Professional/Short course Environmental Health Risk and Law

Content

The syllabus outline is typically as follows:

Environmental Health Law and Compliance

• European and English legal systems: sources of law, court systems and the role of the environmental health practitioner.
• The influence of international law related to national regulatory systems.
• The legislative process, development of environmental health laws, statutes and delegated legislation. Interpretation of statutes. Investigations, evidence gathering and determination of the most appropriate course of action.
• The nature of governance in the UK, taking this through from the role of central government as the legislature informed by its civil service and others, discharge of responsibilities through departments of state, non-ministerial agencies and non-governmental organisations through to local government.

Risk Management

• Theories of risk and their influence on policy, regulatory practice and public understanding of health issues. Theoretical and practical developments in the field of risk management.
• Quantitative, statistical, toxicological, epidemiological, cost benefit data; and qualitative social risk knowledge theory. Models of risk at individual, organisational and societal levels will be critically reviewed. The roles of organisations, agencies and the rights of stakeholder representation in relation to environmental health risk decision-making.
• Evidence-based hazard assessment and health impact analysis of a range of environmental and public health issues; as well as solutions and remedial measures to remove, reduce and/or control risks.
• Techniques and methodologies of hazard identification; inspection, audit and investigation, policy development and organisational response to environmental health hazards.

Role of the Environmental Health Practitioner

• Developing as a reflective practitioner.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching is delivered in the form of up to six on-campus lectures and one whole activity practice day.

Module activities include student-centred active learning techniques such as group exercises and discussion with set formative work each week.

Essential supplementary learning materials and resources are also provided via Blackboard, with links to online library resources

Study time

This module provides multiple learning approaches including lectures, reading, videos and synchronous tutorials (seminars/discussions).

Progress through the module is managed through assimilating learning from week to week and planning a presentation in partnership with another student to deliver as the module assessment.

Approximately 24 hours of directed study (e.g. lectures, seminars) are delivered in class.

Assessment

The assessment strategy has been designed to support and enhance the development of both subject-based and generic key skills, whilst ensuring that the module's learning outcomes are attained. 

The assessment for this module comprises a collaborative paired or group presentation and encompasses all the specific module learning outcomes in addition to the CIEH Knowledge and Skills domains. Full details can be found in the Module Handbook and on the module's Blackboard site.

Component A will comprise of producing a paired or group presentation. Working within designated pairs or groups, students will collaborate to produce and deliver a presentation to a target audience. The presentation will require students to synthesise and critically evaluate the module content; the given topic will be based on how, and to what extent, environmental health law reduces risk exposure.

The use of a presentation at this early stage of the programme will assist in cohesion and identity as a learning community, demonstrate the benefits and challenges of working collaboratively, and develop the literacy required throughout the programme and later in professional practice.

Formative assessment will be in the form of class discussions and debate to check learning.