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Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2023-24, 2025-26)

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC

BTEC - DMM

See full entry requirements

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You’ll develop your skills and put them to the test in our simulated operating theatre, enabling you to experience the operating theatre environment.
  2. Through several perioperative environments, you’ll work as part of interdisciplinary teams and gain hands-on experience through clinical placement opportunities.
  3. To enhance your learning, you’ll hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

This apprenticeship course has been designed to provide the opportunity to study Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons) whilst being employed in the perioperative environment. During this apprenticeship you’ll get a strong grounding in the theory exploring what is involved in the three interconnected aspects of the role: anaesthetic, surgical and post anaesthetic.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to practise your skills in our simulated operating theatre, enabling you to experience the operating theatre environment.
  • The course is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), so you’ll benefit from experienced staff, specialist labs and great links to NHS Trusts and our partners in the private sector.
  • Our clinical placements opportunities enable you to gain valuable hands-on experience in a work-based learning environment.
  • You’ll get the chance to work in the real world as part of interdisciplinary teams in a variety of care settings, so you’ll be able to see how ODPs contribute to all sorts of specialist areas.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

In line with the apprenticeship model, the course is designed to support a training in practice approach. Whilst undertaking the course you’ll remain employed by your host organisation and will spend 80% of your time in your current workplace. The remaining 20% will be spent at the University undertaking theory work. This apprenticeship is fully integrated, however, on completion of all academic modules and evidence of Maths, English and care Certificate qualifications you’ll be put forward for an End Point Assessment (EPA), which is independently assessed by the Higher Education Institution (Skills Funding Agency, 2018).

If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Course detail

Core modules:

Applied Anatomy and Physiology for Operating Department Practice

You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of a range of essential concepts related to normal and altered anatomy and physiology that underpin perioperative practice. You'll also investigate the structure and function of the human organ systems and the fundamentals of microbiology related to perioperative care.

Introduction to Perioperative Practice and Patient Care (Placement 1)

Through this practice module you'll have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of patient needs and how to undertake effective perioperative patient care. This will involve working as part of the multidisciplinary team under the direct supervision of qualified clinical staff. You'll also have the chance to develop and demonstrate your competence in undertaking the anaesthetic, scrub and circulating roles.

Principles of Anaesthesia for Operating Department Practice

In this module you’ll be introduced to anaesthetic techniques and will investigate the role of the anaesthetic practitioner in assisting the anaesthetist during perioperative care. You’ll also learn about anaesthetic principles including anaesthetic drugs and equipment, as well as how these ensure that service users’ care is maintained throughout their perioperative journey. You’ll explore the underpinning theory and scientific principles relating to the techniques in anaesthetic practice.

Principles of Surgery for Operating Department Practice

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the roles of the perioperative circulating and scrub practitioner. You’ll be introduced to specific techniques and equipment required for carrying out surgical interventions. The module also explores aspects of patient preparation, holistic care and support. Principles of safe practice will also be introduced including the function and safety of equipment and machinery.

Research and Professional Accountability for Operating Department Practice

You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of professional attributes and lifelong learning skills, as well as research knowledge, allowing you to explore published information and implement evidence-based practice in line with registering body requirements. The research element of the module will introduce you to the role of research and evidence-based practice within health with specific consideration of the different types of research undertaken and where these are applicable.

Entry requirements

BBCat A Level .

Merit at T Level.

DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade B.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 15 at Distinction, and 30 at Merit.

You must be employed as an Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner and provide a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances.

In addition you must have GCSE English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Placements


Work based learning is a compulsory element of the course and you’ll spend at least 80% of your time on the course in clinical practice. You’ll undertake blocks of clinical practice within your employed trust.

You’ll be assessed each year by qualified mentors who meet the requirements of Council of Operating Department Practice (CODP) Standards, Recommendations and Guidance for Mentors and Practice Placements (2009). You and your mentors will be supported by placement education facilitators and university link lecturers whilst undertaking work-based learning.

Your career


Career opportunities after successfully completing this course and gaining entry onto the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register could include working as a theatre practitioner in hospital critical care environments.

Other opportunities may include roles as perioperative practitioners, specialist practitioners, team leaders, managers, educators and academics both in clinical settings and universities, as well as working in other areas where critically ill patients are cared for.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules, and with the PebblePad platform, which is used by students when they go out on placements.

Support services will also be available from your employer.

Important information

When you enrol as an apprentice learner of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and our disciplinary procedure. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as an apprentice. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but not yet started

If we propose to make a major change to an apprenticeship course that you have applied for, then we will tell you and your employer as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Although we always try and run all the courses we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or delay your course start date if we consider this reasonably necessary, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you and your employer as soon as reasonably possible. In such instances, we will work with you and your employer to agree a deferred start date, or cancel your application and, if appropriate, provide information regarding other local apprenticeship providers.

Changes to your course after you enrol as an apprentice

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that materially changes the services available to you, or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days, classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the requirements of an updated version of the apprenticeship standard relevant to your course; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered or claiming an interim award and exiting the University.

If a major change affects your course, we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible and will carry out suitable consultation with affected apprentices. If you and your employer reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment we will work with both of you to try to find an appropriate solution. Where one cannot be found we will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring your remaining apprenticeship learning to another training provider if you and your employer wish to do so.

Termination of employment

As your employer is funding your apprenticeship course, you must remain in relevant employment for the duration of the course until you have completed your end point assessment. Under the apprenticeship rules, if you are made redundant and you have completed 75% of the practical period or have less than 6 months left, then you may complete the course. Otherwise, unless you find alternative relevant employment within 12 weeks of the date you are made redundant, then you will be withdrawn from the course.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University. The ESFA is the principal regulator for your apprenticeship course.

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