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Essential preparation for your online interview: BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice

This page gives you all the information you need for preparation for your online interview for BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (Manchester or Ormskirk). Please read all of the sections carefully.

Welcome

Congratulations on being offered an interview. You’re one step closer to expanding your opportunities at Edge Hill University. Our selection process is designed to identify students who have the necessary competencies that align with the regulatory body for this course – Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). We’ve brought together a dedicated webpage so you can understand what to expect as part of your interview process. Please read all the sections carefully. We know that you may feel nervous about your interview,  but it’s not designed to trip you up, we’re looking for you to demonstrate and tell us more about the attributes and skills you’ve outlined in your personal statement.

ODP student Megan

Important information

  • Your interview will be conducted remotely using the Microsoft Teams App. If you do not already have Microsoft Teams, you can download this online. Download from the App Store here or Download from Google Play here.
  • Please familiarise yourself with Microsoft Teams before your online interview. There are useful guides on YouTube to assist you.
  • You need to confirm that you will attend your interview via UCAS Hub
UCAS Hub
  • You can view the date of your interview on UCAS Hub. Please note, you will receive your specific time and individual joining link prior to your interview. You should click to accept your individual joining link as soon as you receive your email.
  • Please contact [email protected], if you do not receive your link.
  • We recommend using a PC or laptop for your online interview and please check your camera and microphone are working prior to the interview.
  • You will need your original photographic ID (i.e. current valid passport or photo-card driving licence). If you do not have suitable ID on the day, you may not be able to take part in the online interview and will have to have your online interview rescheduled for an alternative date. If you have any questions about your ID please contact our Admissions Team via email to [email protected] before your online interview.

Course specific preparation

Before you access your online interview it is important that you have:

  1. watched this short service user/carer story video clip called Lily’s story. You’ll be asked about this during your interview. Failure to watch this video will prevent your interview taking place.
  2. considered the NHS Professionals 6 C’s in relation to our pre interview video ‘Lily’s story’.
  3. researched and read about the role of the profession you have applied for using sources such as www.hee.nhs.uk/about/our-values
  4. researched  NHS England’s Leading Change, Adding Value  It contains 10 commitments which you are advised to read.
  5. researched and read the values enshrined within the NHS Constitution which was developed by patients, public and staff to inspire passion in the NHS and guide it into the 21st century. The NHS values provide common ground for cooperation to achieve shared aspirations and can be found in section two of the document.

It’s also essential that you have thought about and can clearly explain the following before your interview.

  1. Why you wish to enter a career as an Operating Department Practitioner?
  2. How can you demonstrate professional awareness and commitment to a future career in this profession?
  3. You have considered the academic and professional challenges of the course and have a basic understanding of the theoretical experience gained during the course and how that will enable practical experience.
  4. You’ve read all the information on these preparation pages and made a note of any questions that you want to ask at the end of your online interview.

On the day of your online interview

  • You should allow up to 45 minutes for your online interview.
  • Whilst your online interview is taking place, please ensure that you have no one else present in the room with you – this will allow you to focus fully on the online interview without distraction.
  • Please aim to log onto your device approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your online interview and be ready to join the meeting by clicking the ‘join now’ button approximately 5 minutes before.
  • Your online interview will take place with a member of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine (FoHSCM) Academic Staff and in some instances the interview panel will consist of a service user or carer or a representative from practice.
  • You will be asked to confirm that you have watched the relevant service user video.

What to have with you on the day

Photographic ID

Top tip from the selection panel

“We recommend that you create a distraction free environment and we find that candidates who are dressed in professional attire are in a better headspace for their online interview” – Tracey Barnes (Recruitment and Selection lead)

A student operating department practitioner administers CPR to a patient on a trolley, while two of his peers observe.

What we’re looking for

The programme you have applied for is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC set out clear standards of proficiency for those wishing to complete a programme leading to application to join these Registers. For further information on the HCPC, please go to: www.hcpc-uk.org.

The individual online interview will assess your:

  • personal, intellectual and presentational qualities suitable for the profession you have applied for
    • values and understanding aligned to the NHS constitution
    • teamwork
    • respect and dignity
    • compassion
    • professionalism
  • ability to accomplish the academic and professional requirements of the programme.
  • understanding of the demands of studying at university.
  • Commitment to developing subject knowledge, skills and understanding through self directed learning, to be able to care for patients or service users.
  • commitment to becoming a competent, safe and compassionate health or social care professional or allied health professional.

Our selection criteria

You’ll be given the opportunity to demonstrate that you have an enthusiasm and motivation for the profession that you have applied for. That you understand the core NHS values (Respect and Dignity, Compassion, Commitment to quality of care, Improving Lives, Working Together, Everyone Counts) and will be able to demonstrate these in professional practice.

1. Professional awareness and commitment to a future career

Previous experience of health or social care is desirable but not essential. You should have a good understanding of the knowledge, concept and skills of the subject area and the capacity to articulate your understanding. If you have future work experience planned, you can mention this within your online interview.

2. Academic awareness

Success on this course depends on you being able to commit to the academic and professional challenges required and for this reason you should be able to clearly demonstrate an understanding of the academic rigours of this course and how you will, for example, ensure that competing priorities are managed effectively.

3. Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB)

There is a requirement for all successful applicants to provide evidence that those who are entering into their chosen profession meet the appropriate PRSB requirements for safe and effective practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will be asked to declare that they are of ‘good health and good character’. This will be obtained via completion of relevant DBS checks and satisfactory Occupational Health clearance to the programme induction period.

4. Practice Learning Travel

Travel arrangements to and from practice experiences/placements are the sole responsibility of the student. We aim to allocate practice experiences/placements located and accessible within a reasonable timeframe which, under normal travel conditions, may require a journey of up to 2 hours each way from your base of study.

5. Disclosure of previous study on a professional programme or registration with a professional regulatory body

At every interview all candidates will be asked whether they have previously commenced study on a health or social care professional programme or been subject to withdrawal from that programme for any reason. And if they have previously been registered with a health and social care regulatory body such as the NMC, HCPC or other.

Any questions?

We look forward to meeting you for your online interview.

If you have any questions or special requirements that you would like to discuss with us prior to your interview you can contact us.