialist's role in the management of professional misconduct and risks taking into consideration the institutional protocols and ethical-legal framework.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2
  • Engage in specialist practice to demonstrate an understanding of the process of evidence-based practice.
  • Apply evidence-based specialist practice, nursing education and health services management and take into consideration the appropriate methodology of gathering evidence for practice, education, and management, such as systematic or scoping reviews, appraisal of articles, practice-based research, and publication.
  • Apply evidence-based practice, nursing education and health service management to demonstrate knowledge of and critical analysis of the various levels of evidence.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3
  • Illustrate leadership skills through the application of appropriate leadership styles, principles, and theories of health services management.
  • Facilitate continuous professional development for self and others effectively for lifelong learning by creating a positive learning climate in the workplace through the processes of mentorship, preceptorship, supervision, performance appraisal, etc.
  • Engage in performance appraisal and demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and processes of the performance management and development system.
  • Utilise feedback gained from self-reflection, peers, learners, management, and other relevant stakeholders to improve effectiveness in the specialist role.
  • Illustrate an understanding of the various risk factors that impact health and wellness within the workplace and apply strategies to care for self, peers, employees, and learners.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4
  • Illustrate understanding of the purpose of the advocacy role for a nurse specialist or midwife specialist practice.
  • Apply advocacy principles to ensure safe and quality care in various healthcare settings or nursing education or health services management.
  • Use communication skills and channels appropriately to facilitate advocacy.
  • Apply knowledge to show an ability to lobby and participate in interest groups to influence legislation and policy affecting the role performance.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5
  • Illustrate understanding of levels and classification of the respective specialist units, health services or educational entities.
  • Commission tasks and take into consideration the burden of diseases and priority services as determined by current events.
  • Participate in the evaluation of the existing specialist unit, health, or education entity and show knowledge of guidelines for provisioning a specialist unit/ health service or educational entity.
  • Engage in planning and commissioning and show understanding of the role and responsibilities in this task within the inter and intra-professional team.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6
  • Practice in the respective specializations and demonstrate knowledge of appropriate search engines and databases for review of literature to inform evidence-based practice, nursing education and health services management.
  • Use appropriate methods to generate evidence for utilization in specialist practice (e.g., research, systematic reviews etc.) education and health services management.
  • Illustrate awareness of the peer-reviewed journals and use it for the sharing of evidence.
  • Conduct activities in the specialist practice, education and health services management that are based on scientifically proven evidence.
  • Debate for discourses in quality improvement and actively participate in inter and intra-professional dialogues.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7
  • Document all data and information gathered in the context of the specialist practice, education and health services for utilization and storage in accordance with the set standards.
  • Illustrate utilization of comprehensive data, information, and emerging evidence pertinent to the respective specialist practice.
  • Identify problems, diagnoses and opportunities for improvement based on gathered and critically analysed assessment data from the patients/clients, families, communities, learners, or employees including current scientific evidence.
  • Show respect for intellectual property and produce documents that are without plagiarism. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: United Kingdom
    Institution name: University of South Wales
    Qualification title: Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Health Care
    Duration: One year

    Entry requirements:
    A non-medical degree
    Or
    Relevant professional healthcare (e.g. doctor, nurse) qualifications
    And
    Working in a healthcare role

    Purpose:
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Health Care is designed for working professionals, this online leadership qualification will help you develop the skills needed to be a leader - such as communication, motivation, providing inspiration and guidance, and encouraging employees to rise to a higher level of productivity.

    Managers are responsible for planning, organising, leading, and controlling functions within an organisation. But not all managers are leaders.

    This postgraduate qualification will help learners to develop a team culture of trust that delivers results; navigate teams through change with tenacity; address challenges innovatively and ethically and make positive decisions with confidence.

    Course structure:
    Modules:
  • Leadership in Healthcare is comparable with Health services management and leadership.
  • Developing Human and Organisational Potential in Healthcare is comparable with Personnel management.
  • Quality, Clinical and Corporate Governance in Healthcare.
  • Career and Team Development in Healthcare Organisations.
  • Strategy and Innovation for Healthcare Leaders.
  • Change Management in Healthcare Organisations.

    Similarities:
  • The University of South Wales (USW) and the South African (SA) qualifications are both offered over one year.
  • For both qualifications in addition to academic requirements, a learner must be a working healthcare professional.
  • The USW qualification is designed for working professionals, it will enable learners to develop the skills needed to be a leader.
  • The SA qualification will enable the health service nurse manager to function with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that enhance professional independence.
  • Both qualifications have similar management modules included, such as Personnel Management, Health services management and leadership and Developing Human and Organisational Potential in Healthcare.

    Differences:
  • The SA qualification requires that learners have proof of registration with the South African Nursing Council as a registered/professional nurse.

    Country: New Zealand
    Institution name: University of Otago
    Qualification title: Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management
    Duration: Two years
    Credits: 120

    Entry requirements:
  • A graduate
    Or
    Hold a professional qualification requiring at least three years of tertiary-level study.

    Purpose:
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management is a qualification of study that draws equally on public health and business administration. Participants study health systems and health economics in the public health qualification and a suite of recommended papers in business.
    Those most likely to benefit from the qualification are health professionals moving into managerial roles, managers taking up positions in the health sector, and those in existing health management positions seeking both to advance their skills and to enhance their understanding of the sector and their role within it.
    The qualification, aside from its academic and vocational relevance, also provides learners with an opportunity to work with colleagues drawn from a range of health and management backgrounds.
    Course structure:
    Modules:
  • Society, Health, and Health Promotion
  • Public Policy and Health Systems
  • The Economics of Health Policy Decision Making
  • Economic Evaluation
  • Global Health and International Health Systems
  • Healthy Public Policy

    Similarities:
  • The University of Otago (UO) and the South African (SA) qualification accepts learners who hold a bachelor's degree and both qualifications consist of 120 credits.
  • The UO qualification aims to benefit the health professionals moving into managerial roles, managers taking up positions in the health sector.
  • The SA qualification seeks to prepare nurse managers to manage health establishments including high managerial offices and facilities.
  • Both qualifications offer learners an opportunity to undertake research in their studies.

    Differences:
  • The UO qualification draws equally on public health and business administration, leaners study health systems and health economics in the public health qualification and a suite of recommended papers in business.
  • The SA qualification seeks to prepare nurse managers to be able to manage health establishments and to train learner nurses to combine nursing care that provides for curative aspects, prevention of diseases, and promotion of health for individuals, families, and communities in hospitals and the community, urban and rural to affect a strong primary health care initiative. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Community Health, NQF, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Education, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Operation Theatre Nursing, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Public Health Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, NQF, Level 9.
  • Master of Public Health, NQF Level 9.

    Diagonal Articulation
    No diagonal articulation options are available. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.