(Postgraduate Certificate) Postgraduate Certificate
First Contact Musculoskeletal Practice
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Postgraduate Certificate
By credit accumulation
CER B16FMO
14/09/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
Admission criteria
Applicants should have a relevant first degree OR a relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates ability to study at Level 7.
Applicant should also have:
- 3-5 years postgraduate experience in the field of musculoskeletal health
- Be experienced clinicians only who are already working clinically in their area of practice at level 7
- Current Registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body
This degree pathway is not available to students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
If English is not your first language we require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 450/200.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Mr Myles Butler
Senior Lecturer Team Lead
Sheffield Hallam University
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
Designed to provide evidence of competence in the key skills required as a First Contact Musculoskeletal Practitioner. It is suitable for clinicians already working in First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles within primary care and has been developed to meet the requirements of Health Education England’s, (HEE) recognition process.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Advanced understanding of key concepts related to advanced musculoskeletal practice
A2: Knowledge of how to assess complex health needs (musculoskeletal), diagnose, prescribe and provide individualised care
A3: Knowledge of the relationships between diseases and the wider determinants of health e.g. psycho-social theories and individuals' responses to health and illness.
A4: Knowledge of how to critically appraise research findings and apply research evidence to question routine practice including relevant ethical and legal issues
A5: Advanced ability to reflect upon one's own professional practice
Learning methods
A1-5 are covered in lectures and seminars, which introduce the material in a structured manner with opportunity for group discussion. Many of the teaching sessions adopt an enquiry-based learning approach
A1-5 are further supported by practical experience and portfolio development.
A1-3 are further supported by the contribution of visiting lecturers who are leading practitioners in their field, work place supervision, informal small group and individual tutorials
Inclusivity will be influenced by the requirement that students need to meet the eligibility criteria, ie. they already need to qualified, registered healthcare professionals employed in the musculoskeletal specialism. Beyond these admissions requirements, all applications will be evaluated equally.
Assessment methods
A1-4 are assessed by coursework and practice based learning
A5 is assessed through coursework and practice based learning
Assessment methods are inclusive to all eligible to register on the pathway.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Systematically gather and critically review evidence.
B2: Translate research evidence into practical activities in patient care (evidence-based practice)
B3: Write well-structured and well-argued essays.
Learning methods
B1-3 are explicated in lectures, tutorials and opportunities to practice advanced musculoskeletal assessment and management techniques in the primary care environment.
B2 is enhanced through the development of the coursework, (portfolios SE761 and SE786)
B3 is on-going throughout the course and enhanced via formative feedback about coursework
Assessment methods
B1-3 are assessed through coursework
C: Practical skills
C1: Perform advanced and systematic search for information relevant to musculoskeletal presentations in the primary care environment.
C2: Critically apply theoretical understanding to the assessment process of patients thereby contributing to diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care.
C3: Plan and present their work in an appropriate manner
Learning methods
C1-2 is supported by lectures, tutorials and supported enquiry based learning
C3 is ongoing throughout the course and is supported by structured feedback on formative and summative coursework
Assessment methods
C1-3 is assessed through coursework.
D: Key skills
D1: Students will be able to choose the appropriate method of enquiry in order to address a range of practical and theoretical problems.
D2: Students will be able to effectively use: the internet; word processing packages; presentation packages.
D3: Students will be able to: Read and interpret tables of data and statistics; Use statistics to analyse data;
D4: Students will be able to choose the appropriate method of enquiry in order to address a range of practical and theoretical problems.
D5: Work in a team with others to agree and work towards goals; Work successfully with other disciplines; Practice reflectively and facilitate this in others
D6: Learn from feedback and respond appropriately and effectively to supervision and guidance; Work pragmatically to meet deadlines; Critically evaluate own performance and to practice reflectively
Learning methods
D1 – 5 will be supported by lectures, tutorials and structured feedback on formative and summative coursework.
D6 is ongoing throughout the course and is supported by structured feedback on formative and summative coursework
Assessment methods
D1- 6 are assessed by coursework