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“At the University of Bolton, we take great pride in providing a quality, supportive learning environment for our students.” Professor George E Holmes DL | President & Vice Chancellor
“...tutors are very supportive and you’re not just a student ID number, at this university you are an individual with a name.” Ellisse Vernon | BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)
Our HCPC-approved degree apprenticeship allows you to invest in your workforce by combining university education, work-based learning and professional development. You can offer apprentices rewarding careers as registered Operating Department Practitioners. While working as a valuable part of your team, apprentices can gain the skills and knowledge needed to provide a high standard of patient-focused care during the anaesthetic, surgical and recovery phases of a patient's surgical journey.
Key information
Award:
BSc (Hons)
Mode of Study:
Full-time
Duration:
3 years
Location:
University of Bolton
Start date:
16/09/2024
Course Details
The University of Bolton's Level 6 BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) is designed to develop highly specialised healthcare professionals that perfectly match your organisation's current and future needs. You can offer structured on-the-job training and an internationally recognised qualification, helping you to attract the best new talent and retain valued staff through career progression. Integrating study into the normal working week will allow your apprentices to put their new skills and understanding into practice immediately, benefitting your organisation without delay.
Striking a balance between the technical and scientific aspects of perioperative care and the softer skills that support communication, wellbeing and caring for the patient, study at the University complements learning in the workplace. This course focuses on helping your apprentices learn to provide skilled assistance to surgeons and anaesthetists and work alongside nursing and healthcare colleagues to deliver excellent individualised care and support during anaesthesia, surgery and recovery. We'll guide them as they gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours to respond to patients' needs throughout their surgical experience and perioperative care.
Our dynamic and multi-disciplinary course team will work to prepare your apprentices to manage the care of patients scheduled for routine procedures as well as respond to life-threatening emergencies. We aim to support apprentices to develop the core knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work with patients of all ages in operating theatres and other perioperative environments.
If you're looking for undergraduate-level training in this subject area but don't work for an employer offering apprenticeships, please see our related courses section for study opportunities that don't require current employment.
Highlights
The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and on successful completion, your apprentices will be eligible to register as qualified Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs). They will also receive a degree apprenticeship certificate from the relevant awarding body and be awarded an academic degree – the BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice from the University of Bolton.
Your apprentices will have access to facilities in the flagship £31 million Bolton One building, including our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Suites, where they will be able to practice skills and develop knowledge using clinical equipment.
This course prepares your apprentices to demonstrate the confidence, compassion, competence and effective judgement required of a registered ODP and take responsibility for their decisions.
We'll support your apprentices to gain essential skills in evidence-based practice. These will inform their actions and help them evaluate their effectiveness so that they can continually work towards improving patient outcomes.
Your apprentices will be guided by staff with extensive experience in this field of practice and inter-professional education.
Key Features
The programme offers your apprentices opportunities to develop the academic knowledge, clinical skills, and personal and professional behaviours required to meet the Standards of Proficiency as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (2023). It enables them to apply for registration with the HCPC.
Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we'll work with your apprentices individually, providing tailored help and support throughout their studies.
The course offers your apprentices the underpinning knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to provide patient-centred care and manage the preparation and safe running of the surgical environment, including effective multidisciplinary team working, specialist equipment and medicines.
Course materials are available online, allowing your apprentices to prepare work in advance and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
Apprentices will benefit from Resus Council-accredited intermediate life support (ILS) training as part of their
undergraduate programme. Assessment strategies are carefully planned and meaningful for the ODP learner and their work-based learning environment; for instance, surgical digital information package, clinical audit, and pharmacology pathway booklet.
Quarterly and annual reviews, where each apprentice, their workplace supervisor and a member of our team meet to assess your apprentice's progress, promote continuing conversation between your workplace and the University. This helps to ensure the success of your apprentices and maximise the value of their studies to your organisation.
Professional recognition
The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
On successful completion of the programme, your apprentices may apply to the HCPC to join the register for Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs).
Whilst studying this course, apprentices are not currently required to register as a member with the HCPC. However, they must follow the HCPC's standards of proficiency and standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Apprentices will be required to sign a declaration of ongoing fitness to practise at regular intervals during their studies.
After qualifying as an ODP, your apprentices will need to be committed to learning and always keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. To maintain their registration to practice with the HCPC, they will need to continue to meet the HCPC's standards of proficiency, and conduct, performance and ethics standards.
An applicant must possess GCSEs in English and Mathematics at grade 4-9 (or grade C or above) or hold an equivalent such as Functional Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy. If an applicant has yet to achieve these qualifications, then with their employer's support, they can complete suitable equivalents locally or with assistance from the University. Please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents, further information and support.
An applicant should also hold a relevant level 3 qualification for proof of further study. A science subject is preferred but not mandated. Please contact us for further guidance on acceptable qualifications. If an applicant does not hold a level 3 qualification but has extensive clinical experience and preparation for higher-level study, it may be determined at the interview to accept the candidate onto the programme.
Applicants don't need to have prior experience working in healthcare, but they must have a passion for caring for others and demonstrate key transferable skills during the recruitment process.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of recent study, professional development or work experience, and demonstrate an understanding of healthcare professional standards, the Operating Department Practitioner profession and patient care delivery within the perioperative setting.
Qualifications gained outside England and Wales will be assessed on an individual basis according to the guidance set out by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The recruitment process for apprenticeship provision is jointly led and conducted between the employer and University. If an applicant is successfully shortlisted, they will be required to attend an interview. The interview process will involve a face-to-face interview with practice and academic staff and include a numeracy and literacy assessment.
If applicants are successful at the interview stage, they will be required to undergo occupational health screening and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) screening (if they do not hold a current or valid certificate). Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online update service.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that they are of good health and character before enrolment and on an ongoing basis throughout their studies and career.
