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First Contact Practitioner Stage 1 - Occupational Therapy
Key information
Course Leader: Claire Lancaster hsk-ahpfcp@herts.ac.uk
Level: 7
Credits: 30
Mode of delivery: Blended
Learner Hours: This course is equivalent to 300 hours of student effort including ten teaching days & one assessment day.
Available places: 10
Learning outcomes
First Contact Practitioner 1 (FCP1): 30 Credits at Level 7
Course aim:
On successful completion of this short course students should be able to demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of theories, principles and concepts underpinning evidence based OT practice in Primary Care.
For more information about the course and the learning outcomes, please download the Occupational Therapy flier
First Contact Practitioner 2 (FCP2): 15 Credits at Level 7
Course aim:
On successful completion of this short course students should be able to develop advanced clinical and evaluative skills and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of aspects of service delivery within the FCP scope of practice. To evidence capabilities required for an FCP role, whilst working alongside the multi professional healthcare team within Primary Care to provide high quality services.
This course is equivalent to 150 hours of student effort including seven on-line synchronous teaching days & one assessment day.
Provisional Teaching Dates:
Commencing October 2025 (dates TBC)
University based sessions are taught on-line, with student attendance required.
Students will need to complete 75 hours of mentored clinical practice as part of FCP2.
Dates
- 03/02/2027
Fees and Funding
£0.00
This programme of study is fully funded by NHSE. There are a limited number of places.
Entry Requirements
What are the entry requirements?
Applications are welcome from qualified, experienced and highly motivated primary care occupational therapists who want to be change makers in the clinical field, working at an enhanced level of practice.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
- Be an Occupational Therapist currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Have typically three years of postgraduate experience in an Occupational Therapy role in one of the prescribed areas of OT FCP practice.
- Have confirmation from the employer that the learner is working towards an Occupational Therapy FCP role.
- Evidence of successful level 7 study
- Confirmation of access to an appropriately qualified Clinical Supervisor, i.e. a GP, consultant practitioner, recognised advanced practitioner (recognised by NHSE having completed the portfolio route to advanced practitioner or the taught ACP master’s degree, or more experienced first contact physiotherapist. Supervisors will normally have completed the 2-day roadmap to practice supervision training prior to supervising students on FCP Stage 2 (note any Tier 3 Advanced Practitioner or Tier 3 GP Educational Supervisors do not need to attend the training days, but instead should be able to complete a short online resource)
- Have 75 hours of clinical supervision scheduled in workplace.
- At every stage, evidence of up to date statutory and mandatory training in their area of practice (evidenced by confirmation from employer).
- Evidence (certificates to be supplied) of contemporaneous (within 6-12 months) completion of: (1) Eight e-learning modules (e-learning for healthcare, E-LfH) modules as stated in the roadmap, (2) Personalised Care Institute modules (found at: https://www.personalisedcareinstitute.org.uk/)
To be signed off as a First Contact Practitioner learners must successfully achieve a pass in both short courses, therefore it is expected that successful students from FCP1 enrol on FCP2. All applications will be considered on an individual basis. The deadline for applications is 31st January 2027. The course will close once we have received sufficient applications. You are advise to apply as soon as possible.
Course Overview
Department of Allied Health Professions and Social Work
A flexible route to NHSE recognition as a Dietitian First Contact Practitioner (FCP) in Primary Care
With an established reputation for running successful NHS England (NHSE) approved First Contact Practitioner (FCP) short courses, the University of Hertfordshire has once again been awarded a contract by NHSE to offer fully funded training for registered Musculoskeletal (MSK) Practitioners, Paramedics, Occupational Therapists and Dietitians.
Why should you study?
FCP roles are integral to providing a sustainable and effective workforce, optimising patient care pathways and ensuring the right healthcare professional sees the right patient in the right place and at the right time. By 2024, all adults in England should be able to see an OT FCP at their local GP practice without being referred by a GP. The benefits of these roles are manifold, and include facilitating timely and appropriate onward referrals, and enhancing patient experience and outcomes (NHS England, 2019). NHSE’s ‘Roadmap to Practice’ sets out the training and educational pathways to FCP recognition for OTs (HEE, 2021). The University of Hertfordshire’s flexible programme of study is approved by NHSE as fulfilling stages 1 and 2 of the FCP Roadmap and on successful completion students will be able to apply to the Centre for Advancing Practice at NHSE to register as a First Contact Practitioner. The University of Hertfordshire is one of only a select few providers in England approved by NHSE to deliver this training.
