BSc (Hons) Podiatry

Although this is a Foundation Degree it has been designed alongside a Certificate in Higher Education (Foot Care Assistant) more as a scheme of framework that allows you to study at your own pace to meet your current and future aspiring employment needs specialising in helping people with foot and lower limb problems working alongside a podiatrist. You can enrol on the full Foundation Degree or select discrete packages of learning that you can study either in the workplace only or in the workplace and at Birmingham Metropolitan College and which can build to the full Foundation Degree more slowly.
This course has been designed with employers to support the roles within the foot and lower limb health arena. It also forms part of a package of Foundation Degree programmes at the University of Wolverhampton linked to health care and preoperative practice.
It will provide you with an intellectually rigorous and up-to-date education that will help to achieve your personal, academic, and professional goals, but enable you to do this either in steps, taking a break after each step, or all at once. You will develop the personal and professional values required of the Assistant Practitioner and develop a knowledge base that informs practice. You will apply the skills of academic inquiry and intellectual curiosity to your understanding of the patient experience and develop high standards of autonomous practice in order to maintain quality care within your sphere of influence.
The aim of this course is to enable you to develop and flourish within a new and exciting role in the field of a Foot Health Assistant Practitioner. You will gain valuable work-based learning skills which will enable you to further your career in the field of health care.
It will provide an environment where your learning can be immediately applied in a work place role and inspire you to develop further. It is a programme that can therefore respond to the needs of all potential students, especially mature students and those with non-traditional entry qualifications.

Course content

Course Content The following are modules that can be studied as part of the full programme or separately. Those with an * comprise a series of short courses that can be studied individually and then built up to be assessed together to claim the full module. The content of these can also be negotiated by an employer to match a role they have or are developing.

• Level 4: Also completes a Certificate in Higher Education (Foot Care Assistant) Developing a framework for practice
• Developing the Reflective Practitioner
• Biological basis of Health and Disease
• Fundamentals of health and disease for foot health care
• Working in the clinical environment in foot health care (clinical)
• Working in the clinical environment in foot health care (clinical padding and strapping)
• Level 5: Level 4 Plus Level 5 Completes the Foundation Degree (Science) Foot Health Assistant Practitioner.
• Introduction to Evidence Based Practice
• The Assistant Practitioner Role
• Human development and the physiological aging process
• Microbiology and pharmacology
• Practical Foot Health Advanced Assistant Skills
• Working in the clinical environment as a foot health assistant

Entry Requirements

60-120 points including a minimum of 40 points from one or more full 6-unit awards or one full 12 unit award or 1 A-Level pass in any subject or Access Diploma or An NVQ/QCF at Level 3 and GCSE English at Grade C or IELT 7.0 or above (if English is a second language)

Delivery & Assessment methods

The course is designed to develop knowledge and skills at levels 4 and 5, whilst engendering enquiring and reflective practice so that you can apply a holistic approach to practice and prepare you to go on to further studies if you wish to. There is a high vocational content which will be studied in small elements of learning within a clinical setting and contribute to the full award. Synthesis of theory and practice is taught through problem-based learning sessions and close integration of the theoretical element with its close coupled practical application directly within the clinical environment. Research skills and critical evaluation of scientific literature are taught through study skills sessions via directed learning in writing essays and in the consideration of evidence based practice. As such the linkage is made to evidence based practice, clinical judgement and governance, clinical audit and service evaluation. A sense of professional identity and self is engendered throughout with lessons and practical sessions looking specifically at team work and reflection on roles, responsibilities and limitations. This also includes the importance of accurate and legible records, and effective and communication skills with professional colleagues and the public. A wide variety of learning activities are provided throughout the course including: • Lectures and tutorials • Skills-based work within BMetC’s purpose built clinical suite undertaking supervised work on patients and/or working with a work placed clinical setting provided by the student’s employer. • Skill-based workshops/simulated practice • Laboratory / theatre based practical work • Action learning sets (ALS) • Problem based learning (PBL) • Case studies • Independent and self-directed learning • Use of various Blended Learning opportunities • Debate and professional dialogue • Work based assessment and learning opportunities You will be allocated a personal tutor who will provide support as you progress and you may be part of a personal tutor group through which you will both give and receive support from your fellow students. A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course including practical assessment in the clinical setting. At level 4 where fundamental knowledge and basic skills are developed the assessments may include tests, coursework, and introduction to portfolio development. At level 5 to promote a deep approach to learning and encourage self-directed learning the assessments may include coursework activities, examinations requiring application of knowledge and/or skills, practical reports, posters and a higher level of reflective portfolio evidence in support of skills.

Progression

This course prepares you to be able to offer skills as an Assistant practitioner to Podiatrists in a foot Health clinic. Successful completion will entitle you to seek progression to the final year of BSc (Honours) degree programme in Health Sciences. They may also continue onto the BSc (Hons) Podiatry degree but due additional Podiatry specific knowledge and application this progression can ONLY be into the SECOND year of the degree programme and requires an additional period of learning prior to this to increase clinical hours specific to the activities of a podiatrist. Please note: The practitioner level role in foot and lower limb health care is the Podiatrist. Only those who have undertaken a full three year degree programme satisfying the Standards of Education and Training; and the Standards of Proficiency defined by the Health Professions Council can call themselves, and work as Podiatrists.