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
• Pillar Two: Facilitation of Learning
• 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.

Location

This course can be studied at City South Campus, Birmingham, or Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, South West.

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 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 Your End Point Assessment (EPA) is the exam board on completion of the programme.