PgCert Enhanced Clinical Practitioner (Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship)
Blended Delivery
Full-time
One year
May 2025
In a nutshell
As one of the leads in the development of the National AHP Enhanced Level Practice Schema and Curricula, the University of Salford is uniquely positioned to deliver a postgraduate apprenticeship programme in Enhanced Clinical Practice. This postgraduate certificate empowers you to apply your professional experiences, collaborate with others, and critically develop your capabilities in your chosen area of practice at an enhanced level.
You will develop new knowledge and skills within your specialist area in the pillars of clinical practice, leadership, education, and research and be able to apply these specifically to your job role. You will be encouraged to challenge practice and theoretical concepts to reflect on your experiences and explore your current and future developments as a healthcare practitioner.
This course offers flexible, bespoke delivery combining both taught and work-based learning to develop new knowledge, skills, and behaviours, enabling you to apply these within your job role and customise your own learning pathway. In addition to the core curriculum, you can choose optional days and learning experiences, tailoring the course to reflect your specific interests and area of practice.
Whether you're a podiatrist specialising in diabetes, a physiotherapist focused on frailty, an occupational therapist working with children, or a prosthetist developing gait and movement analysis skills, this course is for you. If your specialist area is more specific or nuanced, the program's flexibility allows you to collaborate with a tutor to create a personalised learning plan that will work for you.
Please note: The Enhanced Practice programme is also available as a direct entry course, see our webpage for more information.
You will:
- Progress your career to an Enhanced Practice level
- Customise your learning pathway to align with your specific area of practice and professional goals
- Apply your knowledge, skills and capabilities in your specialist area, to operate across clinical practice utilising research, leadership, and education
- Collaborate with a profession-specific mentor to tailor and map your developmental needs throughout the programme in line with your role
- Access bespoke Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to enhance your expertise in your chosen area of practice
- Combine work with study and progress your complex decision-making skills to an Enhanced level
This is for you if...
You are a health and social care professional (including diagnostic radiographers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, prosthetists or orthotists)
You are 12 months post qualification, have competed your foundation stage training
You would like to tailor your specific pathway of training in your specialist area of practice
You would like to pursue a structured and supported career pathway
All about the course
This PgCert offers post-registration for Continuous Personal Development (CPD) for Allied Health and health and social care professionals to advance their knowledge, skills, and capabilities to an Enhanced Practice level. It will equip you to assess, devise and evaluate complex care plans within your specialist field. The course focuses on the application of clinical skills with integration of leadership, education, and research to solve practice-related challenges.
Comprising two Level 7 (master's level) modules, "Foundations of Enhanced Clinical Practice" and "Developing Enhanced Clinical Practice," it prepares you to work at an enhanced level of practice, and could support progression to an Advanced Practice level or a master's qualification.
Upon completion of this apprenticeship, you will be able to apply Enhanced Practice level knowledge of anatomy, pathophysiology, and psychosocial approaches to conduct person-centred assessments and manage complex conditions. You will be able to critically evaluate research, legislation, and guidelines to inform clinical decision-making and holistic care management in your area of practice. Additionally, you will evaluate and apply leadership and educational theories to support your team. You will also design and evaluate research, clinical audits, and service evaluations, contributing to resource planning and sustainable improvements in health and social care services.
Developing Enhanced Clinical Practice
In this module, you will critically assess clinical approaches relevant to your specialist area and job role and challenge existing practices. It encourages reflection on your professional experiences while exploring your current and future development as a health and social care professional.
Using case studies from your own practice, alongside flexible, work-based learning, you will develop new skills within the clinical pillar and apply them directly to your practice. The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on your learning, supported by evidence, and demonstrate your Enhanced level of practice.
Foundations of Enhanced Clinical Practice
In this module, you will critically explore leadership, education, and research approaches relevant to your specialist area of practice and job role. It encourages you to challenge existing practices and reflect on your experiences to guide your future development as a health and social care professional and drive service improvement and best practice.
You will develop new skills within these key pillars and apply them directly to your clinical practice including mentoring and leading others. The assessment offers an opportunity to reflect on your learning, supported by evidence, and demonstrate your enhanced level of practice.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Advanced Facilities
The School of Health and Society offers innovative teaching and research through state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest industry-standard tools, supported by tutors and trained technicians. This allows apprentices to practice new skills in a safe environment, guided by qualified practitioners.
The University has a Centre for Medical Imaging which offers a world-class environment for teaching, learning, and research. It allows the the support of clinical provision. GE Healthcare have worked with the University to provide new equipment including a Revolution Maxima CT scanner, two Discovery static digital X-ray systems, an Optima digital mobile X-ray system and five ultrasound scanners.
Located in the Mary Seacole Building, our state-of-the-art healthcare Simulation Suites stand as a testament to cutting-edge design, crafted by architects specialising in modern healthcare environments. It represents the pinnacle of facilities in the North West, providing an exceptional space for students to master practical skills in health and social care. We also have two Digital Immersive Video Environment (DIVE) facilities. These facilities are primarily utilised by the School of Health and Society for programmes in allied health, midwifery, nursing, professional policing, and social work.
