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Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice

Key Details

  • Available at:
    Rhos-on-Sea, Online
  • Study Mode:
    Part-time
  • Course Length:

    Part time 1 year: one day per week (9am-5pm)

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Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice

University-level Courses

Part Time

If you are applying to study part-time you can apply directly to the campus of your choice.

The application system is currently closed.

Course Description

The Higher Education Certificate in Healthcare Practice develops and upskills Healthcare Support Workers who are working or willing and able to take on placement within an NHS trust or an alternatively suitable clinical-approved employer. The majority of students are seconded by their employers to study this programme. This programme combines work-based experience and practice with higher-level academic study to Level 4. Successful candidates are often able to progress in their place of work during or following study, with many going on to pursue nursing careers.

Cost

Course fees are fully covered by Health Education Improvement Wales for all candidates. However, during the programme, there may be additional costs that are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

This could include childcare costs, travel associated with attending the programme and work experience, or placements, outside visits, field trips, suitable clothing for work/placement, additional printing above allowance, memory sticks and other stationery-related costs.

To apply:

If you are employed by BCUHB, and wish to apply for the course please contact BCU.HCSWTrainingGroup@wales.nhs.uk

If you are employed by Powys Health Board, and wish to apply for this course please contact PowysPEF@wales.nhs.uk

If you are not employed by an NHS Health Board, please click the ‘Enquire Now’ button at the top of this page.

The programme is delivered across one full year with intakes in September and February of each academic year. Students will need to access the programme one day a week, each week during academic weeks.

We have hybrid delivery courses running from Rhos-on-Sea and Wrexham and we also have an online-only distance learning route. We embed digital skills training as part of all of our learning programmes.

Start Date

Our intakes for 24/25 will be starting the week commencing 9th September 2024 and 10th February 2025.

Entry Criteria

Entry criteria are usually a Level 3 Vocational qualification or your workplace’s equivalent requirements. For BCUHB employees the requirement is the Level 3 QCF. We embed literacy and numeracy alongside the course so there are no other formal qualification requirements. You will also need to be either working or have exposure and support to appropriate clinical practice. In some cases, we can support this. Our success rates with learners who access this higher education programme are extremely high with success rates over 90% every year and many learners achieving with Distinctions and Merits.

If your qualifications do not meet the entry requirements listed above, we would still encourage you to apply for the course you're interested in, as many of our courses will consider learners based on their previous work and skills experience rather than their qualifications.

Delivery

The course is delivered through a blend of the following:

  • Classroom-based and online formal lectures
  • Online resources using the college’s Virtual Learning Environment, - Moodle.
  • Discussion groups
  • Reflective practice
  • Problem-solving sessions
  • Group activities
  • Visiting speakers
  • Self-directed study
  • Case study-based learning
  • Practice (linking theory to professional practice)

Assessment

The course is assessed through a blend of the following:

  • Practice Assessment Document (that includes a minimum of 767 clinical practice hours throughout the course)
  • Essays
  • Case Study
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Simulation
  • Care Plan
  • Presentation
  • Academic Poster
  • Reflection
  • Individual Assignment
  • Exam


Feedback

Where relevant, assessments will be marked and returned to students with constructive and developmental feedback. Effective feedback combines information which enables students to understand the strengths and limitations of their past performance, and information which enables them to recognise how future performance can be improved. Students will be provided with feedback in a timely manner and this feedback will justify how the grade has been awarded. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the feedback given and identify their strengths, things they found challenging and areas for development that they will feed forward to their next assessment. Feedback will include linking evidence to assessment criteria to demonstrate how the student will have met the learning outcomes.

Progression

This programme allows for progression for all routes of nursing to a range of universities across Wales and beyond. In particular the programme is fully mapped against the first year of the BN (Hons) Adult Nursing Degree at both Bangor University and Wrexham University. This means successful learners have the possibility to progress directly onto the Level 5, second year of Nursing programmes to complete the programme and become a registered nurse. Some employers allow for career progression, for example to Band 4 HCSW roles too. All successful learners find that they are able to improve and develop their practice.

Campus Information Rhos-on-Sea

Frequently Asked Questions about the Level 4 Certificate in Higher Education: Healthcare Practice (HCP)

Who can apply for the course?
The Higher Education Certificate in Healthcare Practice course (HCP) develops and upskills Healthcare Support Workers to level 4, who are working or willing and able to take on placement within an NHS trust or an alternatively suitable clinically approved employer.

What qualifications do I need to do this course?
Entry criteria are usually an L3 vocational qualification or your workplace’s equivalent requirements. We embed Literacy and Numeracy alongside the course so there are no formal other qualification requirements for entry. You will also need to be either working or have exposure to, and support in appropriate clinical practice. In some cases, we can support this.

Am I in the right role to do this course?
If you are interested in developing your healthcare support worker career further. This course, in a supportive environment, aims to increase clinical competencies and develop transferable skills such as self-awareness, and self-directed learning through reflection, empathy and research. The course provides learning opportunities for those working in healthcare settings by enabling critical reflection and analysis in practice, developing evidence-based practice, and opportunities for dissemination of good practice.

How do I apply for the course?
Health Board staff are to apply through their Health Board Training Department. GP practice staff that work within a BCUHB-managed practice should also apply through the Health Board. Staff within the health and social care sector that do not work for the Health Board, but meet the entry requirements, can apply directly to the college.

How much does the course cost?
The course fee is fully funded by Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW). There is no charge for students or their employers directly. There are costs associated with the course such as travel and possible release from work that HEIW or the college does not meet.

When does the course start and on what days does the course run?
The programme is delivered across 1 full year with intakes in both September and February of each academic year. Students will need to access the programme 1 day a week, each week, during academic weeks. We have hybrid delivery courses running from Rhos-on-Sea and Wrexham and we also offer an online-only distance learning route.

What can I do after the course?
This programme allows for progression for all routes of Nursing to a range of Universities across Wales and beyond. In particular, the programme is fully mapped against the first year of the BN (Hons) Adult Nursing Degree at both Bangor University and Wrexham University. This means successful learners have the possibility to progress directly onto Level 5, the second year of Nursing programmes to complete the programme and become registered nurses. Some employers allow for career progression, for example, to upskilled band 4 HCSW roles too.

How will I be assessed / what assignments do I need to do on the course?
A range of assessment methods are used during the course, ranging from the Practice Assessment Document to exams, essays, case studies, presentations and an academic poster.

Do I need anything to do the course?
For this programme there are additional entry requirements. Before starting the programme students require the support of an appropriately prepared Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor who has undertaken a course with associated updates for this role. Assessors and Supervisors must be Registered Nurses on the appropriate part of the NMC Register to reflect the expertise of the care being delivered within the specified clinical placement area.

I’m not confident with ICT or computers, is that a problem?
No. We embed digital skills training as part of all of our learning programmes.

Other details

Course type: University-level Courses

Level: 4

Programme Area:

  • Health & Social Care

Awarding Body: Bangor University

Bilingual:

Depending on the campus, students may be able to access elements of the programme in both English and Welsh through some programme learning materials being made available bilingually.

Details will be provided to you at interview.

Awarding Body