First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal or Paramedic)

Course overview

The modules will provide a coherent programme of study relevant to current primary care paramedic or musculoskeletal practice. Learners will be supported through the programme either through taught modules or through a supportive portfolio to meet the relevant roadmap requirements.

• Clinically focused course designed to equip you with high-level critical, evaluative and clinical skills.
• Paramedic pathway: approved by Health Education England (HEE), meeting the requirements of Stages 1 and 2 of the FCP (Paramedic) Roadmap to Practice (HEE, 2021).
• Musculoskeletal pathway: approved by Health Education England as fulfilling stages 1 and 2 of the FCP Roadmap to Practice (HEE, 2021)
• Integrated learning: taught modules and supervised practice^2,5 (minimum of 75 hours)

Course detail

The programme can be completed either through studying taught modules and undertaking supervised practice or through the submission of a clinical evidence portfolio and supervised practice^2,5.

An individual Learning Needs Analysis will determine the most appropriate option for you.

Both routes are consistent with Stages 1 and 2 of the First Contact Practitioner Roadmap.

A bespoke plan will be devised for you, based on your existing Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs).

Modules

The requirement to study each of these modules will be determined by and dependent upon your existing KSAs as identified by your individual Learning Needs Analysis.

Musculoskeletal pathway

• Musculoskeletal Management for Advanced Practice (MMAP) - 20 credits
  This clinically focused module is designed to build on and further develop your existing knowledge, skills and clinical experience ready for advanced practice roles where the focus is on the provision of high-quality care in the diagnosis and management of individuals with MSK disorders and on MSK health promotion. You will specifically focus on developing the breadth and depth of assessment skills necessary to confidently and competently screen and assess individuals presenting with MSK disorders and to place them on an appropriate care pathway. The module aims to enable you to become a practitioner who is an evidence-informed critical thinker, complex problem solver and effective decision maker in all areas of your clinical practice. Specialist guest lecturers (subject to availability) are involved in the module delivery providing the opportunities for you to apply new theoretical knowledge to practice and further assisting the development of advanced practical skills.
  Compulsory
• Advanced Physiotherapy Practice (MSK) - 20 credits
  This module provides the education, knowledge, skills and competencies you will need to help enable you to develop the level of practice required as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) to work safely, effectively and legally within your scope of practice. In the module you will explore the clinical, educational and leadership pillars of advanced clinical practice. Diagnostics (x-rays, MRI scans and blood tests), systems screening, pharmacology, outcome measures, role governance, clinical audit and change management will all be explored through case scenarios, presentations, case reports and interactive seminars allowing you to develop the principles and practice and to apply these to your own specialist clinical setting.
  Compulsory
• Clinical Practice for First Contact Practitioners - 0 credits
  You will have completed Stage 1 on the FCP Roadmap. You will undertake this module at your place of work in primary care. You will have identified a clinical supervisor who will oversee your supervised practice^2,5. An academic advisor will work collaboratively with you and your clinical supervisor with a mid-point tutorial.
  Successful completion of this module will rely on the learner achieving the standards set out by the Roadmap. This includes completion of a minimum of 75 hours of supervised primary care practice, demonstrated via a practice assessment to evidence aligning to Stage 2 of the profession-specific FCP Roadmap.
  Compulsory

Paramedic pathway

• Diagnostics and Clinical Management for First Contact Practitioners (Paramedic) - 20 credits
  This module aims to enable you to review and develop your autonomous role in the delivery of clinical management and care to individual patients and patient groups to the standards outlined in the FCP Roadmap.
  The emphasis will be on critical decision-making in enhanced practice. This includes the development of the ability to identify necessary and appropriate investigations, structured clinical history-taking leading to diagnosis, and clinical case management. The module is designed for learners working autonomously in primary care with patient-facing roles. You are expected to integrate new knowledge with existing experiences to enhance your assessment, diagnostic and clinical management skills.
  The module content and assessment are mapped against the FCP Roadmap (Paramedic) Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes (KSA) capabilities.
  Compulsory

• Primary Care for First Contact Practitioners (Paramedic) - 20 credits
  This module aims to introduce you to primary care practice as you develop your autonomous role in the delivery of clinical management and care to individual patients and patient groups to the standards outlined in the FCP Roadmap.
  The emphasis is on:
  • critical analysis of decision-making
  • utilisation of best evidence and research in practice
  • an enhanced understanding of the role of prescribing
  • social prescribing
  • development of confidence in case and time management and a critical evaluation of personal resilience
  • bias and awareness of its impact on patient care.

