PG Cert Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
Program Overview
This 18-month apprenticeship program at Bournemouth University is designed to enhance clinical practitioners' knowledge and skills in a specific healthcare field. Through a supportive learning environment with clinical mentors and academic educators, graduates gain the qualifications to practice as enhanced clinical practitioners, contributing to improved patient care and service delivery. The program offers two award options: a Graduate Certificate in Enhanced Clinical Practice (Level 6) or a Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Clinical Practice (Level 7).
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This 18-month apprenticeship program is designed to support individuals in gaining an enhanced level of practice with specific knowledge and skills in a field of healthcare expertise. The program offers two award options:
- Graduate Certificate in Enhanced Clinical Practice: For those interested in Level 6 study.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Clinical Practice: For those wishing to gain a direct Level 7 award.
Objectives:
The program aims to:
- Enhance clinical practitioners' (ECPs) knowledge and skills in a specific field of healthcare expertise.
- Equip ECPs to manage an aspect of a patient's care within their current level of practice.
- Develop critical thinking, analytical, and reflective skills transferable to clinical practice.
- Provide a supportive learning environment with clinical mentors and academic educators.
Outline:
Content:
The program covers three core units:
- Clinical Reasoning & Decision Making in Enhanced Clinical Practice: This unit explores the role of enhanced clinical practice in treatment planning, including the therapeutic process, clinical reasoning strategies, consultation models, clinical hypothesis testing, and effective care plan construction.
Structure:
The program is delivered part-time over 18 months.
Course Schedule:
The next start date is April 2025.
Modules:
The program consists of three core units, as described above.
Teaching:
Methods:
The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Workshops
- Simulations
- Role-play
Faculty:
The program is taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise, including:
- Senior academic staff
- Lecturer practitioners who work at the university and in clinical practice
- Other qualified healthcare professionals
Unique Approaches:
The program emphasizes a supportive learning environment with close collaboration between clinical mentors and academic educators.
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be qualified to practice as enhanced clinical practitioners.
Opportunities:
The program prepares graduates for a variety of roles in healthcare settings, including:
- NHS (hospital and community)
- Private and independent healthcare sector (nursing homes and private hospitals)
- Education
- Academic research
Outcomes:
- The program is offered at Level 6 or Level 7 study.
- The program is designed for established, motivated nurses and Allied Health Professionals who want to develop their careers and work at an enhanced level.
- Prospective apprentices must be employed in a healthcare role and have the support of their employer.
- Enhanced Clinical Practice is distinct from Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP).
- The university provides practice simulation suites to mirror clinical and community workplace settings.
- The university has invested £48 million in a new building housing health and social care courses.
- **Academic award at Level 5 in an associated healthcare field, such as DipHE or Advanced Dip.
- **Registration with the respective statutory regulator of health and care professions (i.e. NMC, HCPC), and proof of current registration.
- **Level 2 English and Maths (i.e. GCSE grade C or above). Other level 2 equivalent qualifications must meet the acceptable qualifications for English and Maths requirements for apprenticeships defined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) at level 2 and above.
- **Your employer, in conjunction with your supervisor/assessor and the university, will confirm when you have met the criteria and are eligible to progress to the end point assessment.
- **The University will uphold all requirements for independent assessment in the end point assessment as identified by the Institute of Apprenticeships, which you need to complete in a maximum three month period.
- **A Bachelors Honours degree with minimum 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.
- **Registration with the respective statutory regulator of health and care professions (i.e. NMC, HCPC), for a minimum of 3 years and provide proof of current registration.
- **Level 2 English and Maths (i.e. GCSE grade C or above). Other level 2 equivalent qualifications must meet the acceptable qualifications for English and Maths requirements for apprenticeships defined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) at level 2 and above.
- **Your employer, in conjunction with your supervisor/assessor and the university, will confirm when you have met the criteria and are eligible to progress to the end point assessment.
- **The University will uphold all requirements for independent assessment in the end point assessment as identified by the Institute of Apprenticeships, which you need to complete in a maximum three month period.
