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ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
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Programme Specifications 2024-25
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Programme TitleFoundation Degree in Science in Health and Social Care: Nursing Associate
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This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:2024Award type Foundation Degree in Science in Health and Social Care: Nursing Associate
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What level is this qualification?5Length of programme2 years
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Mode of study (Full / Part Time)Full Time
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Will the programme use standard University semester dates? NoFor York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?N/A
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Awarding institutionUniversity of YorkBoard of Studies for the programmeHealth Sciences
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Lead departmentHealth SciencesOther contributing departments
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Language of study and assessmentEnglishLanguage(s) of assessmentEnglish
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Is this a campus-based or online programme?Campus BasedMode of Delivery (day-release or block release; blended or non-blended)N/A
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Apprenticeship Standard Title and Reference Number
Institute for Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship Standards		Nursing Associate NMC (2018)
ST0827 		Is this an Integrated or Non-Integrated Apprenticeship?Integrated
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End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO)
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For an Integrated Degree Apprenticeship this will be University of York.
For a Non-Integrated Degree Apprenticeship please specify the proposed external EPAO, which must be included on the EPA Register. (Note that the employer has responsibility for choosing the EPAO; however the University can advise on this).
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This apprenticeship is an integrated course, therefore the EPA is an exam board. The university is now a registered EPAO. Once gateway is triggered, all apprentices will go through the university’s EPAO processes. The programme has been designed to prepare learners for the EPA, through the formative and summative assessments and the review meetings with academic assessors.
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Employer Involvement
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Please specify the types of employer(s) involved in the programme, and briefly summarise how they have been involved in the programme design and will continue to be involved in ongoing review of its design and delivery.
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The programme team and department have been working with a range of key stakeholders to design the nursing associate programme. These include the Employer representatives from the York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Humber & North Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce & Training Hub (hosted by Haxby Group Training), and other Private Independent Voluntary Organisations (PIVO). Regular tri-monthly Partner meetings take place with key stakeholders from these organisations to enable ongoing collaboration with the design and delivery of the programme.
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Other Partner Organisations
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If there are any other partner organisations (beyond the employers) involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. This should include any other organisations involved in the on-the-job delivery of the programme (e.g. learners employed by an NHS Trust undertaking a placement at a non-NHS organisation; any sub-contracted organisations).
You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision - https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/teaching/quality-assurance/collaboration/
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Nursing associate trainee alumni were consulted regarding programme design and their contributions have informed curriculum design. The appointed lead for service user and carer involvement (SUCI) engagement facilitated specific events relating to the nursing associate programme, which have fed directly into areas of curriculum design. Service users particularly wanted to see professional values embedded into the programme and a greater emphasis on biosciences. As a result, both modules were enhanced. As required, the NMC and HEE were consulted in preparation for NMC Gateway submissions for programme approval. An external advisor with significant experience of the nursing associate programmes visited the department and critiqued the curriculum design, resulting in changes to the Medicines optimisation module assessment and increased content within the BioSciences module. As regards the practice learning element of the programme, the programme lead worked in collaboration with the PAN Midlands, Yorkshire, North East and East of England Universities Practice Learning Group to devise a national practice learning document - the Nursing Associate Practice Assessment Document (NAPAD). The NAPAD has been approved by the NMC. Learner feedback via module evaluations contribute to improvements in the design and delivery of the programme. Alumni learners participate within the programme induction event, sharing their experiences of learning on an apprenticeship programme with new learners. SUCI representatives also continue to contribute with programme recruitment as part of the interview panel, in addition to participating and leading teaching & learning activities within modules.
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Reference points

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Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
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The nursing associate programme will comply with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Nursing Associate Standard (2018), the NMC Standards for pre-registration nursing associate programmes (2018), the NMC Standards fro student supervision and assessment (2018), and the OFSTED Common Inspection Framework for Education (2015) which requires inspection of all Higher Education Institutions that deliver apprenticeships at Level 5 or below.
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Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
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Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
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Initial assessments will be carried out as part of the application process to assess prior learning, in line with the university’s RPL policy and the apprenticeship funding rules. As part of the initial assessment, the learner completes a self-assessment of prior experiential learning and previous qualifications at module level and against the individual knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB's) within the apprenticeship standard. The initial assessment document will be reviewed as part of the interview for the programme, and will assessed by the programme team and the employer. An individual learning plan will be put in place with specific learning goals identified, based on the learner’s strengths and areas for development. The key RPL requirement for an apprenticeship is that there is still 12 months duration, with a minimum of 20% new learning. The maximum amount of RPL for NMC accredited programmes is 50%.
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Exceptions to Regulations
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Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
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The NMC Standards framework for nursing and midwifery education (NMC SFNME R5.16) does not permit compensation across theory and practice modules. The departmental approach (with respct to the NMC rule) is to not permit compensation for any assessment.
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Internal Transfers
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Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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Transfers in:Transfers out:Upon completion of the Foundation Degree in Science in Health and Social Care: Nursing Associate programme, students can apply for transfer into Year 2 of the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) programme or BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) programme or (with Employer support) the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) accelerated programme. Both routes are accessed through the University's RPL processes.
