Do you wish to work in an environment which supports the needs of others in one of West Yorkshire’s largest growing sectors? Do you possess personal qualities that are ideal for a patient-centred workforce? If you would like to join like-minded people in their journey towards becoming an assistant practitioner, this is the foundation degree for you.

Demands for the healthcare workforce are rapidly changing and new policy initiatives have been introduced that aim to modernise health and social care services, and improve quality, productivity and efficiency (Department of Health, 2016). As part of this, assistant practitioner posts have been introduced to meet increasing capacity and there are over 54,000 assistant practitioners currently working within Healthcare (NHS England, 2021).

Assistant practitioners work across most departments in the NHS and are integral to our healthcare sector. The role’s purpose is to assist organisations and registered practitioners in the delivery of high-quality care in settings such as hospitals, clinics, residential care and GP surgeries. Assistant practitioners often manage their own caseloads and may delegate to, supervise, teach and mentor others including healthcare support workers and students.

This two-year foundation degree will provide you with required skills and behaviours. You will gain the training and experience needed to be proficient in the day-to-day role of an assistant practitioner including assisting in patient assessment, coordinating care, carrying out referrals and undertaking clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for the local population and care services. This course will guide and enhance your knowledge of this role and the requirements outlined by the occupational standards.

By enrolling on this programme, you will be helping to address a growing need for care workers and practitioners within the NHS. The course offers a clinical and therapeutic focus, including applied practice and a theoretical underpinning in accordance with occupational standards governed by the NHS, Skills for Health and Health Education England. As such, you will participate in class-based learning and an extensive work placement (460 hours).

You will develop all the skills and capabilities required to be a competent practitioner and gain the confidence to administer high-quality care. Assistant practitioners must have personal qualities such as kindness and empathy and this course is ideal for anyone who is conscientious and possesses effective observational, communication, problem-solving and methodical skills. You will need to be able to follow complex instructions and procedures.

You will be provided realistic practice for developing your proficiency in patient care, through consistent simulation scenarios throughout the programme. You will be able to learn through trial and error, allowing you to make and correct your clinical errors without adverse consequence and so improving your capabilities to ensure you are ready for the workplace.

Our pre-programmed manikins are designed to train you in the care and management of a variety of patients providing you with deliberate clinical training. When a manikin is perceived as a patient, it provides you with a realistic experience of what it means to behave like a healthcare professional. Consequently, this realism allows you to practice and acquire relational, communicative, and collaborative skills. The experience of learning using a manikin can facilitate the development of your professional identity.

The programme is designed for students who have some healthcare experience and a healthcare qualification (usually at level 3, such as the NCFE CACHE Diploma in Healthcare Support).