Neurophysiology Pathway

The Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate apprenticeship is an ideal way for learners to gain a recognised qualification whilst working within a relevant healthcare science related industry.  

The Neurophysiology pathway is specifically designed to support those learners working within a Neurophysiology department that supports individuals with complex medical conditions such as epilepsy, stroke or dementia.

The apprenticeship scheme has taught elements that are split between core units where you will join other level 4 Science Apprenticeship learners from a variety of pathways, this often generates lively debate within class as many share best practice amongst the remote online classroom. In total there are nine core units that cover the fundamental topics you would naturally expect on an apprenticeship course based within healthcare science.

Some of the topics covered include: 

• Health and Safety 
• Effective Communication 
• Legal and Ethical Context of Healthcare Science 
• Quality, Audit and Innovation

As you gain mastery in the core units, learners will then move towards the specialist units that relate more to the department the learner is working in.

These units cover:

• Anatomy and Physiology - delivered via our state-of-the-art training package
• Maths and Physics - diagnostics and statistics to aid interpreting complex data
• Assisting with Electroencephalography – monitoring brain activity 

Upon completion of this course, you are likely to be in a Band 4 Associate Practitioner role, or in a position to apply for such role when one becomes available, the level 4 course is also an excellent starting point for applying to continue your studies at level 6, often within a University setting.  

Future roles that could be applied for are within Neurophysiology such as a Specialist Clinical Physiologist or moving more towards a career in Diagnostic or Clinical Imaging.

Neurophysiology forms an essential part of a patient’s pathway as clinicians help diagnose and manage a variety of neurological disorders that can affect many individuals. It is often a clinical based role however this could be in a variety of settings such as hospitals, emergency care, operating theatres or in a community setting. 

The NHS currently estimate that around 1% of the UK population are affected by a neurological disorder at any given time. The pathway offers flexibility to support a wide range of learners working in various settings within neurophysiology.

We operate a remote teaching format where core lessons are delivered once a month, followed by a 4-week period to complete the relevant assignments. 

Learners will build an ongoing portfolio of evidence throughout the duration of the course and are expected to showcase their practical competencies via remote assessment.  

Witness testimonies from peers will ascertain how the learner meets the behaviours expected of an apprentice and continued professional development from within the department logged as off the job training.

The course is specifically designed to support individuals already working in neurophysiology and helping them gain the skills and confidence required to advance their career. As this is a specialised field, many learners use their Level 4 qualification to progress onto a Level 6 qualification at a later date.

The maths and physics unit helps to demystify the world of analytical statistical data and interpreting complex diagnostic results that can then aid the formation of a tailored treatment plan for a patient. There is a unique opportunity to support specialist clinicians working in a very specialised area within healthcare science as well as multidisciplinary team working throughout the wider healthcare service.