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Postgraduate Diploma in Enhanced Clinical Practice - Learning Outcomes

Educational aims

The Postgraduate Diploma in Enhanced Clinical Practice enables students to gain the knowledge, understanding and skills required to meet a range of elements of the capabilities of the Advanced Clinical Practice role. The definitions, role descriptors and levels of practice associated with Advanced Clinical Practice detailed in the policy publications across the countries of the UK are consolidated in the four pillars set out in the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice (HEE 2017): clinical practice, leadership and management, research and education. These 4 pillars of practice provide the overall focus of the programme.

The programme will provide the relevant postgraduate education required for health professionals to achieve a range of the capabilities of Advanced Clinical Practice through completion of the two modules:

  • Non-medical independent and supplementary prescribing (K803)
  • Developing Advanced Clinical Practice (K804)

The Non-medical prescribing module is an approved programme of study leading to a registerable qualification for UK regulatory bodies. Students successfully completing Non-medical independent and supplementary prescribing (K803) as part of the Postgraduate Diploma will be required to register their NMP qualification with their regulatory body in order to prescribe.

Successfully completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Enhanced Clinical Practice will enable students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to be autonomous, expert health professionals working at an enhanced level within their scope of professional practice.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

When you complete this qualification, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

  • the broadened level of professional responsibility, accountability and autonomy for advanced practice including; professional, ethical and legal perspectives; local, national and international policies and perspectives of advanced practice; governance systems; and the research and evidence that informs advanced practice
  • leadership and continuing professional development for advanced practice in the multi-professional team including; wider socio-economic impacts; digital health perspectives; health literacy and empowerment
  • the national and international political agendas for the Advanced Clinical Practitioner role in enabling holistic, therapeutic and complex clinical care within their scope of practice
  • a critical understanding of pharmacology, medicines management, social & psychological interventions and prescribing practice.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this qualification, you will have developed the following cognitive skills:

  • to proficiently critically appraise and synthesise current research, audit, complex, incomplete or contradictory evidence, health initiatives, health economics, clinical guidance and policies relative to your scope of practice.

Practical and/or professional skills

When you complete this qualification, you will be able to:

  • undertake advanced health assessment using diagnostic strategies, initiating and evaluating a range of interventions. These may include prescribing of medicines, therapies and care; using person-centred approaches in simple and complex, predictable and unpredictable situations.

Key skills

When you have completed this postgraduate diploma, you will be able to:

  • accurately and effectively communicate through professional leadership, supervision, role modelling and mentoring in situations that are complex and unpredictable and instil confidence in others by displaying clinical credibility and the ability to work across boundaries to promote person-centred care
  • recognise, acknowledge and respond to the changing needs and wishes of people empowering them whenever possible to make decisions about their care, health and wellbeing
  • be able to critically reflect and evaluate your professional practice through self-awareness, emotional intelligence and openness to change, addressing your own learning needs through ongoing professional development to continually develop practice

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

Tuition across the modules that make up the Postgraduate Diploma in Enhanced Clinical Practice (E95) includes online lectures and seminars utilising video-conferencing facilities, and blended learning utilising online forums, wikis and interactive activities.

Students will enter the course with different levels of clinical knowledge and you will be supported throughout, depending on your own learning needs. You will develop the skills and knowledge, seen as fundamental, to work safely and effectively at an enhanced level of practice in a variety of clinical settings.

Assessment will include continuous assessment via tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), examinable assessment via an e-portfolio, examination and presentation. The assessment strategy will include reflections on clinical and professional practice, case studies, and evidencing clinical competencies, all with appropriate feedback at each assessment point.

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