Work Based Learning in Health Care: applications and innovations

Service improvement in health care continues to be a dominant theme despite the considerable change and transformation that has taken place in the NHS. Continuing pressure from service funders and users alike for greater choice, responsiveness and higher standards of care poses real challenge and opportunity. New ways of working and learning for service improvement will need to be embraced and health care professionals, clinicians and managers and staff at all levels of care will need to value the potential that can be gained from continuing professional development through Work Based Learning.

This collection of papers is based on proceedings from a national conference to celebrate some 10 years of developments on Work Based Learning (WBL) pioneered at Middlesex University. Katherine Rounce and Barbara Workman have edited a useful array of papers which demonstrate the benefits of work based learning and of its potential for health care service improvement. The papers trace the history, origins and academic debate on the value of WBL and of its applications and innovative developments in health care. Detailed case studies on the experiences of front line staff, managers and academics demonstrate the value of work based learning derived from everyday experience, projects and bona-fide programmes.

Work Based Learning: applications and innovations is a landmark publication and will serve as a valuable resource and reference for all health care staff.