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Fitness for Practice Learning

The assessment of fitness for practice learning is a requirement for students who have opted to study courses to prepare them for regulated professions in healthcare and social work.

Courses where this is required are:

  • BSc Hons Diagnostic Radiography & Imaging
  • BSc Hons Dietetics
  • MSc Dietetics
  • MBBS Medicine
  • BSc Hons Nursing (Adult)
  • BSc Hons Nursing (Mental Health)
  • Return to Practice Nursing
  • BSc Hons Optometry
  • BSc Hon Occupational Therapy
  • BSc Hons Paramedic Science
  • MPharm Pharmacy
  • MSc Physician Associate Studies
  • BSc Hons Physiotherapy
  • BSc Hons Podiatry
  • BSc Hons Radiotherapy & Oncology
  • BSc Hons Speech & Language Therapy
  • BSc Hons Social Work (3 year)
  • BSc Hons Social Work (2 year)
  • BSc Hons Social Work (Dungannon)
  • BSc Hons Social Work (Millfield)

The purpose of assessment is two-fold. Firstly, it helps us determine if you have any health problems, disabilities or learning differences which may affect your capability to fulfil the core competency standards and clinical practice placements required for your chosen course. Secondly, screening and immunisation checks are carried out to protect patients who may be affected by your placement activities. Once this process is completed satisfactorily then a Health Clearance Certificate (HCC) will be issued by the University’s Student Occupational Health (OH) Service.

If you are able to provide the necessary evidence of screening and/or immunisations then we may not need to call you to clinic. However, if you cannot provide the necessary evidence then you will be provided with an appointment to attend an OH clinic.

You will not be able to complete the Health Clearance Certification process until we are certain that you have the necessary vaccinations, blood tests and satisfactory immunity to enable you to undertake clinical placements. As a healthcare student, you must comply with Department of Health guidelines, necessary to protect you and your patients during the course of your studies.

You may need to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases if you do not already have immunity to them. While we cannot force you to have a vaccination it is unlikely that the University will allow you to undertake clinical placement without appropriate vaccinations and this may jeopardise your ability to meet the clinical practice requirements of your chosen course.

The health clearance process is based upon guidance from the Department of Health, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the association for Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS). The relevant regulatory bodies for Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health Professionals, and Social Work all contain a requirement to ensure patient safety. Compliance with the immunisation and screening requirements not only help to protect patients from infectious diseases but also students.