- Undergraduate
Assistant Practitioner FdSc
Overview
This 2-year Foundation Degree Science (FdSc) Assistant Practitioner course has been designed for Band 2/3 healthcare assistant/support workers who want to advance their career.
What is an Assistant Practitioner? Assistant Practitioners are experienced staff working in support roles, alongside registered healthcare professionals. They work in settings, such as hospitals, clinics or in the community (eg GP surgeries) and in a range of health and care services for example diagnostic services, rehabilitation, orthopaedics, oncology, end-of-life care, mental health and learning disabilities.
Assistant Practitioner roles often cross traditional occupational boundaries, offering a diverse and fulfilling career.
On successful completion of this FdSc course, you will:
- gain a formal qualification that directly relates to your knowledge and skill in providing high quality person-centred, compassionate health/social care.
- you will be eligible to apply for a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner post.
- you will be eligible to apply for a range of higher education pre-registration healthcare courses, leading to professional registration.
- you will be eligible to apply for the pre-registration nursing course at UWL (BNursing (Hons)), entering directly into year 2, in recognition of your prior learning.
On this assistant practitioner course, you will attend university one day a week and undertake your job in a health/social care setting for the remainder of the time, helping you to apply the theory you learn, to the care you deliver.
We welcome students from a range of backgrounds, including but not limited to, those who work in:
- wards or outpatient areas supporting a nurse.
- maternity support
- physiotherapy
- operating department
- occupational therapy
- speech and language
- GP practice
- radiotherapy
- diagnostic radiology
- pharmacology
This course is run at the Berkshire Institute for Health in Fountain House, our campus based in the heart of Reading, but it is also offered at our West London campus.
![A female student nurse at a hospital reception](/sites/uwl/files/styles/16_by_9_960_x_540/public/2024-08/iStock-1440001440.jpg?h=48f40d0b&itok=sn-gPdlP)
Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:
Start date:
If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.
Why study Assistant Practitioner with us?
![A collage of students](/sites/uwl/files/styles/testimonial_slider/public/2019-02/Collage%20%282%29%20small%20squares.jpg?h=83bcce71&itok=ENEiNjj2)
What our students say…
I hope that my story inspires others to push to the limits of what’s possible within their practice and study. I believe innovation and quality improvement are key to the continued evolution and future of healthcare. I am grateful to have been supported so well by UWL throughout my two years.
![This course has simulation centres in London and Reading](/sites/uwl/files/styles/statistic/public/2023-11/Tiles%20-%20UWL%20Website%20%2843%29.png?h=57024e64&itok=Jf2Hnrg4)
![Top modern university London for nursing Times and Sunday Times 2023](/sites/uwl/files/styles/statistic/public/2023-12/Copy%20of%20Dance%20and%20Drama%20Courses%20%281%29.png?h=fbf7a813&itok=QR823MWN)
![Industry focused teaching](/sites/uwl/files/styles/statistic/public/2023-10/Tiles%20-%20UWL%20Website%20%284%29.jpg?h=57024e64&itok=vgcCFyhw)
![Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service. Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service.](/sites/uwl/files/styles/statistic/public/import/tile_104_lifelong_careers_support.png?itok=F1B0ycOL)
Course detail & modules
On this assistant practitioner course, you will learn how to:
- work effectively and safely within your area of practice in a health/social care environment, within the limits of your own competence
- support the care, protection and wellbeing of patients and service users
- develop effective communication skills, including the use of verbal written and interpersonal skills, IT skills and accurate record-keeping
- understand the importance of promoting effective teamwork
- develop skills of critical, analytical, and reflective thinking to question your own practice and seek solutions to potential problems and identify best practice opportunities
- develop the skills to access, retrieve, analyse, and evaluate evidence to decide the extent to which it should inform or influence your practice.
At UWL, we understand how important support is to your success. On this FdSc course we offer:
- teaching staff who are highly committed and specialists in their subjects
- a variety of teaching and learning and assessment strategies, which will increase your confidence and capacity to learn as you progress through the course, helping you to fulfil your potential
- a personal tutor to guide you through your course and offer personalised feedback on your progress
- access to the extensive range of UWL’s student support services [please can you insert a link to the relevant page]
- study support and a dedicated librarian
- access to state-of-the-art simulation facilities helping you to practice your skills in a safe environment
In your workplace, you will have a named clinical mentor. Your mentor will hold a registered qualification, relevant to your work area (i.e. registered nurse/physiotherapist/midwife). They will support your learning by:
- identifying learning opportunities with you
- supporting and facilitating the development of your clinical skills
- monitoring and reviewing your progress
- assessing your course competencies and specialist competencies related to your area of practice
- ensuring you are working within your scope of practice.
Mentors are given support and training to undertake the role that includes:
- understanding the role of an assistant practitioner
- knowledge and understanding of the course competencies
- the role of the mentor and how to support students
- how to complete the competency documentation
- knowledge and understanding of the scope of practice within the clinical area.
Compulsory modules
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Learning Skills Development
During this module you will improve your study skills, including essay and report writing, gathering information, note taking and summarising.
