AdvDip(CPD) Proficiency in Perioperative Care: Anaesthetics (HE6)
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to support staff employed within the operating theatre department in gaining the appropriate skills and underpinning rationale to enable them to practise safely and effectively in the care of surgical patients throughout the anaesthetic phase. The course content and outcomes are mapped against the standards and guidance for the scope of practice of the anaesthetic assistant in the UK, as set out by the Association of Anaesthetists (AA), NHS Education for Scotland, and the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP).This course aims to enable the practitioner to competently work as part of the anaesthetic team, facilitating the development of knowledge, skills and behaviours that underpin the practical element of the role, in addition to legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities in accordance with national, local, regulatory, and professional standards and policy. Within the workplace, students will be allocated an appropriate supervisor/assessor for the duration of the module, to contribute to the assessment process, and for the facilitation of clinical learning experiences, consolidation of taught theory and completion of the competency workbook.
Highlights
- Topics covered include airway management, breathing systems and ventilation, patient monitoring, anaesthesia across the lifespan, pharmacology and managing anaesthetic emergencies.
- Assessment strategies are varied and include a competency workbook, personal development portfolio, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and reflective writing.
- Our dedicated academic team brings extensive perioperative and wider healthcare experience to the course content and delivery. Along with their passion for service excellence, they're also currently engaged in highly relevant research, which means they can add valuable context and insight to your learning.
- Throughout the module, there are opportunities for extensive academic support, including tutorials, formative submissions for assignment feedback, practice OSCEs and wider support from core University services if required, such as the library, disability services and study skills sessions.
- Specialist guest speakers, such as consultant anaesthetists, are included in the course delivery to ensure the best preparation of learners for the responsibilities of the anaesthetic assistant role.
- As you study this course, we’ll encourage you to develop the skills, values and behaviours sought by employers. These include action planning, personal impact and confidence, self-awareness, social and ethical responsibility, problem-solving, initiative and communication skills.
Key Features
- The University of Bolton has been offering high-quality courses designed to meet the health and social care sector’s needs for over 30 years, so we have the knowledge and experience to anticipate and respond to changes in the health and social care sector.
- Our courses and programmes respond directly to the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF), which is at the heart of the career and pay progression aspect of Agenda for Change.
- We review the course curriculum regularly to ensure we're compliant with regulatory and professional guidance and standards, in addition to evidence-based practice and contemporary techniques.
- When you successfully complete this course, you'll be awarded an Advanced Diploma of Continuing Professional Development in Proficiency in Perioperative Care: Anaesthetics worth 20 credits at Level HE6.
Entry Requirements
- You must be a health professional registered with a relevant professional body (for example, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)) and have the necessary prior educational and academic experience.
- You must currently be working in an operating theatre setting and be able to demonstrate prior experience of perioperative practice, preferably for a minimum of six months.
- You may be required by your employer to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work to evidence the above.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll 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.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University's Fitness to Practice declaration.
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.
Career Opportunities
This course offers academic and professional development in the specialist field of anaesthetic practice in perioperative care.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £1,000 for the academic year 2025/26.
International Fees
Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £1,000 for the academic year 2025/26.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees: 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.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton AdvDip(CPD) Proficiency in Perioperative Care: Anaesthetics (HE6) - 24 April 2025
International Applicants
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.
Teaching & Assessment
The theory will be delivered using a blended learning approach by our experienced and knowledgeable module team, covering core knowledge, skills and behaviours required for proficiency in the anaesthetic assistant role. As well as lectures, tutorials, clinical skills and simulation sessions, a range of web-based resources will be available to you via Moodle, the University's virtual learning environment.
As well as engaging with University sessions, we'll expect you to undertake self-directed study, build a portfolio of evidence demonstrating continuing professional development, and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours you've gained in the classroom. Extensive learning and development will be undertaken in the clinical area, with supervision and support from clinical experts in the anaesthetic field.
Formative assessment will support your learning but does not contribute to your final mark. You'll receive feedback from your tutors and peers that allows you to reflect on your progress and identify what you are doing well, and where you may need additional support. Summative assessment will involve an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), a competency workbook, a written reflection and a personal development portfolio. These elements will contribute to your final module mark.
Please be aware that you'll require the supervision of an appropriately trained and qualified clinical supervisor for the duration of the module, who will contribute to the assessment process and facilitate your practice learning. All NMC registrants will also require a final sign-off by an NMC registrant practice assessor for confirmation of proficiency, as outlined in the NMC Standards for student supervision and assessment (2018).
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.
- Proficiency in Perioperative Care: Anaesthetics
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 20% Practical exams 80% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 76% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 24% |
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.
