PgCert First Contact Practice in Primary Care

Program Overview

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Course Details

First contact practitioners (FCPs) work as diagnostic clinicians at the first point of contact in primary care. The University of Bolton's PgCert First Contact Practitioner in Primary Care is ideal if you're an experienced allied health professional seeking to become an FCP. To complete this course, you must undertake a minimum of 75 hours of clinical practice learning in primary care under the supervision of a suitably qualified clinical mentor.

Our expert team will focus on helping you do what you do best – caring for patients. This clinically-focused postgraduate course supports you in developing the knowledge and skills essential to directly care for patients or take on senior clinical roles. It dispenses with traditional modules on research methods, professional development planning and leadership, replacing them with modules directly relevant to patient care. If you seek answers to questions such as "Why is this patient's inflammatory marker raised?" or "How do I manage a patient presenting with chronic pain and showing signs of depression?" this is the course for you. Built around clinical problems, patient journeys, and case studies, this course takes a problem-solving approach to clinical learning, helping you develop the skills you’ll need in practice.

Worth 60-credits at the postgraduate level, this PgCert incorporates two modules. The 40-credit First Contact Practice in Primary Care module is core to this programme. It will support you in developing the advanced clinical thinking, clinical reasoning, and higher-level clinical practice skills demanded for the FCP role. Our experienced and supportive team will help you build the knowledge and understanding needed to assess and diagnose issues, advise patients on managing their conditions, and refer them to specialist services when necessary. We'll emphasise communication and consultation skills, promote your understanding of the primary care landscape, referral pathways and processes, and consider the implications for patients and staff in secondary and tertiary care. You'll also explore the clinical and safeguarding issues for vulnerable groups and discuss patient safety, service development and innovation.

In addition, you’ll choose a 20-credit option module that complements your professional interests and prior experience. We offer a range of option modules that will enhance your understanding of first contact practice. For instance, you can further develop your clinical practice or clinical examination skills, or build your knowledge of areas such as geriatric, respiratory or acute medicine. If more than one of these modules meets your career development goals, rest assured you can continue your studies in any of these areas after completing your PgCert because all the option modules are available as stand-alone professional development courses.

Please note that if you do not already have suitable employment in primary care, you'll need to secure an appropriate placement before enrolling on this course.

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Highlights

This PgCert aligns with stages 1 and 2 of Health Education England's Roadmaps to Practice for allied health professionals, which form the standard of practice and proof of capability in primary care.

Our dedicated academic team brings extensive health and social care experience to the course content. Along with their passion for service excellence in clinical practice settings, they're also currently engaged in highly relevant research, which means they can add valuable context and insight to your learning.

The course is designed to fit in with busy home and working lives.

As you study this course, we'll encourage you to develop the skills, values and behaviours so popular with employers. These include action planning, personal impact and confidence, self-awareness, social and ethical responsibility, problem-solving, initiative and communication skills.

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Key Features

The University of Bolton has been offering high-quality courses designed to meet the health and social care sector's needs for over 30 years, so we have the knowledge and experience to anticipate and respond to changes in the health and social care sector.

We welcome allied health professionals such as dieticians, paramedics, physiotherapists, podiatrists and occupational therapists.

We review the course curriculum regularly to ensure we include and apply contemporary theories.

After successfully completing this course, you'll be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in First Contact Practice in Primary Care from the University of Bolton.

Program Outline

A first contact practitioner (FCP) is a diagnostic clinician working in primary care at the top of their clinical scope of practice at Agenda for Change Band 7 or equivalent. This allows the FCP to assess and manage undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations within the scope of their professional role. If you're an allied health professional, completing the University of Bolton's PgCert First Contact Practice in Primary Care will support you in becoming an FCP. By completing this PgCert successfully, you'll be eligible to register as a first contact practitioner (FCP).

What can I do with this qualification?

Once you've successfully completed our PgCert First Contact Practice in Primary Care and registered with the Centre for Advancing Practice, you'll be able to apply for FCP roles in primary care. Typically, you'll find employment with a GP practice or primary care network, working as part of an integrated team. You'll provide first contact to patients with conditions covered by your scope of practice and potentially with other complex medical needs. You'll work independently, leading patient care management that includes assessment, treatment and onward referral for diagnostic or secondary care services as required. You'll be able to provide and advise on a range of treatment options within your scope of practice and competence.

As an ambitious FCP, you may be keen to progress up to the Advanced Practitioner (AP) level. After completing this course, you may wish to pursue one of the University of Bolton's MSc Advanced Clinical Practice pathways. Alternatively, our range of advanced professional development courses allows you to study individual short courses on specialist topics that match your career development goals.

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Alternative career options

You may also use this qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Possible areas include:

Public health

Management

Higher education teaching

Clinical research

Health promotion