Transcript Generic PowerPoint Presentation Title Page

Assistant Practitioners:
the journey through
education
Sue Cluroe
The University of Northampton
What is an Assistant Practitioner?
• A worker who competently delivers health
and social care to and for people. They
have a required level of knowledge and
skill beyond that of the traditional
healthcare assistant or support worker
– Skills for Health, 2009
Key early issues
• Possible registration
• Quality to meet The University standards and potentially a
future professional body
• Consistency across Northamptonshire
• Link with Skills for Health /Care competencies
• Trust involvement in content
• It was agreed to link with the University of Northampton
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care
Basis for the Assistant Practitioner
programme
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care was first
validated in 2007
• The programme lasts 2 years and is modular in design
• This model was first used to develop a FdSc in adult
Palliative Care (with LOROS),
• The Acute and Community pathway started in 2010
• Other pathways were developed later
What does this mean?
• The student is an employee and seconded to the University
for the teaching component
• They are subject to all the normal employee regulations
regarding shift patterns, mandatory skills, annual leave etc.
• They will have an allocated mentor who will provide a level
of supervision and assessment via a portfolio in practice
• They have a Code of Conduct developed by Skills for Health
specifically for APs and support workers
• Content reflects the needs of patients/clients and is
regularly reviewed to ensure content is current
Entry criteria
• The University entry criteria is:
– ‘A’ levels, Access course or NVQ level 3 (or equivalent
qualification)
– English GCSE at grade C or above (or equivalent)
• The employer may ask for extra e.g.
– Experience in health and/or social care
• All candidates are interviewed jointly by the employer and
the University. The interview includes a literacy test which
must be passed
Assessment
• The type of learner was explored
• It was felt that these would be practical people who had
been away from study
• The range of assessments needed to reflect this as well as
the needs of the service
• Methods of assessment include
– Presentations
– Written assignments
– Reflective accounts
– Case studies
– Examination
At the end of the course?
• Assistant Practitioners work usually at Band 4
• They are not currently registered but do have a Code of
Conduct (Skills for Health)
• They have a knowledge base which underpins their work
• They may wish to continue to study and a top-up BSc
Health and Social Care is available at the University
• A few may decide to move into a profession (eg. nursing,
midwifery), although a recent survey of 49 students shows
the AP students as wishing to remain in that role
Support for their course
• Mentors – need to be identified and prepared
• Clinical skills –
• Placement audits
• Time sheets
• Mandatory training
• Enhanced DBS
• Service user involvement
• Access to IT
• Uniforms
Positives of the course
• Students get the full support available at the University
including ASSIST
• Guaranteed level of study overseen by the Quality
Academic Partnerships
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Students gain confidence over the 2 years and feel able to
contribute positively in their new role
Challenges of the course
• Confidence of the students
• Small numbers
• Ensuring students from disparate settings all get what they
require
• Lack of understanding of the role by some practitioners,
leading to inconsistency of support / role
Future issues
• Career progression
• Care Certificate Framework due to be fully implemented in
March 2015
• Will AP’s be registered in the future?