The Role and Impact of Healthcare Management and Organisational Structure in Health and Social Care

Assessment Brief

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

The following assessment should be written in the form of an assignment. It should include an introduction (that incorporates the three scenarios to be discussed), main body, conclusion and reference list. Following the introduction, please ensure that each scenario is answered in numerical order and that you present an overview of all three scenarios within your conclusion, followed by a reference list.

Scenario one

Discuss the role of the healthcare manager The healthcare manager has many responsibilities within the remit of their practice to ensure that the successful provision of health and social care services is maintained, for example, one of their roles is to lead in change management. Select one of the following areas of service provision. Research and discuss the role of the healthcare manager within their sphere of practice:

• NHS Foundation Trust

• Nursing Homes

• Supported housing (involves combining housing with support services for vulnerable people.)

Scenario two

Explain how organisational structure impacts organisational culture Within health and social care provision, different services integrate and form partnerships together to provide care. Consider a small hierarchical GP surgery joining together with a flat structure social enterprise that is run to by social workers. Explain in detail, as to how the joining together of these services may impact upon the existing culture within both organisations.

Scenario three

Present different organisational structures in business, health and social care organisation You have experience in working within the fields of both health and social care. You have been approached by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to set up a new organisation that will help to promote service user involvement in Southwark. Describe at least three different organisational structures available within health and social care provision and identify their advantages and disadvantages. Then state the type of organisational structure that you will use for your organisation and state why you have chosen it.

Ensure that you use key academic sources of references that include relevant academic journals and your course Textbook: Buchanan, D.A. and Huczynski, A.A. (2019) Organizational Behaviour 10th Edition. Harlow, Pearson. Please ensure the incorporation of relevant theorists such as Handy, Schein and Lewin etc.

Sample Answer

The Role and Impact of Healthcare Management and Organisational Structure in Health and Social Care

Introduction

Healthcare management plays a central role in maintaining the quality, safety, and effectiveness of health and social care services. Managers are responsible for coordinating teams, implementing policies, managing resources, and driving improvement in patient outcomes. This essay explores three interconnected scenarios that demonstrate the importance of management and structure in modern healthcare. The first scenario discusses the role of the healthcare manager in supported housing, an area that combines housing with essential support for vulnerable populations. The second scenario analyses how organisational structure impacts culture, focusing on the integration of a small hierarchical GP surgery with a flat-structured social enterprise. The third scenario examines different organisational structures used in health and social care and identifies the most suitable option for a new organisation promoting service user involvement in Southwark. Each scenario highlights the significance of leadership, culture, and structure in ensuring that care delivery remains person-centred, efficient, and sustainable.

Scenario One: The Role of the Healthcare Manager in Supported Housing

Supported housing provides accommodation combined with tailored support for people with complex needs such as mental illness, learning disabilities, or substance misuse issues. Within this context, the healthcare manager acts as a bridge between health, housing, and social care services, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive holistic and person-centred care.

According to Buchanan and Huczynski (2019), the healthcare manager’s role extends beyond administration, it involves influencing people, facilitating change, and aligning service delivery with wider healthcare goals. In supported housing, the manager must coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including nurses, social workers, counsellors, and housing officers. Effective leadership and communication are essential, as residents often face multiple barriers that require cohesive collaboration between agencies.

One of the healthcare manager’s key responsibilities in this setting is change management. Drawing on Lewin’s (1951) three-stage model of change, unfreeze, change, and refreeze, the manager facilitates the transition towards more integrated and responsive support systems. For instance, if a supported housing service adopts a new digital health record system, the manager must first prepare staff for the change (unfreeze), implement training and new procedures (change), and reinforce the new approach through ongoing monitoring (refreeze). This ensures smoother adoption and sustained improvement.

Another central duty involves risk management and safeguarding. Supported housing residents may be at risk of self-harm, neglect, or exploitation. The manager must therefore ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, data protection laws, and the Care Act 2014, while promoting a culture of openness and accountability.

Moreover, healthcare managers play a vital role in resource allocation. With limited funding, managers must prioritise interventions that maximise resident wellbeing while maintaining cost efficiency. They also act as advocates for residents, ensuring that care is inclusive and respects individual autonomy, as encouraged by the NHS Constitution (Department of Health, 2021).

In summary, the healthcare manager in supported housing is a leader, strategist, and change agent. Their ability to integrate health and social care principles while promoting empowerment and inclusion is central to the success of the service.

Continued...