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WELCOME to the NHS Scotland Academy site for the National Perioperative Training Programme: Surgical First Assistant.

This page hosts information for:

  • learners 
  • supervisors
  • programme faculty / supporting educators
Access the programme

Please note: This is a closed site beyond this initial home page, so you will be required to log in to Turas to access the learning programme.

If you do not have an account then please register for a free Turas account.

Workshop dates

Cohort 2

Starts March 2024

WorkshopDate
Workshop 1 - Basic Surgical & Non-Technical Skills 12/03/24 - 14/03/24 
Workshop 2 - Extended Skills & Legal, Professional, and Ethical Issues in SFA Practice04/06/24 - 06/06/24 
Workshop 3 - Case-based Presentations13/08/24
Workshop dates for Cohort 2
Introduction

Surgical First Assistant is an NHS Scotland Academy accelerated programme. It is designed to increase perioperative workforce capacity, as part of NHS Scotland’s Recovery Plan.

Who is this programme for?

This new accelerated development is for experienced theatre scrub nurses (RNs) and Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs).

What are the programme aims?
  • Support increased capacity and diversification of the non-medical surgical workforce in support of the NTC programme.
  • Promote the development of the SFA to help meet current and future healthcare demands.
  • Support accelerated development of the knowledge, essential and extended clinical skills of SFAs across Scotland.
  • Support the development of personal and professional values consistent with the SFA role within the surgical team.
  • Elevate the over-all level of skill and experience within the perioperative workforce, producing SFAs capable of mentoring and supporting future trainees, and supporting alternative career pathways into SFA roles and beyond
How does the programme work?

Surgical First Assistant is a 34-week programme. It is delivered through a combination of workshops and work-based learning, and is supported by online resources. Learner development is recorded and assessed against the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Surgical First Assistant (SFA) Competency Toolkit.

Workshops

The workshop programme will be delivered as a series of 3 teaching and learning activities, 2 face to face with the 3rd workshop now online via MS Teams, placed at deliberate intervals throughout the 34-week programme:

  • Workshop 1: Surgical and Non-technical Skills
  • Workshop 2: Extended Skills and Legal, Professional and Ethical Issues
  • Workshop 3: Case-based presentations

These workshops follow best-practice educational approaches and allow learners to develop knowledge and practise their skills with the support of educators and peers.

Work-based learning

Ongoing work-based learning is completed in home Boards, with the support of clinical supervisors. Learners record their learning over the course of the programme, and this progress is regularly confirmed and signed off by supervisors.

Online resources

Digital resources, including an online portfolio, allow learners to review and consolidate their learning and track progress across the programme.  

NHS Scotland Academy

The NHS Scotland Academy is an exciting partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland to offer accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions.