Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) - BSc (Hons)

Using the AHP career framework the course embeds the ‘Four Pillars of Practice’ within each year to provide a spiralling curriculum covering:

• Pillar One: Clinical Practice (anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care)
• Pillar Two: Facilitation of Learning (of self and others)
• Pillar Three: Leadership
• Pillar Four: Evidence, Research and Development

The proportion of teaching and learning of each pillar varies in each year, with the first year aimed at preparing you for academic work and self-development, which will be supported by your on the job experience to underpin the principles of evidenced-based perioperative care for patients undergoing elective surgery.

In year two, the emphasis shifts on the job to providing care for patients undergoing complex and emergency surgery. You will learn to understand the principles of leadership whilst supporting others to learn as well as developing inquiry-based learning in order to support research and development.

You will work towards becoming an autonomous practitioner in year three, developing proficiency in anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care as well as gaining experience in acute care beyond the operating theatre and developing in the role of a Surgical First Assistant. You will explore your own specialist interests to evaluate inquiry based learning as well as developing your leadership skills in order to manage people and resources within the perioperative environment as you transition to a registered ODP as you prepare to undertake the End Point Assessment and apply for registration with the HCPC.

What do apprenticeships offer?

• Work based learning – the opportunity to build on existing knowledge and skills
• A wide range of placement opportunities to broaden your understanding of healthcare provision across the lifespan
• Highly experienced tutors who are all professionally qualified to support you at university
• Work based clinical educators to support you in practice
• A wide range of support services available to you at university to support your learning journey

Location

This course can be studied at City South Campus, Birmingham starting in April 2021 or Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, South West starting later in 2021.

Entry Requirements 

You will need to apply for this apprenticeship through your organisation, and your application will be assessed by both your employer and the academic team at Birmingham City University.

As a minimum requirement, you will need to hold the Care Certificate (from the Skills for Health), have at least three GCSEs at grade 4 (formerly grade C) in English language, mathematics and one other and either 112 UCAS points or a NVQ level 3 in healthcare or associated subject and a portfolio of evidence.

How will I study?

As an apprentice on this course you will be released by your employer to study part-time at university while having exposure to a range of practice placement settings. In university, you will experience a mixture of face-to-face and virtual teaching, self-directed study and practice-based clinical placements. On the job, you will engage with practice partners and service users to learn the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to care for a wide range of patients in anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care as well as beyond the operating theatre. ODP Apprentices are required to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) on completion of the programme. The EPA is independently assessed outside of the university.