What will it involve?
All applicants will initially undertake a Learning Needs Analysis to establish if they would be most suited to undertake either:
- A taught short course route, consisting of:
- First Contact Practitioner 1 (FCP1): 30 credits at Level 7
- First Contact Practitioner 2 (FCP2): 15 credits at Level 7
or
- A supported portfolio route to becoming a registered FCP.
FCP1 and FCP2 form part of a broader CPD framework and can contribute towards the awards of Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma (through the CATS route) or Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice.
Who will I study with?
FCP1 focuses on occupational therapy, with selected shared sessions with multidisciplinary FCP professionals (MSK Practitioners, Paramedics, Dieticians), facilitating networking opportunities and a deeper understanding of the expansive FCP role. FCP2 is predominantly undertaken in primary care as supervised practice, supported by interdisciplinary university FCP2 study. If you are undertaking the supported portfolio route you will be working with a name university supervisor to support the development and submission of your portfolio.
How will I learn?
This programme of study has been developed to be innovative, progressive and accessible with the aim of developing high quality FCPs for the future. For FCP1 and FCP2 the university teaching is on-line. Teaching uses synchronous, live streamed and asynchronous activities including lectures, tutorials, workshops, group work and presentations, involving previously successful students and relevant stakeholders, use of case studies and supported peer learning via Action Learning Sets. FCP1 covers the theoretical content of the Road Map and FCP2 enables consolidation of knowledge and skills with a period of supervised practice, which is supported by the university team, clinical mentor and peer review sessions. Both these activities are supported through the use of enhanced technology, so students will require access to a PC and reliable internet connection. Varied assessment methods help to support different learning styles.
What do our previous students say?
“[this course] will ensure competence and quality of FCP clinicians”
“It was really good to have the module on-line, easier to fit in clinics and life without travel”
“I have already made changes to my practice”
Learning Outcomes
First Contact Practitioner (FCP) 1: 30 credits at Level 7
Course aim:
- On successful completion of this short course students should be able to demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of theories, principles and concepts underpinning evidence based OT practice in Primary Care.
The course is equivalent to 300 hours of student effort including ten teaching days and one assessment day.
First Contact Practitioner (FCP) 2: 15 credits at Level 7
Course aim:
On successful completion of this short course students will be able to:
- develop advanced clinical and evaluate skills and to critically evalue the effectiveness of aspects of service delivery within the FCP scope of practice
- evidence capabilities required for an FCP role, whilst working alongside the multi professional healthcare team withing Primary Care to provide high quality services
This course is equivalent to 150 hours of student effort including seven online synchronous teaching days and one assessment day.
Provisional teaching dates: November 2027 TBC
University based sessions are taught online, with student attendance required.
Students will need to complete 75 hours of mentored clinical practice as part of FCP2.
Learning outcomes
First Contact Practitioner 1 (FCP1): 30 Credits at Level 7
Course aim:
On successful completion of this short course students should be able to demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of theories, principles and concepts underpinning evidence based OT practice in Primary Care.
For more information about the course and the learning outcomes, please download the Occupational Therapy flier
First Contact Practitioner 2 (FCP2): 15 Credits at Level 7
Course aim:
On successful completion of this short course students should be able to develop advanced clinical and evaluative skills and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of aspects of service delivery within the FCP scope of practice. To evidence capabilities required for an FCP role, whilst working alongside the multi professional healthcare team within Primary Care to provide high quality services.
This course is equivalent to 150 hours of student effort including seven on-line synchronous teaching days & one assessment day.
Provisional Teaching Dates:
Commencing October 2025 (dates TBC)
University based sessions are taught on-line, with student attendance required.
Students will need to complete 75 hours of mentored clinical practice as part of FCP2.