Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Mode: Full-time
Please note that due to exceptionally high demand, this course is no longer recruiting for September 2022 entry.
Doctors and nurses aren’t the only key players in hospitals and healthcare settings: Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) also play a crucial role. If you’d like to be part of the valuable team helping patients prepare, undergo, and recover from surgery, then this course is for you.
The operating department assists patients throughout their time in whichever healthcare setting they may be in. Gain both expertise and experience with a combination of academic study and clinical practice in a real world environment at our clinical allocation hospitals.
Thanks to our specialist skills and valuable work placements, you’ll graduate with excellent career prospects, as well as the opportunity to become accredited and registered as an ODP with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Mode | Duration | Start date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 3 years |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
This course combines academic study with clinical practice, so you’ll get the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in real work situations. You'll work in the operating theatre team at one of our clinical allocation hospitals to gain valuable hands-on experience. This course covers: the perioperative environment, anatomy and physiology, inter-professional practice, post-anaesthesia care, emergency care, pharmacology and evidence-based practice.
Some compulsory skills sessions may take place in the evening.
When you finish the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as an ODP with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This allows you to practice both within the UK and a range of other countries. In recent years, all students who qualified as operating department practitioners through LSBU have gained employment in theatre departments in UK hospitals. Day-to-day duties range from preparing the operating theatre and equipment, to providing the surgical team with items needed during an operation. After surgery, ODPs provide care and expertise to patients in recovery.
ODPs need to be well-organised, have effective communication skills, maintain composure and act calmly. They usually work shifts, which can mean evening and weekend work. Promotion routes include progressing to team leader or senior ODP. There are also opportunities in research, education, training and management.
In recent years, all students who qualified as operating department practitioners through LSBU have gained employment in theatre departments within UK hospitals.
If you graduate from this course, you will be able to apply for further study at postgraduate level as well as gaining additional specialist skills and expertise through continuing professional development frameworks. You can find out more about professional development courses on offer through our online CPPD prospectus.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
We’re proud of our professional links with the College of Operating Department Practitioners and the Health and Care Professions Council, the regulator of health, Psychological and Social professionals.
College of Operating Department Practitioners
The Health and Care Professions Council is the regulator of health, Psychological and Social professionals.
This course is heavily practice-based; you'll spend the majority of your time in clinical practice over the three years within a broad variety of theatre areas and the rest in academic study. You will attend a number of University study blocks, usually one week at a time, every 4-7 weeks depending on the point in the programme. The rest of the year is spent in placements, with holidays at set times.
A clinical practice placement allows you to work with a range of health professionals in clinical situations to develop the skills, knowledge and experience required to become a competent Operating Department Practitioner. Although initially challenging, practice learning is one of the most interesting and exciting aspects of learning to be an Operating Department Practitioner.
At LSBU we work closely with a number of healthcare organisations to provide a wide range of suitable clinical placements. By the end of the course, you'll have experienced wide ranging healthcare provision. Placements take place across a variety of clinical settings, including NHS acute Trusts, community placements and the independent sector.
The following trusts have previously provided placements for student ODPs. Please note: The course admissions tutor can advise on the most up to date affiliated trusts.
Each Trust has a Practice Educator who undertakes the organisation and allocation of individual placements. They provide an interface between the University and the Trust and act as work-based mentors.
The Practice Educator will regularly meet with and provide you with a year-on-year practical training programme, designed to make best use of learning and assessment opportunities. They are also responsible for providing regular structured tutorial sessions for you, collating clinical assessment documentation and ensuring all required competencies are facilitated. Practice Educators are able to assist you with portfolio construction and management, and are the first point of contact if you are experiencing difficulties in the workplace.
The Operating Department Practice (ODP) critical care laboratory has been carefully designed to reflect hospital acute care environments. At one end it resembles an operating theatre and at the other there is a recovery/intensive therapy unit.
The theatre has an operating table, theatre lights, anaesthetic machine with oxygen pipelines, patient monitoring, suction machine, resuscitation trolleys and the fully functioning SimMan equipment. There is also a scrub area, with sinks, gowns and gloves so students can get "scrubbed up" when taught to handle instruments.
There are various anatomical trainers and we can teach students about airway management and intubation as well as CPR. The operating table is used to teach patient positioning and patient anaesthetic scenarios are recreated using equipment and a mannequin.
Lectures and seminars | Self-directed study | Work-based placements | |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | 15% | 25% | 60% |
Year 2 | 13% | 27% | 60% |
Year 3 | 11% | 39% | 50% |
As a Health and Social Care student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.
Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University. They should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.
You will have appointments with your tutor at least three times a year for up to 30 minutes throughout your course. You can contact your tutor for additional support by email.