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Assistant Practitioner: Introduction to the Role
This module will introduce you to the role of assistant practitioner. You will explore how this role has developed to ensure quality and safety in healthcare.
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Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare
During this module you will gain knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the major body systems and how they interact.
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Skills for Practice
This module will help you to develop the capability to care for a person effectively. Through simulation sessions and study you will cover a range of skills, including risk assessments, infection control and communication.
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Safe Practice in Healthcare
As you undertake this module you will explore the healthcare environment and consider how the patient, relatives and staff can be protected from actual and potential risks.
Compulsory modules
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Introduction to Research
You will learn what research and evidence-based practice is, and why it is important in healthcare.
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Pathophysiology for Healthcare
You will learn what happens when the normal function of the body systems is disrupted due to illness or disease. You will consider the risk factors that can lead to disease, treatments, care delivery, and the impact this may have on a patient’s life.
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Enhanced Skills for Practice
This module will help you to build on the skills you learnt at level 4. You will examine the care of a deteriorating patient and will learn about pharmacology and medication management. The principles of health promotion will also be studied, providing insight into how you can help people improve their health and wellbeing.
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Improving the Quality of Care
This modules explore how we can maintain a high quality of care and how we can improve the care a patient receives.
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Assistant Practitioner: Developing the Role
On this module you will prepare for the transition from your role as healthcare assistant to assistant practitioner.
Entry requirements
You will:
- usually hold GCSE English Language and Mathematics Grade 9-4/A*-C or Level 2 equivalents, on entry to the course
OR
- you will be supported to undertake Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths whilst on the course, with the aim of normally achieving this by the end of year 1 (level 4) or by the end of the course. This requires an additional 57 hours of study for each subject (there is no additional cost).
Employment information
You must:
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Be employed in a health or social care setting, in a role that involves providing care to service users.
-
Be employed for a minimum of 20 hours a week.
-
Have support from your manager to ensure you can attend the x1 study day per week
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Have an identified mentor who will assess you in practice and support you to complete the clinical competency document.
Change of Employment
Change of employment during the course could impact your studies and any plan to do so should be discussed with the course leader first. Where change of employment is unavoidable support will be given to ensure the new employer is aware of the support needed and course requirements. If no immediate supportive employer is found, the student will need to defer their place on the course.
Selection Process
All applicants will be required to successfully pass a value-based interview.
Fees & funding
The fee above is the cost per year of your course.
If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.
If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.
Funding your studies
This intensive course qualifies for a full-time student loan for eligible students.
Our Student Services teams can also offer advice on managing student finances, working while you study, and more. View full details, including conditions and eligibility.
Teaching staff
![Lyndsey Mears Profile Photo](/sites/uwl/files/styles/statistic/public/2021-09/Staff%20Profile%20700x700.png?h=031b01a4&itok=SlAvuiDJ)
Lyndsey Mears
I am a Senior Lecturer at the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare. I am also a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Royal College of Nursing.
I am a Senior Lecturer at the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare. I am also a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Royal College of Nursing.
Study & career progression
![A team of student surgeons performing operation in operation theatre](/sites/uwl/files/styles/16_by_9_960_x_540/public/2024-08/iStock-639007226.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=0Jf99BWu)
There are a range of roles and jobs for assistant practitioners across the NHS.
On successful completion of the assistant practitioner course, you will be eligible to apply for:
- a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner post/equivalent post i.e. healthcare science associate
- a range of higher education pre-registration healthcare courses, leading to professional registration
- the pre-registration nursing course at UWL (BNursing (Hons)), entering directly into year 2, in recognition of your prior learning.
How to apply
![A woman making an application on her laptop](/sites/uwl/files/styles/16_by_9_960_x_540/public/2019-02/how-to-apply-pg.jpg?h=ca926638&itok=VO4R3H02)
You can apply online at any time by following the link below.
Our application form will ask you for some information about what you want to study, your previous qualifications or experience, and how we can contact you.
Want to ask us a question first? We would love to hear from you. Contact us free on:
- 0800 036 8888
- courses@uwl.ac.uk
Apply for this course
Next steps after making your application
We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.
In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an open day or join a campus tour.
Visit us and see for yourself
Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.
Our prospectus
All of our courses in one place - download now or order a hard copy.
We're here to help
Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on courses@uwl.ac.uk.
![A woman making an application on her laptop](/sites/uwl/files/styles/16_by_9_960_x_540/public/2019-02/how-to-apply-pg.jpg?h=ca926638&itok=VO4R3H02)
You can apply online at any time by following the link below.
Our application form will ask you for some information about what you want to study, your previous qualifications or experience, and how we can contact you.
Want to ask us a question first? We would love to hear from you. Contact us free on:
- 0800 036 8888
- courses@uwl.ac.uk
Apply for this course
Next steps after making your application
We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.
In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an open day or join a campus tour.
Visit us and see for yourself
Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.
Our prospectus
All of our courses in one place - download now or order a hard copy.
We're here to help
Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on courses@uwl.ac.uk.
Search for courses
Student life at UWL
Important notes for applicants
Disclaimer
*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.
**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.
Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.
Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.
Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.