BSc (Hons) Podiatry (Apprenticeship)

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This apprenticeship is aimed at people who are assisting Podiatrists as foot care technicians or assistants, who would like to become a Podiatrist. You will be employed in either the National Health Service or in Private Practice and will need to have the agreement of your employer in order to apply.

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Overview

This apprenticeship offers a great opportunity for those assisting Podiatrists as foot care technicians or assistants, who would like to become a Podiatrist. It is also a perfect route for those exploring a new career in Podiatry, through a recruited apprenticeship route offered by a Healthcare Provider (subject to entry criteria). You will be employed in either the National Health Service or in Private Practice and will need to have the agreement of your employer in order to apply.

Why us?

Accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Podiatrists

Course structure

You will study one day per week at the University of Sunderland (Sunderland Campus) and will have a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. Specialist teaching spaces, such as the Anatomy centre and simulation facilities will be utilised. You will undertake group work and have the opportunity for 1:1 tutorials.

You will be assessed on practice placement, in the workplace and academically through undertaking examinations, OSCE, poster presentations, case studies, portfolios, projects and MCQ exams.

You will also be required to pass the End Point Assessment required by The Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education.

Level 4:

Clinical Podiatric Practice 1 (30 credits)

This module is an introduction to clinical practice that includes basic principles of health and safety, patient centred care, clinical reasoning and treatment planning, psychosocial care and clinical communication. You will develop practical skills needed for the safe management of a defined range of podiatric conditions. This module includes Practice Placement 1

Professional standards and inquiry (30 credits)

You will gain a broad understanding of the legal frameworks in which podiatry is practiced and of your professional accountability. There will be an introduction to evidence-based practice and how this underpins safe and effective care.

Foundations of medical science, anatomy and physiology (30 credits)

You will gain a detailed understanding of the anatomy and physiology relevant to managing lower limb pathology and associated patient assessment. The module content will provide an overview of the basic medical sciences relevant to podiatry including dermatology, pharmacology, microbiology.

Lower limb anatomy and human movement (30 credits)

You will gain an understanding of the principles and detailed anatomical structures that enable bipedal gait across the lifespan. You will develop the practical skills needed to undertake basic gait analysis.

Level 5:

Clinical Podiatric Practice 2 (30 credits)

You will develop your skills of assessment, diagnosis and management of a defined range of patients. You will learn about the role of podiatry within health care systems and across multidisciplinary teams. This module includes Practice Placement 2

Research Methods and evidence-based care (30 credits)

You will gain a detailed appreciation of research methods and research ethics to enable you to develop a research proposal. You will learn about how to deliver evidence-based care gaining skills in reflective practice and how to use systematic evidence to deliver safe and effective outcomes.

Pathophysiology and pharmacology (30 credits)

You will learn about the systemic conditions that impact on foot health. You will learn how to safely provide local analgesia in the foot.

Musculoskeletal conditions and applied biomechanics in the foot and lower limb (30 credits)

You will learn about musculoskeletal conditions affecting the foot and lower limb and their conservative and surgical management. You will learn how to conduct biomechanical assessment and provide orthotic management.

Level 6:

Clinical Podiatric Practice 3 (30 credits)

You will develop your understanding and ability to use effective information governance. You will demonstrate your ability to provide safe and effective patient centred care in a wide range of contexts and understand your role in public health education and clinical education. You will understand the role of podiatry within the national and local health economy. You will understand your role as a clinical leader and educator within healthcare practice. You will understand how to keep yourself well and maintain your fitness to practice. This module includes Practice Placement 3.

Applied Practice Project for Podiatrists (30 credits)

You will develop your research and entrepreneurial skills to undertake a project or literature review applied to contemporary podiatric practice.

Podiatric Medical Management of High Risk Caseloads (30 credits)

As part of the wider healthcare team you will learn how to manage patients with a range of high risk or debilitating foot pathologies including diabetes, arthropathies and malignancies within your scope of practice. You will have a detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of a range of foot and lower limb pathologies.

Pharmacology and Independent Prescribing (30 credits)

You will understand fundamental pharmacological principles and demonstrate analysis and understanding of a broad range of drug groups including those approved for podiatric use. You will understand the legal frameworks that underpin prescribing in podiatry.

Facilities

You will spend 20% of your time ‘off the job’ studying at the University of Sunderland on the City Campus. The remaining time you will learn in your workplace, alongside and from your colleagues. Teaching takes place in multimedia classrooms with state of the art resources for learning including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, laboratory, clinical suites, problem-based learning suite, anatomy centre and computer labs. Specialist teaching labs are used in Darwin building, including a mock house and physiology labs.

In addition, there are specialised facilities based in Fleming, Pasteur, Dale, Darwin and Helen McArdle House, comprising laboratories for science-based teaching (chemistry, pharmaceutics) as well as professional practice rooms to support on-site problem-based learning, inter-professional learning and team-based learning opportunities for students. All buildings have open-for-all access to academic and social environments. Recent and on-going investment in the John Dawson Science Complex has focussed on creating an infrastructure to support and enhance our capability to deliver growth in integrated, interdisciplinary, patient-centred teaching aligned to the future structure of regional, national and international healthcare systems.

Clinical facilities currently include a simulated pharmacy, mock wards, patient transfer suites, patient isolation suite, point-of-care suite, problem-based learning suite, purpose built OSCEs suites and the new anatomy centre. You will benefit from the John Dawson Research Institute and the Helen McArdle Research Institute, both of which are instrumental in pharmacological, health and social care research.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

The programme is work based and, as such, is subject to the apprentice being employed by an organisation throughout the duration of the programme. The employer must confirm apprentices comply with the apprentice eligibility criteria including funding requirements.

Applicants must have:

You will need to have the full backing of your employer to undertake this apprenticeship, before you apply. Applications are made via the University admissions process, and your application will be reviewed by the Admissions tutor and you may be invited to attend for a values based recruitment interview.

You may be invited to attend a values based recruitment interview. At the interview you will meet academic staff and members of the Patient, Carer & Public Involvement team, who will ask you questions to ascertain your suitability to be offered a place.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

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 or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

a podiatrist examining a patients feet with a magnifying glass while wearing blue rubber gloves

Career ready

As this is an Apprenticeship programme, your employer will be able to discuss employment options with you. Possible industries you can go into with this degree include the National Health Service, private practice, Higher Education, research, the third sector, charities and more.

You will also undertake practice placements during the programme, to enable you to learn in different environments with a range of service users.

Related courses

Contact

For a discussion around your specific requirements please contact:

0191 515 3361 / apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk

If you’re looking to start an apprenticeship, it is the employer that will advertise this opportunity, not the University. To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Page last updated: 03 May 2024

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.