If your first language is not English you must have the following minimum International English Language Test Score (IELTS) results at the time of applying:
If your initial application to a Health and Social Care course is successful, you’ll be invited for an interview.
Visit our interview page for information on preparing for the day and what to bring.
If you have been out of study for a considerable amount of time or have slightly missed the entry requirements this course, you can take your first steps to becoming a registered practitioner with our Health and Social Care Foundation year. Boost your qualifications and confidence for further study with this one-year introductory course and on completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry on to one of our 13 health BSc pre-registration health and social care degrees.
If you have already completed some studies at another university, we may be able to consider you for advanced entry. Please see our advanced entry page for more information.
International (non Home/EU) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 3 years |
Start date September |
Application code B772 |
Application method |
Please send your application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) using our institution code L75. UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK.
See our How to apply page for further details.
See our top tips for writing your personal statement.
If you are unsuccessful in your application to LSBU for this year you cannot apply through UCAS Extra or Clearing. However you can apply for the following year. It is important that you read the comments in the results statement so that you are prepared for any other interviews you may have.
Once we have made you an offer, you can apply for accommodation. You can rent from LSBU and you’ll deal directly with the university, not third party providers. That means we can guarantee you options to suit all budgets, with clear tenancy agreements and all-inclusive rents that include insurance for your personal belongings, internet access in each bedroom and on-site laundry facilities.
Or, if you’d rather rent privately, we can give you a list of landlords – just ask our Accommodation Service.
Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
You don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as an undergraduate student.
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
All pre-registration students need to be DBS cleared before going on placement. You’ll need to have an enhanced DBS check even if you have had one before and will not be able to go on placement until this is complete.
The DBS process is not difficult but can take some time so it's best to get started as soon as you receive your email. You will receive the email during Summer 2021.
If you're part of the DBS update service, your subscription is up to date and you already have a DBS certificate, please bring in your original green DBS certificate for the document check. To take advantage of the update service, your certificate needs to be classified as 'Enhanced' and workforce must be listed as 'Adult and Child'. If you have any queries, please email us at hscdbsoh@lsbu.ac.uk.
Our DBS supplier, Verifile, will send you an email with all the details you need to complete your DBS.
Verifile will give you instructions to log into their system and complete your personal details and information. To complete the process, you'll need your passport or driving licence and 5-year address history including dates when you moved in/out.
You can use your application number to track the progress of your DBS.
When you've finished, your Disclosure Statement will be mailed to the most recent address in your submission, so please make sure it's correct. We don't automatically receive a copy of this Statement, which is why we need you to bring it in as part of the next step.
Once you have completed the online part of the DBS process, you will need to produce three accepted documents from this list (PDF File 248 KB) to be verified.
An exciting part of many of our Health and Social Care courses is the opportunity to learn off-campus and work with patients, clients and/or service users. Before you start, we need to make sure that you have the correct levels of immunisations.
The second part of your occupational health check is to get any inoculations that you may need from your GP. When attending your GP appointment, please take printed copies of these two documents with you.
Vaccination Screening Advisory Letter (PDF File 126 KB)
GP Vaccination and Screening History (PDF File 117 KB)
After these steps are complete you will receive an email from OHWorks Ltd inviting you to attend an appointment on-campus with an Occupational Health Nurse. These appointments take place during the week and sometimes when your classes have already started.
The OH team have prepared this guide (PDF File 588 KB) which outlines what to expect at each stage. If you have queries or concerns about your Occupational Health clearance or inoculations please contact the Occupational Health team.
Before starting your course, you may want to check or practice your numeracy skills. The National Numeracy Challenge is a free online tool that helps you learn, revise and quiz your essential numeracy skills. You’ll also be able to get a certificate to show your efforts.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our new students pages.
Most placements and some practical sessions in our skills laboratories will require you to wear a uniform and name badge. You will be measured for uniforms specific to your course as part of your Welcome Week activities after enrolment. In the meantime, we have prepared answers to frequently asked questions that you might find useful.
Most health and social care courses’ practice placements will operate outside normal working hours e.g. evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Your holiday periods will not follow the normal University timetable because of placements. You’ll receive more details once you start your course.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
Fees are shown for new entrants to courses, for each individual year of a course, together with the total fee for all the years of a course. Continuing LSBU students should refer to the Finance section of our student portal, MyLSBU. Queries regarding fees should be directed to the Fees and Bursaries Team on: +44 (0)20 7815 6181.
UK fee: £9250 | International fee: £17500 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4136 | Session code: 1FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK £27750 |
International £52500 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 226 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on our scholarships page.
The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 226 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.
Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Order a prospectus