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HNC Healthcare Professions’ Support (Level 4) — Full-time

Course outline

Do you want to gain the skills for a career in the healthcare sector? This new Level 4 Higher National Certificate is widely recognised in healthcare systems both here in the UK and overseas.

Equivalent to the first year of a university degree, the course has been designed to offer a special emphasis on practical skills development, alongside knowledge and understanding of health and social care in the UK which is also relevant overseas. The HNC provides a thorough grounding in key concepts in healthcare professions' support including: law, evidence-based practice, health inequalities, reporting and record-keeping in health practice. The course includes contemporary themes and current practice. All students undertake healthcare-based work placements to develop their own professional practice and meet the requirements to work in the sector.

Currently subject to validation, with a first intake planned for September 2024.

This course is based at our new £58 million City Hub campus, close to Nottingham train station and features state of the art teaching and learning facilities, science laboratories, with a restaurant, cafe, performing arts venue and specialist healthcare facilities including a simulated hospital ward, which provides students with a realistic learning environment that mimics a hospital environment.

Assistant practitioners work as part of the more comprehensive health and social care team and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients, providing high-quality and compassionate care.

Modules are planned to include:

  • Law, Policy and Ethical Practice
  • Demonstrating Professional Principles and Values in Health and Social Care Practice
  • Supporting the Individual Journey through Integrated Health and Social Care
  • Fundamentals of Evidence-based Practice
  • Principles of Health Education
  • Effective Healthcare Practice Using Maths
  • Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Compulsory work placement

This course includes a minimum requirement of 225 hours’ of work placement or experience in health and/or social care settings.

Nottingham College is proud to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Bronze Award for high quality student experience and outcomes. You can read more about this on the Office for Students website.

How to apply for this course

Entry onto this course is via UCAS.

  • Institution code: N30
  • UCAS code: HCP1
UCAS

Want to find out more first?

Would you like more information? Email our HE team.

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Location Date Fees / reductions
111 Canal Street
Nottingham
NG1 7HB

Start: Monday 30th September 2024

The tuition fee is per year.

Various bursaries are available for some Higher Education courses.

Tuition fee: £8,250

Course code: C050732 / Q050733

Qualification

Higher National Certificate in Healthcare Professions’ Support (subject to validation)

Duration

1 year

Level Level 4
Entry requirements

You’ll need a minimum of 48 UCAS points from:

  • At least two A Levels at A2 in science-based subjects
  • BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T levels

Other combinations of qualifications and experience will also be considered, as will Level 3 qualifications not currently listed on the UCAS tariff.

GCSE English Language and Maths passes at Grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C) are required. As an equivalent, we expect applicants to be working at (or to demonstrate competency at) Level 2 or above in English/literacy and Maths/numeracy.

Mature applicants not meeting the standard entry criteria but with relevant industry or life experience are very welcome to apply.

Teaching & assessment

A wide variety of innovative and traditional methods will be used including: practical assignments, portfolios of evidence, data analysis, case studies, written reports, essays, presentations, work-based evidence with employer statements.

Progression

Students from the Level 4 HNC can progress to the Level 5 Higher National Diploma course. Possible careers in this sector are: healthcare support worker, nursing assistant/auxiliary roles in a range of areas of specialism, e.g. adult and community nursing, clinical support, midwifery support, rehabilitation services. Assistant practitioners (sometimes called associate practitioners) work in many branches of the NHS including: operating departments, prehabilitation/rehabilitation, maternity and community care.

Additional information

This award is currently subject to validation.

About the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

Learn more about the TEF