Assessment Briefing – 2024/25 Module Code and Module Name Assessment Type and Weighting Deadline or Assessment Period

Assessment Briefing – 2024/25

Module Code and
Module Name

MPSY4180 Wellbeing and Work

Assessment Type and
Weighting

Case Study, 100%

Deadline or
Assessment Period

19^th June 2025

Word Limit

3,000 words

Module Lecturer

Dr Ivy Cheung

Feedback Date

17^th July 2025

Assessment
Description

Background of the
case study

Ambulance
services are the primary emergency care provider in the healthcare services.
The service has played an essential role in shaping emergency care, is often
the first port of call for medical emergencies and responds to millions of
incidents each year. The central role of ambulance services is the emergency
assessment, treatment and transportation of patients with a variety of acute
and lifethreatening illnesses and injuries.  

Ambulance
services usually consist of local organisations, which are receptive to
patients’ needs where local community members are able to have their say in
the running of the service. Within ambulance services, there are a variety of
different roles and responsibilities ranging from front-line staff who have
direct contact with patients to support staff. 

For your assessment,
choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Stress and resilience 

You
have been approached by a Chief Executive at an ambulance service due to the
pressures mounting on staff because of budget cuts, responding to the COVID19
pandemic and organisational changes. Front-line ambulance staff (such as
paramedics) have reported feeling increased stress due to increasing job
demands. These job demands have included workload, particularly the
increasing number of emergency calls that staff are required to respond to
and the time pressure of meeting response times. As a result of these job
demands, staff have reported feeling dissatisfied with their role, which has
led to an increase in sickness absence and staff turnover. The HR department
have approached you, an established Consultant, for advice on dealing with
these challenges. With reference to academic literature on stress and
resilience, critically discuss the approach you would take to improve
employee wellbeing and provide clear justifications for your
recommendations. 

OR

Option 2: Bullying
and emotional intelligence 

You
have been approached by a Chief Executive at an ambulance service due to
reports of bulling and harassment amongst staff. Front-line paramedics have
reported feeling intimidated, blamed, and unsupported by their Team Leaders.
Reports have included excessive monitoring individual performance targets,
increasing workload for junior employees and practical jokes being made on
staff in the ambulance station. Staff have complained to the HR department on
numerous occasions with some staff resigning from their role or transferring
to other ambulance services. The HR team have suggested that there is
ineffective leadership amongst Team Leaders, which has resulted in this type
of behaviour. Moreover, the Team Leaders have reported that they are feeling
overwhelmed with the role and lack support from their peers. With reference
to academic literature on bullying and emotional intelligence, critically
discuss the approach you would take to improve employee wellbeing and provide
clear justifications for your recommendations.