Admission to this programme is only available to applicants who meet ESFA eligibility criteria, including the following: 1) They are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a role relevant to the apprenticeship. 2) They have the right to live and work in the UK. 3) Their employer is willing to sponsor them to spend a minimum of six hours per week of their time in off-the-job training, including attending the University (times and dates to be determined) for the duration of their course. Please note that an apprentice cannot be self-employed. ESFA eligibility criteria may change so please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for up-to-date information.
If English isn’t the applicant's first language, they will also need IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
The University of Bolton recognises prior learning, whether gained through academic credit and qualifications or through professional and employment experience. Previous learning may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for this programme or for exemption from part of this programme. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning, and each claim will be considered in accordance with the University’s policy and regulations for the recognition of prior learning.
To be eligible for tuition fee funding through the Apprenticeship Levy, applicants should not have already completed a qualification at the same level as the proposed apprenticeship (Degree Level 6) unless that qualification was gained in a completely unrelated discipline.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Operating department practice is an exciting, fast-changing field with opportunities to work across different surgical and anaesthesia specialities. The BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) programme is designed to meet the Operating Department Practitioner (Integrated Degree) Level 6 Apprenticeship Standard (ST0582). This highly practical degree apprenticeship aims to develop clinical knowledge, skills and behaviours for working in operating theatres and wider perioperative settings.
After graduation, and once your apprentice has registered as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), they will be able to take responsibility for a patient's welfare and personalise their care. They will be qualified to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in any of the three phases of perioperative care – anaesthesia, surgery or recovery – or in a role that combines all these areas.
What can I do with this qualification?
Registered ODPs are primarily employed in operating theatres but increasingly work in other healthcare environments. Opportunities may arise in intensive care units, transplant teams, pre-assessment clinics, obstetric units, resuscitation teams, orthopaedic clinics, patient transfer and day surgery units.
After further training and development, registered ODPs may prove valuable in areas such as management, education, clinical research and advanced practice. Experienced ODPs can take further training approved by the Royal College of Surgeons to work as surgical care practitioners. This would qualify them to complete specific surgical procedures under the supervision of a consultant surgeon.
Course fees
Apprentices will need to be employed by your organisation for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Your organisation will also need to commit to sponsoring apprentices to complete this qualification.
For further information on how your organisation can access funds to support apprentices,
please e-mail apprentices@bolton.ac.uk.
Whether you’re an employer, employee or school leaver, please visit our
Apprenticeship web page
for support and advice regarding apprenticeships.
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the
restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in
September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our
Course Search.
Useful information
Apprentices will not be expected to pay tuition fees towards this programme. If your organisation has a wage bill of more than £3 million per annum, then it may be able to fund this apprenticeship through its Apprenticeship Levy contributions. If your organisation does not pay the levy, it will be eligible for government support to fund apprenticeships. This support, called co-investment, covers 95% of the apprenticeship's tuition fees, with your organisation funding the remaining 5% of the fees.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year:
EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status.
If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the
normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in
March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:
Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure.
You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the
restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in
September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our
Course Search.
Operating department practice is a multi-faceted discipline, so we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods, including online, where appropriate. These are designed to fully engage apprentices, helping them develop the skills, knowledge, self-awareness, and behaviours essential for success in this field. Learning focuses on your workplace environment – your apprentices will spend the majority of their normal working week in practice gaining on-the-job knowledge and experience. They will also be required to devote a minimum of six hours of their time per week to university learning and independent study (classified as off-the-job training).
As well as attending timetabled lectures, tutorials, discussions, demonstrations and computer-aided learning sessions, apprentices will also be expected to allocate significant time to independent and self-directed studies. For example, building a portfolio of evidence, background reading, revisiting practical work, preparing for seminars, working on assignments and revising for exams will support their timetabled learning and develop good habits for lifelong learning. Our friendly and supportive tutors will be here to guide them and will gladly help them devise an independent study regime focused on their individual development needs. Learning will also be supported by the University's virtual learning environment, Moodle.
Your organisation will need to provide each apprentice with a workplace supervisor to support their development. They will also benefit from regular visits from a university tutor. The workplace supervisor, university tutor and apprentice will work together to create an individual learning plan.
For the degree element of this programme, we assess each apprentice's performance through a strategic blend of assignments, practical assessments, projects, oral presentations (including viva voce) and formal examinations. Some assessments contribute to their final module marks, while others are designed to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses, and where they need to seek extra support from course tutors.
In addition to the assessments associated with the degree programme, apprentices will undertake the end point assessment (EPA), at the end of the apprenticeship period. Apprentices are also required to develop learning logs/professional development plans and build up a skills portfolio in preparation for the EPA.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
Foundations of Operating Department Practice
Anatomy and Physiology in Operating Department Practice
Fundamentals of Operating Department Practice
Legal and Ethical Considerations in Operating Department Practice
Infection Prevention and Control in Operating Department Practice
Developing Anaesthetic and Surgical Practice
Evidence and Enquiry for Practice
Clinical Governance and Service Improvement
Developing Post-Anaesthetic Care Practice
Pharmacology in Operating Department Practice
Applying Operating Department Practice
Managing the Deteriorating Patient
Advancing Skills in Critical Care
Professional Leadership and Development
Assessment methods
Level
Assesment method
Level one
Coursework 40%, Practical exams 40%, Written exams 20%
Level two
Coursework 50%, Practical exams 40%, Written exams 10%
Level three
Coursework 40%, Practical exams 50%, Written exams 10%
Learning activities
Level
Learning activity
Level one
Guided independent study 9%, Placement/study abroad 71%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20%
Level two
Guided independent study 9%, Placement/study abroad 71%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20%
Level three
Guided independent study 9%, Placement/study abroad 71%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20%
Disclaimer
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
