Diploma in Higher Education
Assistant Practitioner Programme
Adult, Mental Health, Child
Programme Handbook:
September 2011 Cohort
School of Health and Social Sciences
Programme Leader: Kate Brown and Carol Lincoln
Student Name:
Students with disabilities:
Information in alternative formats
Information in this publication canbe downloaded from the following website:
If you have a disability which
makes navigating our website
difficult and you would like to
receive information in an
alternative format, please contact Bryan Jones on 020 8411 5367
or email
Please state your disability and details ofthe specific information you need. / We can supply sections from this
publication as:
- A Word document with enlarged type — sent by email or supplied on disc or CD
- Printed copy with enlarged type
- As Braille
promptly. To help us, please
be as specific as you can and
include details of your disability.
1
Contents
Section 1- Purpose of your handbook
Section 2 - Welcome to the School
2.1Welcome from The Dean
2.2Welcome to your programme – Diploma in Higher Education – Assistant Practitioner
2.2.1Adult Health Care Practice
2.2.2Mental Health Care Practice
2.2.3Child Health Care Practice
2.2.4Philosophy of the programme
Section 3 - Programme Staff
Section 4 - Programme specifications
Diploma in Higher Education – Assistant Practitioner
Section 5 – Calendar for Year 1of the Programme
Section 6 - Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
Section 7 - Learning, Teaching and Assessment within your programme
7.1Learning and Teaching Methods
7.2Monitoring and enhancing the practice learning environment
7.3Assessment Strategy
7.3.1Assessment methods in your programme
7.4Marking and moderation
7.5Assessment Feedback
7.5.1Grading Scale
7.5.2Module Grades
7.6Resubmissions
7.7Deferral
7.8Extenuating Circumstances
7.9Assessment Officer Support
7.10Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
7.11Return of coursework
7.12Assessment Map – Diploma HE Assistant Practitioner
7.13Progression
7.14Graduate and transferable skills
7.15Learning Resources
Section 8 - Student Support
8.1Communication processes
8.2MISIS - Accessing your own records
8.3Middlesex E-Mail – Your Account for Life
8.4Learner Development Unit
8.5OASISplus
8.6Student Portal 24/7
8.7Academic Support
8.8Specialist advice and support
8.9Counselling
8.10Disability Support Service
8.11The Careers Service
Section 9 - Professional requirements for the Assistant Practitioner Programme
9.1Code of conduct
9.2Fitness for Practice
9.3Confidentiality in written work
9.4Attendance
9.5Implications of Sickness and Absence
9.6Support for Ill Health
9.7Management of Repeated Non-attendance
9.8Recording and Reporting Sickness and Absence
Section 10 - Quality Assurance and Enhancement of Your Programme
10.1Student Representatives
10.2Boards of Study
10.3School Board of Study
10.4Programme Evaluation Forms
10.5Suggestions and Complaints
10.7Health, Safety and Welfare
10.8Personal Evacuation Plans
10.9Middlesex University Students Union
Section 11 – Your Modules Year 1
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Accessing University IT systems
Appendix 2 – Code of Conduct
1
Section 1- Purpose of your handbook
The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with information about your Programme of study and to direct you to other general information about studying at Middlesex University.
This handbook must be read in conjunction with the University Regulations at The material in this handbook is as accurate as possible at the date of production.
Your comments on any improvements to this handbook are welcome - please put them in writing (with name of handbook) to:
Programme Leaders:
Carol Lincoln
Lecturer in Nursing and Primary Care
Furnival Building
Archway Campus
0208 411 5961
Kate Brown
Principal Lecturer in Primary Care and Child Health
Furnival Building
Archway Campus
0208 411 6930
Section 2 - Welcome to the School
2.1Welcome fromThe Dean
Welcome to the University and to the School of Health and Social Sciences. This programme handbook should be treated as though it is our contract with you – keep it safely so that you may refer to it throughout your time here at Middlesex. It contains an overview of the framework of your programme and the content of its modules. It signposts key contacts and information you need to progress your studies and to get the most out of student life.
From our side we will deliver the best student experience we can,so that you can build on your skills and knowledge and reach your full potentialthat you can. In return, we expect you to engage actively in the learning process, to be fully committed to your studies and determined to succeed.
In your early weeks, this includes reading through this handbook and consulting the other information sources flagged here. You are not expected to absorb everything in detail, but to be aware of the main resource documents and their contents. In particular as an enrolled Middlesex student, you have certain rights but also specific responsibilities. See the full University Regulations in particular ‘University Membership’, and if you have not already done so, explore the student portal which contains detailed advice and support to assist you further.
We know it takes time to settle in to University life whilst balancing your study and work commitments. If you still have questions to ask, your first port of call should be your Programme Leader. We wish you well in your future studies. Here at Middlesex we are very proud of our academic programmes and students, and we look forward to working with you over your programme.
Jan Williams
Hendon Campus
2.2Welcome to your programme – Diploma in Higher Education – Assistant Practitioner
We would like to welcome you to Middlesex University.
