LO1 Explore the social, economic and political determinants of health and health policy.

5HW077 Assessment Guidelines

ASSESSMENT TASK

You are required to submit a 1500 words report which will explore and examine the political ideas, values and beliefs that underpin a selected policy or strategy.   

The report should demonstrate your achievement of the following learning outcomes;

• LO1 Explore the social, economic and political determinants of health and health policy.
• LO2 Discuss the crucial role of power and ideology in shaping health policy and health care systems.
• LO3 Evaluate the policy-making process and existing and alternative policies and health systems (in terms of their effectiveness, efficiency and equity)

Background

You are working in the Health and Social Care field and have been asked to conduct an appraisal of a current health policy, with specific emphasis on how political considerations shape the approach to this specific health issue. You can select your own health issue and corresponding policy – NB in the module teaching content you are provided with examples of obesity, homelessness and air pollution.

Task

Step 1: Identify a current public health issue. Give a rationale for why this policy has been selected and clearly indicate how it qualifies as a significant public health challenge.

Step 2: Identify a policy that specifically addresses the selected health issue. Provide detail of the policy’s main strategic objectives.

Step 3: Using the amended version of Bacchi’s WPR policy analysis tool (see below), identify the political drivers of the policy, critically evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, and highlight alternative approaches that could have been implemented.

i) What is the problem (health issue) represented to be?

ii) What assumptions underlie this representation?

iii) How did this understanding of the problem come about?

iv) What is overlooked or left out of this understanding?

v) What are the effects or consequences of this policy’s diagnosis and ‘treatment’ of the health issue?

Your work will be graded using the University level 5 grade descriptors; you can find a copy of these in the assignment brief folder in Canvas. You MUST submit your assignment through the electronic submission gateway on CANVAS. The submission deadline is  2pm UK time on Friday 10th January 2025. Late submissions (without an agreed extension) will receive a F0 grade.

This assessment will account for 100% of your overall mark. 

General guidance

• The paper is expected to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the politics of health policy.
• The concepts and terms described in the paper should be well defined with appropriate reference to the literature as well as your own understanding;
• There should be a balance between theoretical presentation of the topic (i.e. drawing on the necessary theoretical perspectives) and practical implications for health (i.e. providing specific and practical examples);
• A range of literature sources providing contrasting and/or contradictory opinions should be provided, correctly referenced and discussed within the context of the paper. (NB. Only cited items should be included on the reference list)
• The references should include academic books and textbooks; peer reviewed publications from the academic journals; and reports by national and international organizations;
• Internet sources can be used (in addition to books, articles and policy reports), but these should be reliable and evidence-based sources, correctly referenced  with the website address and date (NOTE: web links alone are not acceptable and Wikipedia (and other sites as such) ARE NOT appropriate references)

Formatting and presentation of the assignment

• The word limit for this assessment is 1500. If your work is 10% over or under this word count your grade will be reduced.(Reference lists and appendices are not included in the word count)
• All referencing should be in line with the Harvard Cite Them Right style of referencing (NOTE: papers that are not appropriately referenced will fail)

• You should include the module code, your student number, and the name of your iteration leader on the front page

• Work must be proof read for grammar, spelling and formatting mistakes before handing in 
• You should follow all additional advice in the ‘Fit to Submit’ guidelines and the Level 5 marking criteria, both of which can be found in the CANVAS topic
• An electronic Word version of your paper should be submitted online via CANVAS BEFORE the DEADLINE.  If you fail to submit your electronic copy to CANVAS by the deadline your work will be considered late and penalized.