Assistant Radiographic Practice (Clinical Imaging) (CertHE)

Why study this course

Our one-year programme is the only course of its kind in South Wales and is accredited by the Society of Radiographers and is an exciting opportunity to extend your role as an NHS support worker to become an Assistant Practitioner and a valued member of the radiography team.

As a clinical imaging assistant practitioner you will be responsible for providing care for patients from new born children to the elderly, producing images to be used in the diagnosis of injury and disease. By the end of the programme you will have a thorough knowledge of the professional and clinical aspects of assistant radiographic practice in the clinical imaging environment, including an awareness of the wide range of imaging technologies in use today.

People are at the heart of our practice and the development of skills to aid your care of individuals is a central focus of the programme. The School provides an interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities for shared learning and inter-professional education. Therefore, opportunities to learn with and from other healthcare students, especially in respect of person-centred care will be part of the programme.

The Certificate in Higher Education Assistant Radiographic Practice (Clinical Imaging) programme is designed to educate practitioners for a challenging and changing career. The programme is delivered on a block release basis, which will see you studying alongside the undergraduate students, whilst still remaining in paid employment.

Assistant practitioners perform protocol-limited tasks under the direction and supervision of a radiographer. This programme will prepare you to work in clinical imaging, but you may work in other radiographic imaging areas in accordance with the NHS Health Board’s agreed protocols.

You will receive close academic support from experienced personal tutors and be taught and supported by experienced staff whilst sharing ideas within a close-knit class. You will also benefit from placements supported by experienced radiography placement educators while undertaking clinical practice in your employing organisation.

The programme aims to produce clinical imaging assistant practitioners who:

• recognise the importance of knowledge and understanding to their current and future professional practice;
• develop the skills necessary to deliver high quality care to service users;
• integrate their academic and clinical learning effectively;

develop their knowledge and understanding within an evidence based framework.

Careers and placements

Career prospects

On completion of the course, Assistant Practitioners will be able to seek employment in Clinical Imaging areas of radiographic practice.

Assistant Practitioners in Clinical Imaging perform non-complex diagnostic radiographic procedures on ambulant adult patients. Their work is mainly based in General X-ray rooms where they perform many of the basic radiographic examinations. They may work in other radiographic imaging areas in accordance with the NHS Health Board’s agreed protocols.

Placements

Students will undertake required clinical placement learning with a minimum number of 460 attendance hours required by all students, which will be monitored through your clinical professionalism records. Placement lengths allow students sufficient opportunity to develop the required skills but also provides some flexibility should they need to pay back hours.