SCP Curriculum

The Curriculum Framework for the Surgical Care Practitioner sets the clinical, technical and professional standards expected of a professional practitioner working in this defined role of surgical care. It is adopted by UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in developing and delivering SCP postgraduate education programmes.

This document is intended for:

those wishing to become a SCP;

those wishing to offer an educational programme leading to an MSc degree in surgical care practice;

patients and the lay public, to offer definitions of this role and the standards required for the education and development of SCPs;

educators in other professions, to provide a detailed framework for the role and education of SCPs;

regulators of the profession of surgery in general and existing regulatory bodies setting the standards and requirements of the SCP programme;

any healthcare provider wishing to employ a SCP; and

all those involved in supporting the development of SCPs.

This document is the main reference document for the curriculum and assessment framework for the establishment of standards and quality assurance of SCPs within the governance structures of RCS England and RCS Edinburgh. (It is recommended that all nations in the UK introduce and implement these standards.)

The four pillars of SCP training

Clinical

Leadership

Research

Education

Curriculum Design

The SCP curriculum is a modular programme based on a phased approach:

Phase 1:

generic clinical, technical and professional knowledge and skills

Phase 2:

specialty specific clinical, technical and professional knowledge and skills

The course design is based upon a 3-year course with the recommendation of one year for Phase 1 and two years for Phase 2.
This will facilitate the inclusion of a dissertation of service development / audit project.

The curriculum is designed to enable competence-based rather than time-based progression.

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SCP Curriculum

Defines learning for a trainee SCP

Supports high quality, safe and effective care

Develops leadership skills to lead the wider surgical team

Supports education development of those following an MSc in Surgical Care Practice