Mr Alan Mount

I am the Course Director for the Operating Department Practice Apprenticeship Degree. I have set up and implemented good communication channels within the course team, to allow the swift exchange of information and opinions. I ensure that the team knows its priorities, and the respective responsibilities of each team member. I also ensure that module leaders, tutors, and instructors (if applicable) align their teaching material, activities, and assessments to the approved course specification (including L&T and assessment strategy and module descriptors), to deliver high quality learning experiences to students on the course.

Furthermore, I am the ODP Apprenticeship Designated Safeguarding Officer. I oversee the arrangements for addressing the Prevent duty in a proportionate way. I provide expertise where appropriate on relevant professional and statutory body requirements, and act as a point of contact for any individual who may wish to seek advice on policy and procedure, or discuss a safeguarding concern. This includes referrals under the cause for care and concern procedure, or making an allegation. I have also undertaken training to identify safeguarding concerns, and when it is appropriate, I will make a referral or use internal processes and procedures.

As the ODP Recruitment Lead, I oversee the recruitment planning for the ODP course, both for the Undergraduate and Apprenticeship provision. I arrange and liaise with the health recruitment team for remote or induvial applicant interviews. I regularly attend University open days and marketing events to promote the Operating Department Practice course. Additionally, I represent the course team at SAPHP recruitment huddle meetings.

I was appointed in February 2002 to then Association of Operating Department Practitioners (AODP) Board, now known as the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP). During this time, he was involved with the development of the standards of proficiency, scope of practice and subject benchmarks for ODP in accordance with the transfer of the profession to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in October 2004.

Alan is a member of the College of ODP’s Education & Standards Committee and was involved with the review of the HCPC standards of proficiency for the ODP Profession.

Throughout his Operating Department Practice career, Alan has taught in both Clinical Practice and Higher Education. This has involved teaching across all aspects of perioperative practice. This has been from NVQ level through to Masters, more recently within ODP apprenticeship Provision.

I am a member of the College of Operating Department Practitioners – Education and Standards Committee. As part of this role, I have been involved in the development and review of the national curriculum standards for the profession. In addition, I have been involved in the review of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards of proficiency for ODPs.

I am also an External Education Subject Specialist for ODP and Apprenticeship course validation, as well as course approval. In addition, I am an Integrated Degree Apprenticeship External Examiner (EPA) at another University. More recently, I have been working with Health Education England (HEE) as an ODP and Apprenticeship Subject Specialist on a number of their projects.