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

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 1

Starts 24 July 2023

Workshop dates for Cohort 1
Workshop Date
Block 1 - Pre-operative essentials 08/08/23 - 10/08/23
Block 2 - Peri-operative essentials 05/09/23 - 07/09/23 
Block 3 - Post-operative essentials 03/10/23 - 05/10/23
Applied Learning Day 1 30/11/23
Applied Learning Day 2 21/12/23
Applied Learning Day 3 18/01/24
Applied Learning Day 4 15/02/24

Cohort 2

Starts 16 October 2023

Workshop dates for Cohort 2
Workshop Date
Block 1 - Pre-operative essentials 07/11/23 - 09/11/23
Block 2 - Peri-operative essentials 05/12/23 - 07/12/23 
Block 3 - Post-operative essentials 16/01/24 - 18/01/24
Applied Learning Day 1 15/02/24
Applied Learning Day 2 21/03/24
Applied Learning Day 3 11/04/24
Applied Learning Day 4 02/05/24
Who is this programme for?

This is an accelerated learning programme to develop career level band 2 and 3 Healthcare Support Workers into career level band 4 Assistant Perioperative Practitioners.

What are the programme aims?
  • Support increased capacity and diversification of the non-medical perioperative workforce through delivering this accelerated national workforce programme
  • Promote the development of the Assistant Perioperative Practitioner to help meet current and future healthcare demands
  • Support accelerated development of the knowledge and essential clinical skillsof APPs across Scotland
  • Support the development of personal and professional values consistent with the APP role as part of the perioperative team
  • Elevate the level of skill and experience within the perioperative workforce, producing APPs that can practice at an enhanced career level to increase the capability and capacity within the wider perioperative team, supporting alternative career pathways into APP roles and beyond
How does the programme work?

Assistant Perioperative Practitioner is delivered through a combination of workshops and work-based learning, and is supported by online resources. The programme content is supported by the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 Healthcare Support (Clinical) at SCQF level 7 robust work-based learning structure.

Workshops

Core programme content is delivered through workshops, which are arranged in three-day ‘blocks’:

  • Block 1: Pre-operative essentials
  • Block 2: Peri-operative essentials
  • Block 3: Post-operative essentials

These workshops follow best-practice educational approaches and allow learners to develop knowledge and practise their skills with the support of educators and peers. The workshops also allow learners to learn alongside registered nurses on the Foundations of Perioperative Practice programme. This interprofessional learning promotes a range of skills including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.  

Core learning workshops are followed by four Applied Learning (ApLe) days, which are case-based and speciality-focused. The ApLe days encourage learners to develop critical thinking and consider principles in specific contexts.

Work-based learning

The NHSSA programme learners will be employed within NHS Board areas and undertake work-based learning in their workplace. Practice supervision and assessment will be governed by the SQA in line with SVQ requirements.

Online resources

Online resources, including an online portfolio, allow learners to review and consolidate their learning and track progress across the programme. Completion of APP training will be evidenced by the production of a portfolio of evidence which will be recognised as valid evidence of clinical competencies of skills. This SVQ portfolio completion is an essential programme requirement and includes a range of reflections and learning activities which link directly to assessment of learner competence.

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.