Primary Health Care Assistant (UCAPD Award)

Course Delivery & Duration

40 weeks of self-directed study is facilitated by a distance learning pack and includes two compulsory study days at the start of the course and one compulsory study day normally after 16 weeks.

This course forms the core module of our Cert. HE Primary Care qualification.

Suitable For

Health Care Assistant

Accreditations

Teesside University UCAPD Primary Health Care Assistant 60 Credits Level 4

Outline Content

This module is especially relevant for those working in a primary care environment who wish to expand their role and enhance their knowledge and skills in relation to working as a primary health care assistant.

The content covers administrative, practical and clinical matters to enable the student to assist health care professionals in their clinical activities

The course forms the core module of our Certificate in Higher Education (Cert. HE) Primary Care but may also be undertaken as a stand-alone course.

Entry Criteria

Working for a minimum of 8 hours per week within the primary care setting alongside a registered nurse who will act as a Practice Mentor and support them in the clinical environment.

As part of the assessment involves writing three essays, it is important that students have a good ability to write clearly in English.

Aim

To facilitate the development of knowledge and skills that underpin the role of the primary health care assistant

Learning Outcomes

• Use interpersonal and communication skills to clarify tasks and rectify issues in relation to the role of the health care assistant in primary care
• Operate competently and responsibly in digital environments
• Articulate and evaluate own capabilities in key areas and engage in development activity through guided study
• Develop a broader understanding of the knowledge base in relation to the evolving clerical, clinical and treatment role of the health care assistant in primary care
• Collect information and data from a variety of sources and articulate findings in an appropriate format
• Provide informed solutions to standard problems in familiar contexts for example in relation to legal and ethical issues as applied to the role of the primary health care assistant which can impact on safe and effective practice
• Reflect on the performance of tasks which may be complex and non-routine such as preparing and maintaining the clinical environment as well as carrying out clinical activities
• Operate under supervision in a range of varied but predictable contexts
• Be aware of the core principles and values which are inherent to the role of the health care assistant

Section Headings

• The evolving role of the health care assistant in primary care
• Core principles and values for person-centred care
• Accountability and delegation (legal and professional issues)
• Patients’ rights (consent, confidentiality, dignity, equality & diversity, safeguarding)
• Methods of communication, data protection and record-keeping
• Clinical skills and competencies including relevant national guidelines and policies
• Health and safety
• Infection, prevention and control
• Personal development
• Academic writing skills

Assessment

Formative

This is optional but students are encouraged to take this opportunity to gain feedback to assist them in developing their writing skills and in building confidence in their knowledge base. It should be submitted by week 10 of the module

Students may submit a 500-word assignment discussing delegation and the role of the health care assistant in relation to their area of practice. They should draw on literature to underpin their discussion.

Formative Assessment Criteria

This will be assessed according to the student’s ability to:

• Discuss delegation in relation to your area of practice, supported by literature
• Adhere to the School of Health & Social Care policy for confidentiality and consent
• Adhere to the School of Health & Social Care guidelines for presentation and referencing

Summative

The summative assessment has two components. There is one essay and a set of practice competencies. The essay and practice competencies and both to be submitted by week 40 of the module

Component 1:

The student will complete a staged essay in which they discuss the role of the primary health care assistant within the health care environment. Within this the student will develop the essay in three stages. The first stage involves discussion of the core principles and values necessary to give person-centred care, the legal and ethical issues of delegation and accountability, in particular relating this to safe practice. This stage will also incorporate some discussion of the evolving role of the health care assistant in primary care. In the second stage the student will reflect on the development of their clinical skills using a specific example. They will describe the care involved referring to relevant policies, guidelines and evidence. In the final stage the student will then reflect on how they have developed the skills involved and explain how they plan to continue to develop their skills in the future.

This essay will be a maximum of 4,000 words and will be submitted by week 40 of the module. This will be assessed according to the student’s ability to:

• Describe the legal and ethical issues of delegation and accountability in relation to safe practice
• Discuss the core principles and values necessary to give patient-centred care
• Discuss the evolving role of the health care assistant in primary care
• Describe a clinical activity supported by relevant policy, guidelines and evidence
• Reflect on how their skills developed in relation to this clinical activity
• Explain how they will continue to develop their skills in the future
• Adhere to the School of Health & Social Care policy for consent and confidentiality
• Adhere to the School of Health & Social Care guidelines for presentation and referencing

Component 2:

The student will successfully achieve five compulsory competencies and four practice competencies chosen from a designated list of options provided by the PCTC. The registered nurse mentor signs to confirm that the student has achieved competence in the compulsory and practice competencies in the practice setting.

The competencies will be submitted by week 40 of the module. This will be assessed according to the student’s ability to:

Evidence achievement of practice competencies: all five compulsory and four chosen practice competencies must be successfully achieved in practice and the registered nurse will sign the documentation to confirm achievement of the competencies.