Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship

Program Overview

Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship

Overview

Designed for practitioners from a range of backgrounds including (but not limited to) radiography, nursing, pharmacy, paramedics, occupational therapy and midwifery, this programme develops the skills and expertise required to respond to challenges facing our modern day health service. It provides a strong academic underpinning to the role of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner and encourages apprentices to expand their scope of practice as part of the advanced practice agenda outlined by the Health Education England multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum second-class Honours degree (or a Professional Diploma for older qualifications) in a healthcare-related discipline.
• A requirement from the Education and Skills Funding Agency that apprentices hold a level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics.
• Registration with the appropriate statutory regulatory body for the profession (such as the HCPC or NMC) and two years post-registration clinical experience.
• Relevant clinical experience or previous postgraduate qualifications will also be considered as part of the admissions process.

How to Apply

Selection to this programme is made by employers; applicants will already hold a relevant post working with an NHS service or independent provider. Apprentices will continue working for their employer throughout the duration of this apprenticeship. Applicants will need to speak to their HR department and/or manager to gain sign off to undertake this apprenticeship.

Funding

• Full programme cost: £12,000
• The employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship; apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs.
• Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution.

Course Content

With ever-growing demand on our healthcare services, there is a need for highly skilled professionals to utilise research-informed practice to lead and transform healthcare. This programme has been designed to meet the needs of our healthcare sector to deliver a high standard of care that puts the patient first.

• Develop their clinical practice, enabling them to work autonomously and flexibly in order to make complex decisions about how people should be cared for and treated
• Understand the relevant professional, legal and ethical issues that apply to their work
• Promote multidisciplinary practice by involving clinicians and practitioners from a variety of disciplines to understand the wider clinical context of health care service needs
• Gain a sound educational grounding that will encourage critical analysis of literature, documents and policies associated with advanced practice
• Undertake research, audit and evaluative activities that develop personal knowledge and expertise and can be disseminated in a community of practice, improving evidence-based patient care across systems

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice (30 credits)
  • Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision Making (30 credits)
  • Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice (0 credits)

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (45 credits)
  • Advanced Skill Development (45 credits)
  • Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice (0 credits)
  • One module from a choice of:
    • Care of the Older Adult (15 credits)
    • Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care (15 credits)
    • Research Skills for Advanced Clinical Practitioners (15 credits)

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • Advanced Clinical Practice Improvement Project (30 credits)
  • Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice (10 credits)
  • End Point Assessment (20 credits)

Learning

Approximately 20 per cent of an apprentice's contractual working time will be given over to study. Our model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and workloads. No weekly day-release is required, mitigating disruption of their daily role and ensuring maximum flexibility.

• A multi-disciplinary learning environment giving apprentices the opportunity to engage with a variety of perspectives and experience
• In-person teaching comprising of small group, evidence-based learning
• Educators from diverse backgrounds, all bringing strong clinical and academic skills to the classroom
• A range of online resources to support face-to-face teaching

Assessment

Each module will include both formative and summative elements. Formative assessment will involve opportunities for discussion and feedback from peers and tutors. The summative assessment element for each module will provide apprentices with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

• Development of knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive and intellectual skills
• Key/transferable Skills

Assessments will be multi-modal (such as portfolios, presentations and OSCEs) and will enable demonstration of alignment with the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.

Employer Information

This programme has been designed if you are looking to develop your team's knowledge and skills in Advanced Clinical Practice, or upskill your workforce to be at the cutting edge of clinical, educational, research and leadership-based practice.

Apprentices will develop the ability to respond to modern-day healthcare challenges through cultivation of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that underpin the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.

Careers

This programme aims to enable clinicians to practice to their full potential, meeting the healthcare needs of the population through innovative, collaborative and autonomous working. There are a multitude of career opportunities within the advanced clinical practice sphere and these continue to grow on a yearly basis.

• Developing your skills and career prospects
• A combination of taught theoretical concepts (including: research capabilities, clinical skills development, service improvement and education and leadership concepts) in conjunction with the opportunity to strengthen and consolidate practical skills, ensures graduates of the programme are well-equipped to manage the complex problems encountered in healthcare.