New College partnership to assist the NHS

The PDA Acute and Community Care Course was offered to NHS Tayside, when they highlighted the great need for more Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare, following the Coronavirus Pandemic. The new course for Dundee and Angus College, responds to service needs in the NHS and will assist in shaping the future NHS workforce, giving them much needed assistance.

The course, which has received a lot of interest, gives current patient care staff, those from other sectors and individuals currently out of work the opportunity to train as Assistant Practitioners. Over 36 weeks those on the course will attend D&A College, where they will learn vocational skills and will study modules in mental health, acutely ill adults, leadership, team working and evidence-based practice. On completion of the course individuals will receive an SCQF Level eight qualification and be a qualified band four Assistant Practitioner in the NHS.

Carol Bain, Head of Curriculum and Quality, Health and Social Care at Dundee and Angus College said, ‘It has been a pleasure working with NHS Tayside to deliver the PDA Acute and Community Care Programme of study. I feel very privileged that the Healthcare Team at Dundee and Angus College are a part of this exciting collaboration, supporting the NHS with their current workforce but also shaping the future of the NHS with their service needs delivery.’

Anne-Marie Mcgee who is part of the first group to study the new course said, ‘I feel the PDA Acute and Community Care course has allowed me to dream big, stay positive, work hard and enjoy the journey.’