Course summary

Be part of a team of health professionals empowered to deliver high-quality patient-centred care. Develop or extend your skills to become an Assistant Practitioner within our local area and earn your FdSc degree! Are you ready to pursue a rewarding healthcare career while staying local? The Assistant Practitioner Health Foundation Degree programme is your pathway to success. Local healthcare employers demand a flexible, critically aware, and highly trained workforce capable of thriving in a constantly evolving sector. This program, developed in partnership with local employers, equips you with the skills and practical experience necessary to meet these demands through both simulated and real-world healthcare environments. As an assistant practitioner, you will work across the NHS in various settings, often independently and under the direct supervision of healthcare professionals such as nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists, and dietitians. You will be an integral part of a larger healthcare team, engaging directly with patients, service users, and clients in hospitals and community settings. This program emphasises person-centred care, enabling you to understand and address the diverse needs of individuals while becoming a reflective practitioner. You will complete rigorous theoretical and competency-based coursework, along with 770 hours (approximately 20 weeks) of required placements in the local healthcare industry over the two-year programme. Once qualified and employed, you will execute established procedures, seek guidance from professionals as needed, and may mentor healthcare assistants, trainee assistant practitioners, and student nurses. In this programme, you will embody the core values and behaviours of the NHS while mastering knowledge related to the prevention of physical and mental health and illness, tailored to the specific requirements of your care setting. You will engage with the most current evidence-based practices and guidelines to ensure you are fully equipped to provide exemplary care. Access to two well-equipped ward areas, featuring specialised tools such as interactive mannequins, moving and handling equipment, instruments for checking vital signs, artificial wounds, and artificial skin for injections, will enhance your learning experience. All practical skills will be firmly rooted in theory and research, fostering your critical thinking abilities and reflective practice. With this comprehensive education, you will emerge ready to deliver high-quality healthcare with confidence. The assistant practitioner qualification is also a gateway to further training at Level 5 or 6 to become a registered healthcare professional, such as a nurse, paramedic, radiographer, and more. Currently, in the NHS, an assistant practitioner is usually paid at Band 4. You will usually work standard hours of around 37.5 a week and may work shifts, which could include nights, early starts, evenings, and weekends. To achieve the HTQ status, both level 4 and level 5 pathways must be completed.

This Higher Technical Qualification is approved against occupational standards decided by employers. Learn more about Higher Technical Qualifications.