Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship

Program Overview

This HCPC-approved accelerated apprenticeship equips individuals to become dynamic Operating Department Practitioners. The three-year program includes online academic study and an annual residential week, fostering both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Upon completion, graduates earn a BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice, qualifying them to apply for HCPC registration and pursue careers in various healthcare settings.

Program Outline

Operating Department Practitioners are multi-skilled allied health professionals working within all areas of the perioperative journey. Operating Department Practitioners are key members of the multidisciplinary team, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, radiographers, and other health professionals. On this HCPC-approved accelerated apprenticeship, you will gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to provide safe, competent, patient-centred care through the three phases of the perioperative journey: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery.

Objectives:

• To develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to provide safe, competent, patient-centred care through the three phases of the perioperative journey: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery.

Description:

• This is a HCPC-approved accelerated apprenticeship.
• The course is designed to equip students with the skills to become dynamic, confident and competent Operating Department Practitioners.
• Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to provide safe, competent, patient-centred care through the three phases of the perioperative journey: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery.
• Students will develop their learning in five broad areas: Professional Practice, Professional values and behaviours, Professional standards, Leadership and management, Communication and information.
• On successful completion of this Level 6 apprenticeship, students will gain a BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice, making them eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for registration.

Outline:

Structure:

• This accelerated apprenticeship is a three-year course.
• During the residential week, students will interact with their peers in the immersive clinical skills suite, take part in clinical simulation scenarios and attend lectures/teaching sessions taught by subject experts.
• Modules are taught over three trimesters a year through online Collaborate sessions, webinars, and unit activities.

Course Schedule:

• Year one:
• Working and learning in Operating Department Practice (20 credits)
• Principles of Scrub and Circulating Practice (20 credits)
• Principles of Anaesthetic Practice (20 credits)
• Science and Pharmacology for Operating Department Practice (20 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology for Operating Department Practice 1 (20 credits)
• Patient Care Concepts (20 credits)
• Year two:
• Developing Anaesthetic Practice (20 credits)
• Evidence-Based Practice (20 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology for Operating Department Practice 2 (20 credits)
• Practice in Post Anaesthetic Care (20 units)
• Developing Scrub and Circulating Practice (20 credits)
• Exploring Leadership and Management in Operating Department Practice (20 credits)
• Year three:
• Complex Perioperative Care (20 credits)
• Work-Based Study - Dissertation (40 credits)
• Facilitating Learning and Assessment (20 credits)
• Management of Medication (20 credits)
• Transition to Practice Beyond Registration (20 credits)

Assessment:

• Students will be assessed using a variety of assessment methods to suit their learning needs, such as academic coursework/assignments, competencies, presentations, online examinations and VIVAS (Oral exams).
• Each student has a personal academic tutor who is part of the core lecturing team to provide guidance to the student throughout the three years of the course.

Teaching:

• The course is taught by a team of enthusiastic, experienced registered Operating Department Practitioners.
• Academic study takes place online, allowing for flexibility with self-directed study.
• Students will attend an annual week's 'residential' week at the University of Derby where they will interact with their peers in the immersive clinical skills suite, take part in clinical simulation scenarios and attend lectures/teaching sessions taught by subject experts.
• Modules are taught over three trimesters a year through online Collaborate sessions, webinars, and unit activities.

Careers:

• On successful completion of this Level 6 apprenticeship, students will gain a BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice, making them eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for registration.
• This qualification will allow graduates to work as Operating Department Practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings.

Other:

• The course has a 100% student satisfaction rate (NSS, 2022).
• The course features a state-of-the-art immersive clinical skills suite to practice skills in a safe environment.
• The course is unique in that the academic study takes place online.
• The course offers additional support for learners who have dyslexia or additional learning needs.
• The course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.
• The cost of the apprenticeship will normally be in line with the funding band £26,000, but individual agreements can be considered depending on student numbers and employer involvement.