FDSC ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER (HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE)

This Foundation Degree and Higher Technical Qualification is validated by Sheffield Hallam University and developed with hospital trusts, private healthcare providers and voluntary sector organisations.

In healthcare settings, there is a need for individuals with a higher level of training and skills than healthcare assistants but not as extensive as registered nurses or allied health professionals. The Assistant Practitioner role can act as a stepping stone for those wishing to progress to further study to become qualified healthcare professionals, such as nurses or allied health practitioners.

This is a full-time course with around nine contact hours per week. Students must complete 200 placement hours at Level 4 and 200 hours at Level 5. Experience in a care setting, or current employment in the sector, is strongly recommended.

We begin your academic journey with the Transition to Higher Education module, providing a foundation framework to learn academic reading, writing, referencing, digital literacy and research skills to support learning. Through the work-based learning modules, you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for safe and effective workplace practice. With a focus on health and social care assessment and delivery, students will apply theoretical frameworks that underpin integrated service user assessment, identify key issues impacting service users’ ability to function effectively, and develop, implement and evaluate interventions to enhance service-user wellbeing.

The course is delivered over two semesters in each year. Students complete 120 credits at Level 4 and 120 credits at Level 5. Students may continue undergraduate studies at Level 6 on top-up courses such as BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Studies.

Modules

Level 4 (120 credits):

• Transition to Higher Education

• Work based learning 1

• Integrated holistic assessment and delivery of health and social care interventions

• Essential sciences for person centred care

Progression to Level 5 (120 credits):

• Transition to professional practice

• Promoting health, wellbeing and independence

• Work based learning 2

• Leadership and management

Assessment methods

Modules are assessed through course work and work-based learning, using practical activities, role plays, assignments, presentations and reflective portfolios.

Progression

You will become qualified to Level 4 or 5 (1–2 years). Upon completion, progression and employment options include:
Level 4 enables application to progress to a full degree.
Level 5 prepares you for direct entry to year two of a degree in Adult Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic Practice, Physiotherapy or Social Work at Sheffield Hallam University.
After Level 5, a Level 6 top-up degree prepares graduates for managerial roles or progression to MSc registration or teaching roles.

Entry Requirements
English (grade C/4 or above at GCSE or Level 2 equivalent).
Maths (grade C/4, or Level 1 equivalent accepted with enrolment to study Level 2 Maths alongside the degree).
A Level 3 qualification or experience demonstrating prior learning of relevant skills.

Modules The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, practical work and site visits. Throughout the course, you will study: Year 1 • Transition to Higher Education • Essential sciences for person-centred care • Integrated holistic assessment, delivery and implementation of health and social care interventions • Work-based learning 1 Year 2 • Promoting health, wellbeing and independence • Leadership and management • Work-based learning 2 • End-point assessment You will progress through the course following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete the course. Assessments will test the attributes you need in the workplace, enabling you to make the most of academic learning and on-the-job training. This course prepares you for a career as an Assistant Practitioner in health and social care.

The course includes a combination of work-based learning modules and specialist education. You will learn through: • class based teaching on campus • work-based learning • assessments of practice • reflective portfolios • written assignments • literature reviews • presentations