You will have come to the start of this programme from a variety of backgrounds, and with a wide range of useful life experiences. We want to help you build upon your experiences so far, and make these contribute to the successful completion of yourprogramme, thereby ensuring you have the opportunity to develop and enhance the appropriate employability skills.
The programme will provide you with a strong foundation on which to consolidate your current health care practice. We will assist you in developing / enhancing vital skills to do this, i.e. skills to learn, and skills to care for others. Caring for patients / clients is central to health care practice.
The programme is two years in length and supports your continuing professional development for your chosen field of health care practice, Adult, Mental Health or Child. The programme and the programme team will support your learning needs, which will change through the programme as you progress to becoming a more independent learner. The programme is developed and delivered, both within the University and in the NHS. It comprises theory and practicelearning, which are integrated throughout your programme and reflected in the assessment of practice and theory in contributing to your final award. In conjunction with your employer we will ensure that your programme meets the Learning Outcomes as articulated in the programme specification, within both theory and practice. All students share learning within Year 1 of the programme irrespective of your fields of health care practice. There are both generic and field components in this first year that is studied by all students.
2.2.1Adult Health Care Practice
This field of health care practice will help you to acquire the knowledge,skills, and attitudes to be able to practice compassionately, skilfully and safely whilst maintaining dignity and promoting health. It will help you to meet the essential physical and mental health needs of people of all ages and abilities who come into your care.
The ethos of this field of practice is patient-centred, acknowledging the differing needs, values and beliefs of people from ethnically diverse communities and an age group ranging from young adulthood to the older person. You will be working in partnership and under supervision / guidance of,and in partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies, and service users and carers in a range of community and hospital based settings.
2.2.2Mental Health Care Practice
This field of health care practice will help you to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to practice compassionately, skilfully and safely whilst maintaining dignity and human rights. It will enable you to work with people of all ages using a values-based mental health framework. This is to promote positive relationships focusing on social inclusion, human rights and recovery. The AP programme will help you develop your work under supervision / guidance, and in partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies, service users and their carers, fostering decisions about care that are shared.
2.2.3Child Health Care Practice
This field of health care practice will help you to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to practice compassionately, skilfully and safely whilst maintaining dignity and human rights within the context of the child and family. The programme will help you understand the role of the Assistant Practitioner as an advocate for children, young people and their families, who work in partnership to promote health and well-being, and with supervision / guidance to plan and deliver child and family centred care, education and support.
The academic requirements for this programme are detailed within this handbook and you are strongly advised to read this from the start of your programme.
It is important to the programme team that you enjoy your student experience at Middlesex University, whilst ensuring you become competent and safe Assistant Practitioners (APs) within your chosen field of health care practice.
We will seek feedback from you and make every effort to support and guide you in your achievement of this.
We wish you success for your programme and your future career!
The Programme Team 2011
2.2.4Philosophy of the programme
Our aim is to produce an Assistant Practitioner who is able to provide safe and effective care under the delegation of a registered nurse. This Assistant Practitioner will deliver individualised care and will always consider the social context of care and be able to assess andmanage risks in that environment. She/he will demonstrate warmth, empathy and self awareness. She/he will be committed to working in partnership with service users and colleagues and demonstrate a personal commitment to life-long learning.
The curriculum will place the highest value on learning in practice and relate every aspect of the student experience to this goal to ensure that she/he is provided with the learning opportunities for building the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe practice.
On completion of the programme the Assistant Practitioner will be able to integrate their learning in theory and practice and demonstrate the competence and confidence required of them. They will possessthe ability to contribute with other health professionals in the delivery of care and use their knowledge and skills to support decisions which are made in the best interest of the patient/client/service user.
Section 3 - Programme Staff
Your programme is delivered by a team of enthusiastic, experienced academic and clinical practitioners across various campuses. Their details are listed below;
TitleDirector of Programmes for Pre-qualifying and Undergraduate Nursing Framework
NameCharmagne Barnes
CampusArchway Campus, Room 612
Telephone020 8411 6725
TitleHead of Practice Based Learning
NameKathy Wilson
CampusArchway Campus, Room 201
Telephone020 8411 6676
TitleDirector of Programmes Initial Nursing and CPD
NameMarion Taylor
CampusHendon Campus, Town Hall/Annex/3rd floor
Telephone020 8411 4320
Programme Leaders:
NameCarol Lincoln
TitleLecturer in Nursing and Primary Care
CampusFurnival Building, Archway Campus
Telephone0208 411 5961
NameKate Brown
TitlePrincipal Lecturer in Primary Care and Child Health
CampusFurnival Building, Archway Campus
Telephone0208 411 6930
Departmental Administrators:
Premila Kara, Pre-qualifying Nursing Framework Assessment & Review Officer
, 0208 411 4461, Furnival Building, Room 538, Archway Campus
Russell Freedman, Department and Programme Administrator,
0208 411 6261, Town Hall, AnnexT304, Hendon Campus
Colin Allison, Department and Programme Administrator
, 0208 411 6261,Town Hall, AnnexT303, Hendon Campus
Athena Bradley, Department and Programme Administrator
, 0208 411 6756, Furnival Building, Room 538, Archway Campus
Section 4 - Programme specifications
The following programme specification willgive you the necessary detail to understand how your programme is structured. The curriculum map allows you to understand the programme outcomes you are required to achieve and how these are assessed within the modules of study. You will also see a diagrammatic representation of your programme, which will make it easier to understand.
