1. Assistant Practitioner Foundation Degree Mary Spearman and Helen Smart

2. Where are we? Northumberland  Northumberland  Tyne & Wear  Durham  Tees Valley

3. Background to the Programme Main vehicle: Inconsistencies in training No recognised programme of training No standardised roles and responsibilities No CPD NHS/GOVERNMENT Initiatives Skills for Health Partnership Working

4. Development of the Programme Successful Bid to North East Higher Skills Network Steering Group and Programme Planning Group set up Roles and scope of practice mapped Contact with Professional Body and HPC Development with the Skills for Health

5. Introduction of the Programme Implementation/accreditation September 2006 Not without problems First intake January 2009

6. Who is the Programme for? Any Assistant Practitioners currently employed by the NHS (will change) New appointments to an Assistant Post in NHS Any Assistant Practitioners who already holds certificate NVQ/ACCO/In House trained and wishes to engage in learning and development (currently 1 st year is all new people into Footcare Post)

7. The Programme 2 Year Programme Accredited as Foundation Degree – Leeds Metropolitan University Year 1 – Level 1 Certificate of Education in Higher Education (120 Credits) Year 2 Foundation Degree (240 Credits)

8. What does the Course cover? Modules? Level 1 Work Based Learning (WBL) Foundations of Practise (FOP) The above modules look at clinic specific activities Introduction to anatomy and physiology Introduction to dermatology Foot Screening Study Skills

9. What does the Course cover? Modules? Level 2 Work Based Learning 2 (WBL) Foundations of Practise 2 (FOP) The above modules look at clinic specific activities Body Systems and Disease Biomechanics Advanced Foot Screening Evidence Based Practice

10. Mentorship Support still required Training to support mentors Protected Time Partnership

11. Where we are now – End of Year One Presentations to mentors and mangers Evaluation Students Mentors Managers Lessons learnt

12. Where we are now – End of Year One All students passed year one !!

13. The Future Distance Learning Constant review and improvement APEL for existing assistant practitioners Module access for existing practitioners Job Descriptions -SfH Society Accreditation

14. Thank you Questions?

15. Safe Journey Home