Overview
Course Summary
This is a two year course, leading to a DipHE in Operating Department Practice. The course consists of academic and clinical components, which are integrated to meet the aims of the course. The aim of the course is to produce a clinically competent Operating Department Practitioner with the knowledge and skills to practice in a dynamic healthcare environment. Clinical competence encompasses all aspects of the Operating Department Practitioner’s role; the ability to undertake the accurate planning and delivery of treatment, the provision of a high standard of patient care, effective interpersonal skills, and the ability to adapt and respond to the individual needs of the patient. Successful completion of the programme provides the student with a professional qualification and eligibility to apply for registration as an ODP with the Health Professions Council.
Clinical experience is undertaken at one placement site and could be in Ipswich (Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust) or in Bury St Edmunds (West Suffolk Hospital); prospective candidates may express a preference for placement site at either application or on the selection day.site and could be Ipswich (Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust) or in Bury St Edmunds (West Suffolk Hospital and BMI Bury St Edmunds Hospital).
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements to the DipHE Operating Department Practice Programme is as follows:
A minimum of 200 UCAS tariff points, or equivalent.
Applicants with a BTEC National Diploma in an appropriate area with a profile equating to a minimum of 200 UCAS tariff points.
Successful completion of an Access to Higher Education course is also recognised as acceptable for entry to the programme; health or science routes preferred.
This list is not exhaustive and candidates with other qualifications, for example K101 or GNVQ advanced, equating to level 3 or above will be considered.
In addition, all applicants must have a minimum of five GCSEs at grade C or above (or equivalent) which must include English, Mathematics and Science.
Students for whom English is not their first language must achieve IELTS level 7, with no element below 6.5.
All offers will be made on the basis of a selection day which includes literacy and numeracy tests, group activity and formal interview.
Any offer will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health assessment and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check.
Admission with Credit
Subject to the approval of the Assessment Board candidates may be admitted with credit on the basis of prior certificated learning and or/assessed experiential learning in accordance with the Institution’s APL policy. In the case of prior certificated learning APCL this will be no more than 50% (measured in terms of credit) of the award for which the candidate is registered, and in the case of assessed experiential learning APEL this will be no more than 25% (measured in terms of credits) of the award for which the candidate is registered.
Any candidate applying for admission with credit will also be required to meet the standard entry criteria for the programme.
Course Aims
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Enable students to develop a detailed knowledge of the complexity and diversity of perioperative care.
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Enable students to relate their knowledge to health and disease.
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Provide students with the knowledge and skills required for professional practice.
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Develop the skills necessary for the coherent communication of information to a range of different groups.
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Provide students with the skills required to select and critically evaluate the current scientific research literature and apply this to clinical practice.
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Engage students with the contemporary developments in both Operating Department Practice and within health and social care.
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Enable students to become independent learners who are prepared for undertaking continued professional development (CPD) and honours level study.
Learning Outcomes
These course aims are broken down into sets of related skills, which are known as learning outcomes.
A. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course you should be able to:
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Provide an optimum environment for the care & treatment of the peri-operative patient
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Evaluate and reflect upon the care provided and own professional actions
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Apply knowledge of pharmacology within operating department practice
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Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology within operating department practice
B. Cognitive Skills
By the end of the course you should be able to:
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Identify and effectively manage risks associated with the patient and the peri-operative environment
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Plan and deliver evidence based individualised care to patients
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Relate complex elements of knowledge to one another
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Problem solve by taking a critical and analytical approach to data and evidence
C. Subject Specific and Practical Skills
By the end of the course you should be able to:
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Support and promote clinical effectiveness by developing evidence based practice within the operating department
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Demonstrate and promote professional, ethical and legal approaches to operating department practice
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Contribute to the quality assurance process within the operating department
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Demonstrate competence in the use of medical devices integral to the care of peri-operative patients
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Exhibit a range of complex skills related to operating department practice
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Demonstrate competence in the anaesthetic ODP role
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Demonstrate competence in the surgical ODP role
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Demonstrate competence in the post anaesthetic care ODP role
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Identify, assess and respond to the individual needs of patients
D. Key Skills
Key Skills, also known as graduate key skills, transferable skills or general skills, comprise communication, information technology, problem solving, numeracy, working with others and improving own learning.
