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 interested in a healthcare career and being able to stay local? If so, the Assistant Practitioner Health Foundation Degree programme may be for you. Local employers in health care need a flexible, critically aware, and highly trained workforce who can adapt to an ever-changing sector. This programme has been developed with local employers to provide them with skilled practitioners who have had learning opportunities within simulated and real-world health environments in different settings, to develop essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours through the theoretical and competency-based course of study. Assistant practitioners work across the NHS in many different settings, sometimes alone and under the direct supervision of health professionals such as nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists, dieticians, and more. They work as part of a wider team within healthcare settings and have direct contact with patients, service users, and clients in hospitals and the community. As such, this programme will embed person-centred beliefs and allow students to explore the different care needs of individuals and become reflective practitioners. This will be achieved by completing theoretical and competency-based learning and 750 hours (approximately 20 weeks) of required placement hours over the two years within the local healthcare industry. Once qualified and employed you will carry out agreed procedures, referring to a professional for guidance when necessary, and may mentor healthcare assistants, trainee assistant practitioners, and student nurses. You will need to show the values and behaviours of the NHS, knowledge of physical and mental health and illness prevention, as well as more advanced knowledge, depending on your care setting. Students will be taught up-to-date evidence-based practice and guidelines to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide exemplary care. Students will have access to two ward areas that have specialist equipment such as interactive manikins, moving and handling equipment, equipment to check vital signs, artificial wounds, artificial skin for injections and much more. All elements of practice will be underpinned by theory and research, and students will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills and become reflective practitioners. As such, students will develop the skills and knowledge needed to deliver quality healthcare.   Assistant practitioners need to be:

• caring and kind

• confident with using lifting equipment

• willing to be hands-on with patients

• able to follow instructions and procedures

• able to work in a team but use their own initiative

• able to explain procedures to patients

• careful and methodical

• communication skills, including listening

• organisational and observational skills

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