• Develop professional experience and specialist knowledge, through our blend of academic and practical teaching, delivered by a team involved in the education and practice development of the Surgical Care Practitioner role at national level for over 15 years.
• Benefit from eight weeks of taught theory and 28 weeks of direct clinical practice (per year).
  
• Expand your practical skills to undertake complex surgical procedures, manage patients intra-operatively and be responsible for pre-operative and post-operative outpatient clinics.
  
• Benefit from a combination of academic, theoretical and practical teaching, giving you the necessary clinical skills to meet national industry standards. We have strong links with existing practitioners, and visiting lecturers include current practising qualified Surgical Care Practitioners and Consultant Surgeons.
  
• Consider innovative approaches to care delivery and enhance the surgical patient experience.
  
• Cultivate a precise and meticulous work ethic, delivering an effective, safe and efficient service to patients.
• Work both autonomously and as part of a multi-profession team.
  
• Secure the experience you need to excel in unpredictable and highly pressurised clinical environments.
• Use your initiative to solve complex problems and deliver high quality patient care. Past students have enabled new service provision, such as satellite clinics for pre and/or postoperative assessment, and student initiated audits have generated new processes and cost savings for employing organisations.
• Royal College of Surgeons accredited programme.

• Year 1

• Postgraduate certificate - to achieve a postgraduate certificate, you will need to earn 60 credits.

  Develop further specialist knowledge and skills, enabling greater participation and leadership in surgical patient care. You'll also learn the principles of data collection and analysis, demonstrating clinical reasoning and judgement.
  

  Assessment in practice is ongoing throughout the programme with specified competencies to be achieved within operating theatres, clinics and ward areas. Assessment in theory is patient and service focused to enable development of condition/patient specific knowledge as well as service enhancement.

  Core modules

  • APP702 Advancing Research Knowledge in Practice 1

    This module develops an understanding of research designs and methods, enables the critical appraisal of research and introduces the principles of data collection and analysis.

  • SCP701 Core Competencies for Surgical Care Practice

    Trainees will demonstrate mastery of skills, knowledge and competence to safely perform the core role of Surgical Care Practitioner, including specific complex skills, clinical reasoning and judgement. Reflexivity and engagement in research supporting practice are integral to the module.

• Final year

• Postgraduate diploma - to gain a postgraduate diploma, you will need to earn 120 credits.
  

  During PgDip students develop further specialist knowledge and skills enabling greater participation and leadership in surgical patient care. Most organisations offer mid-Band 6 during training, and Band 7 on qualification (PgDip). Many continue to participate in service delivery innovation, with high level patient interaction and decision-making. 

  On completion of PgDip, you have the option to enrol onto the MSc Surgical Care Practitioner (Abdominal, Pelvic and General Surgery).

  Core modules

  • APP710 Advanced Assessment for Clinical Practice

    "This module will enable experienced practitioners to undertake a systematic and structured history taking assessment alongside a physical examination in order to integrate advanced assessment findings into clinical decision making. Emphasis will be on developing an understanding of systems and patho-physiology when seeing and managing patients with undiagnosed and undifferentiated presentations across healthcare settings."

  • SCP704 Surgical Care Specialist Practice (Abdominal, Pelvic and General Surgery)

    This specialist module is for SCPs practicing within Abdominal, Pelvic and General Surgery (APGS) specialisms. It enables comprehensive acquisition of the knowledge and underpinning evidence that supports pathological, clinical, and practical mastery of the surgical techniques of the identified specialism within APGS practice, enabling the trainee to achieve advanced level specialist practice in their chosen field.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

PgDip MSc Surgical Care Practitioner Programme Specification 5829

To apply for this programme, you'll need:

• a named consultant surgeon who will be your clinical supervisor
• a current and live registration with either the Nursing and Midwifery Council (Part 1 or 2) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• evidence of level 6 education or equivalent
  
• a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (previously CRB)
  
• a satisfactory occupational health clearance.

UK/EU

A relevant degree with honours or an equivalent professional qualification. Other qualifications accompanied by substantial experience in an appropriate field may also be considered. Non-standard applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

You must be employed full-time in an appropriate role within a suitable hospital able to provide training with a UK setting, and you must have support of the clinical manager to undertake this programme of study whilst employed.

International

We are unable to take international students on this programme as they have to be in an employed position as a trainee surgical care practitioner.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for postgraduate taught programmes. Tell me more about scholarships and bursaries.

When to apply

Applications for this programme should be made by the end of July in the academic year that you wish to commence studying. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.

Apply for this programme

Applications should be made by using the relevant PDF or Word application form.

Postgraduate application form DOC – A 10 page DOC application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to University

Postgraduate application form PDF – A 10 page PDF application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to University

Printed application forms are also available and can be obtained from the Professional Development Unit. Please send your completed application form to the address or email listed below:

Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA

Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?

You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by Plymouth University, please visit our Disability Services website.