Diploma of Higher Education

Operating Department Practitioner

(ODP)

Duration:: Two years
Start Dates:: September
Attendance:: Full-time
Venue:: Uxbridge Campus

Key Contact:: The Enquiries Team
Tel:: 0800 0565 660
Email:: advice@bucks.ac.uk

Is this course suitable for me?

For anyone needing to have surgery it is vital for them to feel that they will be in ‘safe hands’ as well as have the confidence in knowing that the team within the operating theatre knows exactly what they are doing. An Operating Department Practitioner plays an important part within that team, to ensure every operation is as effective and safe as possible.

This two year course will enable you to develop the high level of skills required to assist in the smooth and successful running of the operating theatre and other high dependency areas such as recovery, as well as support nursing and medical colleagues during peri-operative care.

This role will therefore require a broad knowledge and skills base, which will need to include management and communication skills, especially as you will be playing an important role in both the physical and psychological care of the patients.

Overview

The aim of the course is to develop Operating Department Practitioners who are able to work in a multidisciplinary context to provide the highest standard of operating department practice. The course will combine theory with practical experience gained in an operating department as well as specialist theatre areas. You will undertake clinical placements within one of our partner trusts or independent health care providers, alongside qualified mentors and you will be required to gain experience and competence in all aspects of peri-operative care.

Structure

This two year diploma consists of four semesters, two per year, each with varying weeks of integrated practice and theory.

Year 1

Semester one (September – January)
The first semester consists of two modules which will run from September to January and encompasses 13 weeks practice and seven weeks theory for the two modules.

Module one 30 Credits – Fundamentals of peri-operative practice
Module two 30 Credits – Principles and practices of anaesthetics and surgery

Semester two (February – August)
The second semester consists of two modules which will run from February to August and encompasses 16 weeks in practice and seven weeks of theory.

Module one 30 credits – Developing peri-operative practice
Module two 30 credits – Anatomy and physiology

Year 2

Semester one (September – January)
The first semester consists of two modules which will run from September to January and encompasses 13 weeks practice and six weeks theory

Module one 30 credits – Advanced peri-operative practice
Module two 30 credits – Applied anatomy and physiology

Semester two (February – August)
The second semester consists of two modules which will run from February to August and encompasses 18 weeks in practice and seven weeks of theory.

Module one 30 credits – Specialist peri-operative care
Module two 30 credits – Developing leadership qualities in the peri-operative care environment.

You will use our purpose built simulation suite where skills can be practiced before going into the clinical setting. The simulation suite recreates the environment of an operating theatre.

Holidays

In year one you will have six weeks and five weeks of annual leave in year two, which will comprise of two weeks over the Christmas period, two weeks over the Easter period, with the further annual leave allocated in year.

Inter-professional learning

Throughout the duration of the course you will be working alongside other healthcare professionals with the aim of providing effective patient care co-ordination.

This inter-professional working will teach you how to communicate and work within different teams whether this is in a hospital or other health setting. By understanding the role of other healthcare professionals with help widen your knowledge of the patient experience.

Clinical practice

Undertaking clinical practice is a large part of the course and takes place in both year one and two. Whilst in clinical practice you will be expected to undertake shift patterns and these will be determined by your placement area.

When you go out onto your practice placement, a clinical member of staff will provide mentorship, supervise your experience and assess that you are meeting the requirements of the course. All health professionals and other staff members will contribute to your learning experience, so it will benefit you to engage with the multidisciplinary team.

Clinical placements take place within NHS London and South Buckinghamshire, and will include:

Entry requirements

Diploma students, must posses one of the following:

5 GCSE’s including, but not limited to, English, Maths and a Science.
A recognised Access to Higher Education course, including science at grade C.
BTEC first diploma and one GCSE.
A Higher Education qualification (HND or Degree).
Additional qualifications may be considered.
Mature students without formal qualifications are welcome to apply. We advise you to contact us to discuss your application
No previous experience of working in a health care environment is needed.

You also need to have been living in the UK for over three years and have indefinite leave to remain or refugee status or be a resident of the EU.

All applicants must be screened for fitness for practice by undergoing Occupational Health Screening and will be required to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to sit an IELTS test and score an average score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5.

Employment opportunities

Once you have completed the course you will be eligible to register and practice as an Operating Department Practitioner, meaning that you will be a vital member of the clinical team. Although primarily you will be employed within operating theatres, the theory and integrated practice that you undertook throughout the duration of the course, as well as the evolving skills set ODP’s have, could mean that you are able to work in a variety of clinical areas. This may include

Trauma teams
Accident and emergency departments
Resuscitation teams
Transplant teams
Helicopter emergency medical services.

There will also be opportunities in research, education and training. You will also have the opportunity to come back to the University to undertake Continuing Professional Development in specialist clinical settings.

Professional Registration

Operating Department Practitioners (ODP’s) are required to be registered with the Health Professions Council in order to practice. Further information on the Health Professions Council can be found at hpc-uk.org

How to make an application

Applications should be made through UCAS (University and College Admissions Service), this is a central organisation in the UK through which applications are processed for entry to higher education.

For more information about UCAS and making an online application, you can visit their website ucas.com or alternatively phone them on 0870 112 2211.

Buckinghamshire New University has a unique institution and course code which you will need to quote on your application form. When you have decided that you meet the eligibility requirements for the course and you have sent back your completed application form, UCAS will forward it to us.
We will then consider whether we wish to invite you for an interview.

Institution code: B94
Course code: B990

Selection process

Interview days are a crucial part of the selection process for the Operating Department Practitioner programme. In your personal statement, you should show examples of your educational achievements, motivation to become an ODP and the qualities you possess which you believe make you a good candidate.

If you are selected to come to an interview you will be required to demonstrate that you have good communication, English, Maths and basic computer skills, which will be assessed as part of the interview process. You will also need to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements, are able to meet the academic and professional requirements of the course and have an awareness of the role of the ODP in the delivery of healthcare.

Students funded by the NHS or other employer

If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.

Bucks New University

Faculty of Society & Health