FdSc Assistant Practitioner (subject to validation)

Are you looking for a non-traditional career pathway to a route to registered professional occupations such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography?

Exeter College is excited to be collaborating with our university partner, Plymouth Marjon University, to support the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. From September 2024 (subject to validation) we are planning to deliver the Assistant Practitioner Foundation Degree (FdSc) to provide well-trained and competent staff for a range of healthcare roles.

Assistant Practitioners work alongside registered health professionals using their skills and experience in a particular area of clinical practice. They work in almost any area of the NHS, and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients providing high quality, focused and compassionate care. As part of the programme, you can choose specialist pathways aligned to roles across the health and care sector. The programmes offers an inter-professional learning experience, meaning you will learn from and across different professional roles giving you a holistic view of the patient experience.

Module examples:

1st Year

• Foundations of Professional Practice
• Introduction to Clinical Skills
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Clinical Practice 1
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Communication and Working in Teams

2nd Year

• Research in Evidence Based Practice
• Leading and Integrating Care
• Pathophysiology for Healthcare
• Clinical Practice 2
• Optional modules

There will be two modules in the second year of the programme which can be taken from a range of options. These options are currently being finalised with employer partners.

Next steps:
On successful completion, graduates are eligible to apply for roles as an Assistant Practitioner (NHS Band 4). You could work in hospitals, clinics or in the community such as in GP surgeries, or visiting patients in their home. You may also choose to progress to a full degree in Nursing or other Allied Health Professions.

• 72 – 120 UCAS points (to be confirmed)
• Three A Levels at grades DDD or above 
• BTEC National Diploma or QCF Extended Diploma.
• Access to HE Diploma. 
• T Level P (C+ in core elements) 
• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent) grade C/4. 
• Equivalent qualifications may be considered, including workplace delivered NVQs. 

DBS check and occupational health check. 

You will be based at the Hele Road site, with access to Learning Resource Centres (LRCs), study areas, cafes and computer suites.