The module content and assessment are mapped against the FCP Roadmap (Paramedic) Knowledge, Skill and Attributes (KSA) capabilities.
Compulsory

• Clinical Practice for First Contact Practitioners - 0 credits
  You will have completed Stage 1 on the FCP Roadmap. You will undertake this module at your place of work in primary care. You will have identified a clinical supervisor who will oversee your supervised practice^2,5. An academic advisor will work collaboratively with you and your clinical supervisor with a mid-point tutorial.
  Successful completion of this module will rely on the learner achieving the standards set out by the Roadmap. This includes completion of a minimum of 75 hours of supervised primary care practice, demonstrated via a practice assessment to evidence aligning to Stage 2 of the profession-specific FCP Roadmap.
  Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Taught Route:

A range of approaches will be taken including:

• online lectures
• problem-based learning activities
• online seminars
• self-guided activities.

All theoretical content will be delivered online by asynchronous and synchronous methods using our virtual learning platform which is currently Aula. Taught content will align with Stage 1 and 2 of the FCP Roadmap and lead into the supervised practice module.

Portfolio Route:

With the support of your primary care clinical supervisor and academic advisor, you will independently build a portfolio containing triangulated evidence, cross-referenced against the domains of the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs) of the FCP Roadmap.

Teaching Contact Hours

Taught Route:

Both the Diagnostics and Clinical Management and the Primary Care for First Contact Practitioners modules comprise the following:

On average, teaching contact hours are likely to be around 30 hours per module, made up of online seminars and tutorials. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake self-directed study of approximately 170 hours per module.

The Clinical Practice module comprises around 5 teaching contact hours, made up of online seminars and tutorials. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake self-directed study of approximately 20 hours, as well as a minimum of 75 hours in a supervised practice placement.

The online seminars will take the form of synchronous and asynchronous teaching/group work. Pre-learning material will be released prior to seminar sessions, which will give you the opportunity to present and discuss pre-prepared material and to offer and receive constructive feedback to/from your peers.

Portfolio Route:

Over the course of a 12-month period, with the support of your primary care clinical supervisor and academic advisor, you will independently build a portfolio containing triangulated evidence, cross-referenced against the domains of the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs) of the FCP Roadmap .

Assessment

Taught Route:

Assessment may comprise:

• reflective writing
• multiple-choice examinations
• case reports
• essays.

Preparation for varied means of assessment will aid the development of critical thinking skills to support your transition into enhanced clinical practice and postgraduate study.

Portfolio Route:

You will independently build a portfolio containing triangulated evidence, cross-referenced against the domains of the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs) of the FCP Roadmap and completion of a minimum of 75 hours of supervised practice. The completed portfolio will be reviewed and assessed by your academic advisor.

All assessment approaches are relevant to clinical practice and acknowledge and support different learning styles and the range of skills required in the workplace. The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor learner progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Facilities

As learners on an online programme, there is no expectation of attendance on campus. You will, however, have access to all Coventry campus facilities such as the Lanchester Library and The Hub. We are also pleased to offer facilities at the Vauxhall Library (Hudson building, London) - https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/hud.

Subject librarian

You will have access to a named librarian with expertise in Literature Searching and Academic Writing specific to your area of study.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and Opportunities

The programme is designed to equip primary care paramedics and physiotherapists with the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary to operate at an enhanced level of clinical practice. You will be able to build upon your achievements on this programme to influence local service delivery, foster evidence-informed practice and contribute to the education of the local healthcare workforce.

Successful completion of this course will enable you to demonstrate your competence as a First Contact Practitioner and register on the directory as a First Contact Practitioner at the Centre for Advancing Practice.