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PgCert Enhanced Clinical Practitioner

Develop enhanced clinical practitioner competencies aligned to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours identified in the occupational standard. Gain the skills and knowledge needed to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Work within an area of enhanced practice.

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Student doctors and nurses working with a manikin on the mock hospital ward
Course codeCID1516
Duration13 months
Fee(s)View fees
LocationOn campus

Course summary

The Enhanced Clinical Practitioner (ECP) apprenticeship is designed to help healthcare professionals develop advanced knowledge, skills, and behaviours aligned with national apprenticeship standards. The course prepares you to work at an enhanced level of practice within multidisciplinary teams across health and social care settings, including the NHS, forensic, social, and prison services.

This 13-month course, followed by an End Point Assessment (EPA), focuses on developing enhanced clinical competencies that enable you to contribute effectively to specific areas of patient care. Enhanced Clinical Practice (ECP) will work alongside the MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner. It's a destination role in its own right, offering services and patients a consistent level of expertise, working in discrete areas of patient pathways.

You’ll study topics such as clinical assessment, anatomy and physiology, reflective practice, clinical risk management, service improvement, leadership, and health literacy. Assessment includes continuous evaluation of clinical skill development, reflective learning, and the creation of a professional portfolio.

The apprenticeship is delivered through a blended, student-centred approach, encouraging collaboration and shared learning across professional groups. Teaching is led by experienced advanced practitioners from a range of clinical backgrounds, ensuring that learning is both current and embedded in real clinical practice.

What you'll study

Modules

How you'll learn

There'll be a range of learning strategies employed throughout the modules, which will include flipped classroom, keynote lectures, seminars, problem-based/case-based learning, simulation, and involvement of Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) participants, providing you with opportunities for engagement and success.

There are a range of assessments that include a portfolio, work-based competency assessment, and professional development plan. These directly feed into your final EPA as required by the apprenticeship occupational standard.

Entry requirements

Fees and finance support

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Apply now

To apply for a higher or degree apprenticeship, you must have an employer in place to support you on the course. If you're interested in applying and have an employer in place, please email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab) and we'll send you the relevant application link.

To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship(opens in new tab).

For a discussion around your specific requirements, or if you're an employer interested in creating a vacancy, please call us on 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and been offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

View our programme specifications(opens in new tab) for further information about what the course covers, learning outcomes and the skills you'll gain when you graduate.