Program Overview

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First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal) PGCert

Overview

This pathway is aimed at clinicians working in the specialty of musculoskeletal practice in various healthcare settings, including primary care. It offers clinicians a range of opportunities to develop theoretical knowledge relevant to your role as (or working towards) a First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal).

There are two routes available within this pathway to achieve the award of Postgraduate Certificate - First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal). Both routes align to Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the First Contact Practitioners & Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice (NHS England, 2021).

• Taught route - by undertaking two taught modules, Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice aligns to Stage 1 and the second module, Working in Primary Care, aligns to Stage 2.
• E-portfolio - by completing the supported ePortfolio. There are two modules aligned to both stages of the Roadmap to Practice respectively.

Suitability of route will be determined by the completion of a Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) undertaken at the point of application.

Following this, an advisory learning plan will be issued, suggesting your optimal route based on experiential and academic background.

It is possible to take a blended approach to the PG Certificate if elements of the pathway have already been completed elsewhere. For example, if Stage 1 was completed in practice or at another higher educational institution (HEI), there is the option of joining the second taught module or the second supported portfolio module. The outcome of your LNA will determine which route is most suitable whilst also considering your preferences.

Entry Requirements

• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or General Osteopathic Council (GOC)
• Usually, 3 years of post-registration experience, ideally in a musculoskeletal setting. Your Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) will inform suitability rather than years of practice
• To be currently employed as a registered practitioner with the following regulatory bodies: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or General Osteopathic Council (GOC), and you will either be operating in a First Contact role or planning to enter this field
• To have your application supported by your employer, agreeing to release you to attend the taught content and practice placement. If you are self-employed, we are not able to offer reimbursement for lost earnings to attend the taught content and practice placement (taught route)
• To appropriately source and attend the 75-hour practice placement, regardless of your current working arrangement (taught route)
• To identify a suitable clinical supervisor (see below) for either of the routes of study, at the point of application

A suitable clinical supervisor must be:

• a GP trainer
• a GP
• a clinician who has a post-registration Master's degree (pre-registration Master's degrees do not qualify)
• a full MACP member
• a first-contact practitioner who has completed the requirements of the Roadmap to Practice (either taught or portfolio)
• an advanced clinical practitioner who is recognised by the NHS England Centre for Advancing Practice (CfAP)

Application Process

1. As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a Learning Needs Analysis (LNA). This is accessed through the application portal when you begin your application
2. Assessment of the LNA will be undertaken by the academic staff, to determine which route would be the most appropriate for you based on your previous qualifications and experience
3. Once the assessment of your LNA has been completed, we will communicate which route is suggested for you. This will be either Higher Education Institution (HEI) taught or a supported portfolio route
4. If the HEI taught route has been suggested, you will be required to identify a nominated appropriately trained supervisor. This is to support you for the 75-hour practice placement component as part of the second module on the PGCert (FCP2 - Working in Primary Care). Your local Primary Care Training Hub may be able to support you in finding a supervisor should you encounter difficulties
5. If the supported portfolio route has been suggested, you will be required to identify an appropriate supervisor to support you through the process of building your ePortfolio to meet Roadmap to Practice (MSK, July 2021) requirements
6. For both routes, programme fees will be funded by NHS England (subject to meeting university entry requirements)
7. Unconditional offers will only be made when a suitable practice placement supervisor has been identified. Your practice placement must be within a primary care setting

English Language Requirements

• IELTS 7 with no element below 6.5.

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Taught Route

The content is completed by distance learning, and you will be encouraged to use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to share practice, case scenarios, and literature.

Assessments will allow you to demonstrate an in-depth subject knowledge and develop your verbal and written communication skills.

Formal and informal feedback will be given during sessions.

During the second module, you will undertake 75 hours of supervised work-based learning placement. This will be in a primary care setting, supported by a suitably qualified supervisor nominated by you, who agrees to support you and adhere to our supervision structure.

Supported Portfolio Route

You will have access to our library and academic support facilities and our virtual learning environment, which allows you to engage with materials designed to support the development of your portfolio.

You will also be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will also act as your educational supervisor. They will support you from an academic and pastoral perspective during your course of study.

Fees, Finance, and Scholarships

Tuition Fee

• 10 credits: £627
• 20 credits: £1254
• 30 credits: £1881
• 40 credits: £2508
• Dissertation: £2714

Additional Course Costs

While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you may incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Subject to meeting requirements, the course is funded by NHS England.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Routes

Taught Route

You will integrate the theory and evidence base of musculoskeletal practice through a series of interactive synchronous (live) lectures.

The taught route content is delivered entirely online. You will only be required to attend Bradford once during your programme of study, for the OSCE examination as part of the first module’s assessment strategy.

Further learning and teaching will take place in a work-based learning environment in a primary care clinical setting under the guidance of a clinical supervisor. You will need access to an appropriate musculoskeletal (MSK) clinical caseload in order to undertake the modules.

The taught modules at Bradford have been developed in collaboration with clinicians, stakeholders and primary care providers working within the region, thus ensuring the continued clinical relevance of the programme whilst also recognising the requirements of the NHS England educational framework.

A further strength of the taught programme is the use of external lecturers who are specialists within their field of primary care and continue to have a clinical caseload.

Both routes are recognised by The Centre for Advancing Practice as meeting the requirements of the First Contact Practitioners & Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice.

Supported Portfolio Route

On this route, you will develop your skills and capabilities in a primary care setting under the supervision of a suitably qualified supervisor - further details can be found in the programme specification.

Your supervisor must be identified at the point of application.

You will also be supported by a nominated educational supervisor from the University of Bradford who will meet with you periodically to support your development in the academic components of the ePortfolio.

There will be drop-in sessions and workshops designed to facilitate the development of academic skills and the opportunity to network with your peers.

Once complete, your ePortfolio will be assessed and verified by a member of the academic team. On verification of your portfolio, you will be eligible for a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits at Level 7). These credits can be used towards a substantive Master's-level award.

Career Prospects

The programme is recognised by the Centre for Advancing Practice, NHS England as compliant with the requirements of the First Contact Practitioners & Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice, and as such, you will be recognised as a credentialed First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal).

Career Opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.