Assistant Practitioner in Health and Social Care

In healthcare settings, there is a recognised need for individuals with a higher level of training and skills than healthcare assistants but not as extensive as registered nurses or allied health professionals.

The scope of practice for Assistant Practitioners varies depending on the clinical setting and specific training, but they often perform tasks such as wound care, taking vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with diagnostic procedures. They help healthcare systems by increasing the availability of skilled staff to provide patient care, thereby alleviating some of the workforce pressures. The Assistant Practitioner role can serve as a stepping stone for individuals who wish to pursue further education and training to become fully qualified healthcare professionals, such as nurses, or allied health practitioners. All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

HTQ summary

Gain health and social care knowledge and apply your learning in the workplace.

Use new technologies to undertake screening, diagnosis and care responsibilities.

Develop the skills and competencies you need for NHS band 3 and 4 roles.

Progression

You will become qualified to level 4 or 5 (1 or 2 years of study). Upon successful completion, there are many options for progression and employment. Here are some of the main options available:

Completion of the first year level 4 enables application to progress to year 1 of a full degree.

On completion of level 5 you will be suitably prepared for direct entry to the second year of a degree in Adult Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Radiography, Paramedic Practice, Physiotherapy or Social Work at Sheffield Hallam University.

Or after level 5, this course has a top up degree at level 6 which prepares graduates for managerial roles in health and social care or acts as a stepping stone to MSc Registration health and social care courses or teaching roles.

This course prepares you for a career in:

Physiotherapy

Occupational Therapy

Combined Rehabilitation

Dietetics

Operating Department Practice

Diagnostic Radiography

Therapeutic Radiography

Adult Nursing

Mental Health Nursing

Children’s nursing

Midwifery

Paramedicine

Health care management

Teaching

As well as many other health care roles!