By the end of the course you should be able to:
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Develop professional relationships within the interprofessional team
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Monitor their personal development as a learner
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Demonstrate professional autonomy and accountability
Module Framework and Module Description
The Dip HE Operating Department Practice programme is comprised of the following mandatory modules; there are no optional modules on the programme. These modules are designed to provide basic skills and knowledge in the first year, which is built upon and consolidated in the second year. Through completion of the course the student will possess the necessary skills and knowledge to become a competent practitioner.
Level 4
Scientific Principles of Operating Department Practice (40 credits)
Professional Practice 1 (20 credits)
Planning Holistic Care (20 credits)
Professional Practice 2 (20 credits)
IPL The Professional Person (20 credits)
Level 5
Anaesthetic Care (40 credits)
Professional Practice 3 (20 credits)
Surgical Practice (20 credits)
Professional Practice 4 (20 credits)
Advancing Perioperative Practice (20 credits)
IPL The Service User (0 credits)
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The teaching and learning strategies will be flexible, foster student-centred learning, and where possible reflect the specific requirements of group members. Emphasis is placed on linking theory to clinical practice, and reflection on outcomes. Teaching strategies will include lectures, simulation, facilitated seminars, tutorials, focused discussion, enquiry based learning and clinical skills.
Assessments are concerned with the application of theory to practice as well as drawing upon practice to help organise and structure theory. Forms theory assessment include case study analysis, essay writing, analysis of literature pertinent to practice and examinations. The method of assessment is based on the most appropriate means of ascertaining achievement of the learning outcomes.
Practice assessment is via a professional practice portfolio which students will complete each semester; this is designed to guide their clinical learning to ensure ongoing skill development. The practice portfolio comprises clinical elements, which are assessed by mentors in practice, and theoretical elements which underpin the clinical assessment and is marked by academic staff at UCS.
The assessment reflects the UCS Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy for Programmes in the Higher Education sector. The UCS policy on the infringement of assessment regulations also applies to this programme.
Benchmarks / Professional Standards / Competency Frameworks
The design of this course has been guided by the following:
HPC (2008) Standards of Proficiency Operating Department Practitioners
HPC (2009) Standards of Education and Training
QAA (2004) Benchmark Statement: Operating Department Practice
CODP (2006) DipHE Operating Department Practice Curriculum Document
Timetable
The teaching is divided into two semesters, semester one runs from September to January and Semester Two from February to July. All students will take modules equating to 60 credits each semester, making 120 credits per academic year. During theory blocks students will have to attend UCS for 30 hours per week and spend at least 15 hours additional time in independent study. Students will be provided with a course calendar and module timetables when they join the course. During clinical placements students are required to complete 37.5 hours per week, the shifts will reflect their mentor’s off-duty and will include early and late shifts with occasional weekend and night shifts. While in clinical placement, students will need to spend additional time in private study to complete assignments and the written components of the practice assessment documentation.
Course Delivery
The course is delivered at the Ipswich Campus and the majority of the teaching is in the Waterfront building. Students will also be taught in the clinical skills centre located in the James Hehir Building.
Placements / Work Based Learning / Work Experience
Clinical placement is integral to the programme and students will spend a minimum of 60% of their time in clinical placement; these placements will be at either Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust or West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust. Within these clinical placements students have the opportunity to gain experience throughout the perioperative environment (i.e. in anaesthesia, surgery and the post-anaesthetic care unit). Students will gain clinical experience within a range of different clinical specialities and will also undertake placements in a surgical ward and insight placements in other relevant clinical areas, for example critical care or accident and emergency.
Tutorial and Study Support
The provision of robust student support and guidance is essential to the successful delivery of this programme. There are a variety of different sources of student support provided both within the School and throughout the institution.
Each student will be allocated a personal tutor, usually for the duration of their course of study. The course leader will nominate personal tutors from amongst the course team. Each student will be entitled personal tutorials in each semester. Students are encouraged to utilise this support.
The student’s personal tutor will also be the person who provides subject specific academic tutorial support for their learning and assessment needs at module level. Together, the personal tutor and the student will review and evaluate the student’s whole learning experience in both the academic and practice settings. The personal tutor scheme is introduced during the induction week and students are have timetabled sessions to meet with their personal tutor.
Students with identified learning needs/disabilities are referred to Student Support at UCS for an initial assessment of needs and to identify how support can be best provided.
Opportunities on Completion of the Course
Upon successful completion of the course students will be eligible to apply for registration as an Operating Department Practitioner with the Health Professions Council (HPC). Upon qualification will allow them to work in a variety of clinical settings within the perioperative environment. The Diploma in Higher Education will enable students to progress to Honours level study if they wish.