The DIVE allows users to experience various environments within a single room. This cutting-edge system employs multiple cameras to project realistic images onto the walls. Additionally, the spaces are equipped with advanced sound equipment, enabling the transformation of the room into settings such as an ambulance, nightclub, prison cell, or residential environments.
The Prosthetics and Orthotics Labs have unique facilities that are home to a £5 million-pound research centre designed to create the next generation of doctorally-qualified leaders in Prosthetics and Orthotics. The project brought together 27 industry and clinical partners.
The University of Salford also began building work for a new health building on the Frederick Road campus in December 2024 with expected completion in Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement. Find out more about our new Health Building.
Leading Academics
We also have a range of leading academics in the following areas who can help support your bespoke journey: public health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, diagnostic radiography, prosthetics and orthotics, podiatry, pelvic health, nursing, midwifery, social work, policing, strength and conditioning, psychology, research, and education.
What about after uni?
This course is designed to enable you to develop Enhanced skills and competencies, empowering you to confidently navigate complex situations and manage uncertainty within your professional scope. It provides a valuable opportunity for career progression through individually tailored high-quality continuing professional development. Additionally, this programme lays a solid foundation for progression to an Advanced level of practice, should you choose to pursue further specialisation.
This PgCert prepares you to work at an Enhanced Level of practice and aligns with NHS England’s National Enhanced Practice Schema and Profession Specific curricula and profession specific frameworks. This level of practice is a career destination in itself, or this programme could support your progression to Advanced Practice or a Master's qualification.
Career Links
As one of the leads in the development of the National AHP Enhanced Level Practice Schema and Curricula, the University of Salford is uniquely positioned to deliver a postgraduate programme in Enhanced Practice. We maintain strong collaborations with NHS England (NHSE) and key professional bodies, ensuring our curriculum is aligned with the latest advancements in the field.
This partnership enhances the visibility and recognition of Enhanced Level Practice, making this programme a highly valuable choice for both employers and graduates seeking to progress in their careers.
Further Study
This PgCert prepares you to work at an Enhanced level of practice and aligns with NHS England’s National Enhanced Practice Schema and profession-specific curricula and profession specific frameworks. This level of practice is a career destination in itself. It could also support you to progress to Advanced Practice or a master's qualification.
What you need to know
This postgraduate certificate is appropriate for you if you have completed your preceptorship and foundation training (minimum of 12 months) and are currently working in your chosen area of specialist practice. This continuing professional development would support your career development at Enhanced level.
Please note, you will have to have an agreement with your employer or organisation to support you with your work-based learning and assessments, including an identified appropriate workplace mentor in practice at application to complete this route.
Enhanced Clinical Practice apprenticeship applicants must:
- Have at least 1 year of practice as a HCPC or NMC registrant.
- Be working in an appropriate practice-based role for 22 hours per week.
Potential apprentices will be interviewed with your employers.
Accreditation of prior learning
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: The Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) as per the University’s Admissions and Retention Policy.
English language requirements
International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element below 5.5) is proof of this. If you need to improve your written and spoken English, you might be interested in our English language courses.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We positively welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to successfully pursue a programme of study in higher education. Students who do not have the traditional entry requirements may be able to apply through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme. Support in preparing for the written assessment is available from the University.
How much?
The cost of the full apprenticeship programme is £7,000. The cost of the apprenticeship will be covered by your employer and/or the government. You will need to cover the cost of any study materials plus travel to and from campus if required. Speak to your learning and development or apprenticeship lead to find out more, or reach out to the University's Apprenticeship Services Unit who will also be happy to answer any questions and advise regarding funding routes.
Apprenticeship Funding
The apprenticeship levy was introduced in April 2017 and requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill of over £3 million each year to invest in apprenticeships.
The funding policy supports the changes to the way apprenticeships in England are paid for, underpinned by the apprenticeship levy of 0.5% of the annual pay bill for companies paying over £3 million per year.
There is also a co-investment model for companies who will not be paying into the levy. The government will cover 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship and the employer will only have to contribute the remaining 5%. Once payments have been declared to HMRC, employers will now have access to a digital apprenticeship account from which they will be able to access funding to pay for apprenticeship training.
The maximum amount of money allocated to each standard falls into one of 15 funding bands, ranging from £1,500 to £27,000. The Chartered Surveyor standard has been allocated the following funding band:
Funding band maximum: £7,000
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
All set? Let's apply
To apply for an apprenticeship, you must first be employed with a company willing to enrol you on the apprenticeship programme.
The government national apprenticeship website has further information on this. The website also advertises vacancies for apprentices.
Unfortunately, the University does not hold details of employer vacancies.
In Employment
Speak with the apprentice lead in your organisation in the first instance as they will provide the funding and will make initial contact with the Apprenticeship Services Unit. Your employer will need to confirm that they'll fund and support your enrolment with the University.
If you are currently in employment with a company that is willing to support you through an apprenticeship, then they will need to contact us in the first instance to express their interest in the apprenticeship programme and this will trigger the application process.
For general apprenticeship enquiries email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk phone: +44 (0)161 295 3063 or complete the contact us form