Operating Department Practice (South West) - DipHE

This two-year Diploma programme, delivered with the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as part of a wider peninsular partnership, prepares you to become an Operating Department Practitioner - a vital part of the operating theatre team, with a role that varies from day to day.

Operating Department Practitioner programmes at Birmingham City University (BCU) have an excellent track record of developing knowledgeable, compassionate and skilful health professionals who meet the needs of both patients and healthcare employers.

The employability of our students is maximised by exposure to quality placement learning experiences and the development of transferable skills which is reflected in consistent and exceptionally high employment on graduation. This unique partnership, delivered at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Campus, has been developed to meet the future workforce needs of the NHS and independent sector in the South-West as well as providing national employment opportunities

What's covered in the course?

The programme combines theoretical and practical components, complemented with clinical placements in a range of specialities and settings. The overarching aim is to develop and refine clinical competence and the application of best evidence-based knowledge to direct patient care in contemporary healthcare settings.

Your work will be assessed using a mix of methods depending on the module or area of study and includes text-based submissions, written examinations, oral examinations, presentations and clinical skills assessment both in placement and simulated in university. The range of assessment methods is chosen to not only indicate a level of achievement but to also develop and demonstrate a range of skills transferable to the modern healthcare environment.

It is anticipated that the development of transferable skills throughout your programme will enhance your employability on graduation and provide a sound foundation for future professional development.

The academic team are dedicated to the development of future caring professionals and have many years of experience delivering perioperative education in the academic and clinical settings. The teams’ experience of delivering perioperative care in the ‘real world’ provides an excellent resource that helps students develop a clear understanding of the relationship between theory and practice. Additionally, the team are committed to the enhancement of perioperative care more widely through publication and information sharing in the wider healthcare environment.

Why Choose Us?

• Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs
• We are one of the largest and most diverse providers of health and social care education in the country.
• We use advanced and innovative education methods to ensure you get the most from your experience and learning
• We have close links with a wide range of clinical practice partners to maximise your experience
• Exposure to quality placement learning experiences to develop skills and professional relationships 
• Wide variety of career opportunities available upon successful completion, such as working in orthopaedic clinics, transplant teams, research and education

We recruit to the values of the NHS constitution. This influences our selection criteria and especially the values we are seeking to be demonstrated in both your application and interview, which we view as essential in any individual involved in patient care.

A minimum of 88 UCAS tariff points:

Other qualifications:

Portfolio Route for those holding Level 3 Diploma in Perioperative Support (QCF)

This recognition of prior learning and experience route recognises that your previous experience and achievement contributes towards entry to the Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice, and when combined with successful completion of your award, may lead to successfully gaining a place in the programme.

In order to demonstrate this you are required to complete a portfolio which complements your certificated learning, and demonstrates your ability to study in Higher Education. To find out more please contact Course Enquiries

Applicants’ qualifications that are not listed will be considered on an individual basis.

In addition:

• Applicants must have evidence of study within the last 5 years.
• Applicants are required to undertake an interview*.
• Places are subject to a satisfactory Occupational Enhanced Heath Check, Disclosure and Barring Service clearance and registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
• Applicants should be aware that qualifications, personal statement, interview and reference all form part of the selection criteria for this course.

* Interviews: Candidates who are successful will be invited to attend a selection event. This will consist of an introduction talk from one of the ODP team which will include an outline of the day. Candidates will be offered a tour of the educational facilities at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Following all remaining candidates will participate in a formal interview process which will conclude the day. Applicants will be made aware of the outcome on the selection day as soon as possible. 

International candidates

Those who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of at least 7.0 with no element below 6.5.

Additional costs

We offer a wide range of professionally accredited and vocational courses that require the purchase of, among other things, uniforms, equipment, subscriptions, professional body memberships and DBS checks, and may require you to pay to attend conferences or participate in placements.

The link below provides our estimate of the possible costs associated with key activities on specific courses. Please bear in mind that these are only estimates of costs based on past student experience and feedback. The actual costs to you could vary considerably (either greater or lower than these estimates) depending on your choices as you progress through the course. We set out where we can, based on experience, where these indicative costs are for activities that are optional or compulsory.

All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.

Find additional costs for your course

Learning Support Fund

From 1 November 2017 you may be able to apply for elements of the learning support fund if:

• you are studying a pre-registration healthcare course
• are studying in England and
• your course started on or after 1 August 2017

Visit NHS student services for more information

Course structure

Taught in state-of-the-art facilities, including access to simulation suites and operating theatres, at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospitals education centres. We use a variety of teaching methods to help you get the most from your study, reflecting the subject matter and your individual needs.

From structured lectures to personal use of our multimedia facilities, we'll teach you how to:

• Work as part of a team
• Understand how an ODP fits into the team and what they do
• Understand the role played by other professionals
• Manage your clinical workload
• Make informed decisions
• Communicate effectively
• Adapt to different practice settings
• Adopt effective reporting and recording strategies

And as we're one of the largest ODP education providers in the UK, we can offer you opportunities to experience surgical practice in a wide range of specialities; from transplant surgery to ophthalmology to neurosurgery. 

You will study 120 credits each at Level 4 and 5 and there's a 60-40 split between blocks of study and clinical placement.

Enhancing Employability Skills

To prepare students to meet the requirements for eligibility to apply for entry onto the Health and Care Professions Council register as Registered Operating Department Practitioners.

Combines theory with clinical placement to enhance awareness of different specialities in preparation for employment in operating theatre departments.

Develops transferable skills for working in a range of health care settings and recognising the need for life-long learning.

Facilities

We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that medical staff may come across. Using a mixture of modern classrooms, a skills suite and a real operating theatre we ensure that the students experience offers students a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that students learn using the most up-to-date equipment available.

Find out more about the Research Innovation and Learning Development Building

Operating theatre

The operating theatre is operationally used within in a hospital’s day case unit and has all of the machinery, tools and equipment necessary; however with protected, supported time you will be able to build up confidence and feel comfortable in your working environment.  Operating theatres can be daunting and confusing places on first view but during clinical skills sessions, you will learn to feel more comfortable within that environment.

RILD Library 

The library, based in the Research, Innovation, Learning and Development (RILD) building, is a specialist health education library. The state-of-the art facility offers an extensive range of range of information and reference materials set out in a relaxing environment, conducive to studying. There are comfortable seating areas, group study areas and a silent study area as well as a numerous number of computers that students can access during theory.  In addition to this, students will have access to not only the online BCU catalogue but also the NHS libraries in their placement areas.

The library offers extended opening hours and has an ODP specific reading list.