Diploma in Higher Education – Assistant Practitioner
1. Programme title / Diploma in Higher Education (Assistant Practitioner - Adult, Mental Health, Child)2. Awarding institution / Middlesex University
3. Teaching institution / Middlesex University
4. Programme accredited by / N/A
5. Final qualification / Dip HE
6. Academic year / 2011-12
7. Language of study / English
8. Mode of study / Full Time
9. Criteria for admission to the programme
- Experience of working in health care setting
- Equivalent of 5 GCSE’s at grades A – C, including Maths and English or equivalent e.g. NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social care
- Successful interview, including numeracy and literacy test
10. Aims of the programme
The programme aims to:
Provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to work as an Assistant Practitioner within healthcare practice.
11. Programme outcomes
A. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this programme the successful student will have knowledge and understanding of :
- The context in which they work – health care settings
- NHS policies determining the parameter of their role as assistant practitioners
- Biological concepts relevant to role
- Needs of the acutely ill patient within field of practice
- Needs of chronically ill patient within field of practice
Students gain knowledge and understanding throughseminar group work, practice placements, lectures, tutorials, e-learning, support from academic staff and guided independent study.
The learner is encouraged to develop a deep approach to learning through yearlong modules that encourage independent reading alongside taught components. This approach assists with a broadening of knowledge and an understanding of subject matter.
Assessment methods
A range of assessment methods, both formative and summative, assesses students’ knowledge and understandingas specified in each module outline. All learning outcomes in a module are assessed and the mode of assessment is specified and mapped against each outcome.
A variety of approaches to assessment are used, including self, group, supervisor, poster presentation and online assessments.
B. Cognitive (thinking) skills
On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:
- Demonstrate use of judgement in practicing in healthcare setting
- Undertake surveys or audits relevant to role in practice
- Use and analyse numerical data for practice
- Use and apply relevant research findings to practice
Students learn cognitive skills throughproblem solving, reflection and role modelling individually and in groups, both in the practice environment and in the University.
Learning to apply knowledge and skills to practice is facilitated via case studies, scenarios and placement learning. Students are engaged in discussion of the key issues, in consideration of applying theoretical and practical concepts and undertake this orally, in writing and in practice.
Assessment methods
Students’ cognitive skills are assessed formatively and summatively using a variety of methods including: presentations, essay writing, log reports, literature review and practice assessment.
C. Practical skills
On completion of the programme the successful student will be able to:
- Demonstrate caring clinical skills required for patient care in area of healthcare practice
- Demonstrate competence in the role of the assistant practitioner in practice
- Demonstrate awareness of the values and attitude relevant to the role of the assistant practitioner in healthcare practice
Students learn practical skills throughplacement learning in collaboration with clinical supervisors and clinical placement facilitators. Role modelling plays a significant part in the student’s skills development.
Independent learning is provided as part of directed and self directed learning with an additional 20 negotiated study days to maximise this. Skills sessions will be taught and rehearsed throughout the programme in skill labs and in the clinical environment
Assessment methods
Students’ practical skills are assessed formatively and summatively. Methods of assessment include the use of an assessment of practice document (APD) to assess the student’s progress in practice. This comprises a learning agreement and assessment of skills and a set of standards.
Maintaining a Personal Development Plan that enables the student to reflect on practice learning, will be a requirement for all students on this programme.
D. Graduate skills
On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:
- Utilise written and oral communication skills clearly in academic and practice setting
- Demonstrate skills for study, personal development planning and research awareness
- Make appropriate use of information technology
- Numeracy
- Team working
Students acquire graduate and transferable skills through personal development planning to ensure these skills are met at the end of the programme. These skills are embedded in the modules across the programme, and applied and developed in clinical practice.
Assessment methods
Students’ graduate and transferable skills are assessed formatively and summatively Methods include: written review of development of skills, reflective writing, practice assessment, e-learning and completion of a personal development plan.
12. Programme structure (levels, modules, credits and progression requirements)
12. 1 Overall structure of the programme
15 credits
Study Skills Personal Development Planning
NIP 1013 / 30 credits
Foundations for
Health Care Practice
NIP 1014 / 30 credits
Foundations for Field of Health Care Practice
NIP / MHR/ PHC 1015 / 15 credits
Essential Skills for Health Care
Practice
NIP 1008 / 30 credits
Health Care Practice 1
NIP/MHR/PHC 1016
Year 1:
CertHE Health
Care Support Worker -
120 credits Level 4
Year 2:
30 credits
Approaches to Health and Social Care Research