Healthcare Professions' Support for England (HTQ)

Equivalent to the first 2 years of a university degree, this Level 5 course is designed to highlight practical skills development, alongside knowledge and understanding of health and social care in the UK. You’ll develop skills, knowledge, and experience to prepare you for further study or training in healthcare-related fields.

The Higher National Diploma is designed to support progression into relevant occupational areas or provide an opportunity to complete a level 6 top-up.

Core units include:

• Innovation and Improvement through Participatory Action Research • Reflective Approaches in Implementing Person-centred Practice • Care Planning Processes in Healthcare Practice • Recognising and Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Long-term Health Conditions • Team and Individual Leadership: Mentoring and Coaching Others • End of Life Care Planning and Support.

One optional unit allows students to choose to study a particular aspect of healthcare practice in more detail. Students must have access to relevant, suitable and appropriate workplaces/ placements before embarking on the optional unit.

Compulsory work placement

You must undertake a minimum of 450 hours’ work experience/placement in a health or social care setting and complete a PLAD portfolio (‘Practical Learning Assessment and Development’), reflecting on your experiences during the 2 years.

Facilities

This course is based at our new £58 million City Hub campus, close to Nottingham train station and featuring state-of-the-art facilities, science laboratories, restaurant, café and performing arts venue. Specialist healthcare facilities include a simulated hospital ward, providing students with a realistic learning environment that mirrors a hospital environment. Lecturers bring a wealth of practical experience as healthcare professionals.

What are HTQs?

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are a range of new Level 4 and 5 qualifications developed in collaboration with employers, so you’ll get the right training, knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace. HNCs and HNDs form part of the HTQ family.

Bursaries

We want our courses to be accessible to students from any background, so we’ve put together a cash support package in the form of non-repayable bursaries to provide financial help where it’s really needed. Details for 2025-26 will be advertised once approved by the university regulator – the Office for Students (OfS). Please check our website - www.nottinghamcollege.ac.uk - for more information

Progression and career opportunities

Qualified practitioners will have developed a sound understanding of the principles in their field of study and have learned to apply those principles. They will be skilled at solving problems and have the qualities necessary for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making.

The Level 5 HND is recognised by higher education providers as meeting admission requirements to many relevant health and social care-related courses, such as: BA/BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care, BA/BSc (Hons) in Health Studies, BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing or similar.

Possible careers include: healthcare support worker, nursing assistant/auxiliary roles in a range of areas, e.g. adult and community nursing, clinical support, midwifery support, rehabilitation services. Assistant practitioners (sometimes called associate practitioners) work in many branches of the NHS including: operating departments, pre-habilitation/rehabilitation, maternity and community care. As well as a variety of management positions across health and care settings such as Care Managers.