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Statement of Purpose
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Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
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The Nursing Associate role is a new professional role which aims to bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses in the healthcare workforce in England. Our two year nursing associate apprenticeship programme at the University of York provides a gateway to guaranteed employment and a rewarding career in this new profession. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will gain a foundation degree, entry to the NMC register as a Nursing Associate and, upon completion of the integrated End Point Assessment, an apprenticeship qualification. Opportunities for further study (including access to the BSc Nursing programme and Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) accelerated programme) will be available following successful completion of the NA programme. Our programme will support you in becoming a multi-skilled and adaptable practitioner. You will train to become a nursing associate while you are employed as a practicing trainee nursing associate (TNA) within your place of employment and a variety of external placements within the local area. The development of your clinical skills will be stimulated by a variety of teaching methods, resources and learning opportunities. Your academic studies will benefit from the experience of lecturers and practitioners from a range of specialist clinical backgrounds. Throughout the programme, your individual development will be scaffolded by 1:1 support from your academic supervisor. Your time will be allocated between four external placements, offering you authentic and challenging practice learning experiences. You will work with healthcare professionals to care for individuals across the lifespan and in a range of settings (including adult, mental health, learning disability and child/maternity). You will be offered protected learning time within your place of employment and supported by your practice supervisor as you evidence and reflect upon your development through an e-portfolio. As a University of York learner, you will also be able to access excellent library facilities, sports facilities, pastoral & academic support services, and an array of club and society opportunities to enrich your studies.
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If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
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Exit Award TitleIs the exit award also available as an entry point?Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
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Certificate of Higher Education Care Related Studies Exit Award Only120 credits at Level 4
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Programme Learning Outcomes
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What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
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1Consider all aspects of their professional practice within the Nursing Associate role with accountability and responsibility.
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2Promote health & wellbeing, the maintenance of it, and the prevention of ill-health.
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3Assess and monitor an individual’s care, and identify and escalate concerns where necessary.
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4Communicate effectively within teams, to support the delivery of high quality care for all individuals.
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5Identify and respond to risk, as to inform improvements in the quality and safety of person-centred care and compassionate practice.
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6Collaborate in partnership with stakeholders across a range of organisations, settings and fields of practice to deliver integrated individual care.
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Mapping of PLOs to Apprenticeship Standard
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Please confirm by ticking the box to the right that the PLOs align with the knowledge, skills and behaviours as articulated in the relevant Apprenticeship Standard.
Yes
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Diverse entry routes
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Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, in respect of disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
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All learners will be required to have English and Maths at Level 2 or above prior to entry to the programme. All learners are required to complete the University of York academic integrity module. Further functional and study skills development is embedded throughout the programme and within the module learning outcomes. For example, the Essential skills module focuses upon communication, assessment literacy, academic written skills and reflection; the Evidenced based practice module focuses upon enhancing search skills, with support from the library team and Research & Learning Technologist within the department; and the Medicines optimisation module focuses on maths skills required for drug calculations and conversions.
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End Point Assessment
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Detail how the programme supports students in the development of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to pass the end-point assessment.
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Nursing Associates are subject to statutory regulation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC sets the standards of proficiency required for entry to the professional register and these are the occupational standards for nursing associates. The NMC also has the statutory duty to set requirements of programmes necessary to support the achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. The apprenticeship standard and the delivery of the apprentices’ training are aligned to all relevant NMC standards frameworks for nursing & midwifery to ensure that apprentices are eligible for entry to the NMC register on completion of their programme. It is against the law for anyone to work as a registered nursing associate without being registered with the NMC. This fully integrated end-point assessment (EPA) assesses whether apprentices have also passed the apprenticeship, and is based on the same professional knowledge, skills and behaviours as the occupational standard. The EPA period starts, and the EPA is arranged, once the employer and NMC Approved Education Institution is satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard and all of the pre-requisite gateway requirements for EPA have been met. It is expected that the EPA gateway will be reached on completion of the final qualification module and before the examination board. The EPA period is expected to last a maximum of 1 month beginning when the apprentice has passed the EPA gateway. The EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grades of pass or fail. At the end-point assessment gateway it must be confirmed that the apprentice has: 1) met the knowledge, skills and behaviours; 2) that the Employer and NMC Approved Education Institution (AEI) are satisfied that the apprentice has consistently demonstrated they meet the KSB's of the occupational standard; c) that the apprentice has achieved English and Mathematics at Level 2; d) that the Apprentice has completed all required modules, taking into account any Recognition of prior learning (RPL), of the foundation degree approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in line with the requirements specified in the NMC standards for pre-registration nursing associate programme (NMC, 2018) which includes the mandatory protected learning time and a minimum 460 hours of external practice placements but before the AEI’s examination board; e) that the Practice Assessment Document (PAD) has been completed and signed-off by their practice assessor and academic assessor. The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the AEI makes the required declarations to the NMC. Source: End-point assessment plan for Nursing Associate fully integrated apprenticeship standard.

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Inclusion
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Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under
the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.		Yes
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Employability
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Upon completion of the programme, what are the expected academic progression and or employability routes for students?