In this interview, we sit down with Naomi Lafitte, Programme Director of our postgraduate certificate in Clinical Practice.
Academic interests and expertise
What inspired you to specialise in your current field of study?
During my time as a paramedic, many of the patients I attended had low-to-mid acuity presentations. Much of my initial training had been centred on life threatening emergencies, so I often felt less prepared to manage these more nuanced cases with the level of confidence and effectiveness I felt patients deserved. Recognising this gap in my practice, I became motivated to specialise in urgent care so I could better support this patient group by developing broader, more holistic clinical skills. I also saw the potential for offering patients suggestions around lifestyle interventions that would help to support their ongoing journey to better health, and subsequently I qualified as a nutritional health coach.
What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring students?
The most rewarding element of teaching and mentoring is when students develop additional knowledge and skills that they can then take into clinical practice for the benefit of patients and their colleagues. They will often come to me and tell me how what they have learned has helped them make better decisions for patients. It’s also great being able to see them develop as individuals over the course of their time studying with us.
Why this course?
What makes this postgraduate programme unique within its field?
Our PGCert is unique because it offers unusually high flexibility in module choice, and it houses four specialisms under one framework including two NHS England recognised FCP routes. It also offers the choice of progression into an MSc ACP if desired. Assessments are work-based, and we deliver a genuinely interprofessional postgraduate experience.
Are there opportunities for students to tailor the programme based on their specific academic or career interests?
The PGCert Clinical Practice is intentionally designed to be flexible and can be tailored to support different professional goals. Students can choose from a generic pathway, which allows any combination of 60 credits from the module portfolio (subject to programme director approval), or select one of four specialist routes, most of which comprise mandated core modules: First Contact Practitioner (Paramedic), First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal), Critical Care, or Human Factors & Patient Safety.
Within the generic pathway, students can shape their learning by selecting from a wide range of Level 7 modules. These include prescribing, leadership, education and supervision, digital healthcare, advanced MSK practice, urgent and emergency care, and quality improvement, enabling students to focus on areas aligned to their career development or service needs. Some modules also include work based learning components, allowing students to integrate academic study with their own clinical role and apply learning directly to their practice environment.
Career paths
How does the programme help students develop skills for their future careers, whether in academia or industry?
The PG Cert Clinical Practice equips healthcare professionals with the enhanced clinical, leadership, education, and research skills needed to progress in their careers. Through flexible module choices, practice focused learning, and opportunities to apply new skills in the workplace, we help students build confidence, expertise, and a strong foundation for future trainee advanced roles or further postgraduate study. Assessments mirror clinical and service challenges, helping students develop the professional capabilities valued across healthcare settings and in continued academic pathways.
Tips for offer holders
If you could highlight one thing that students should look forward to in this programme, what would it be?
Students can look forward to our blended, practice-focused approach that is designed specifically for working clinicians and which will help them apply their new knowledge and skills in their current roles.
What advice would you give offer holders as they prepare to join this course?
The PG Cert Clinical Practice is designed for healthcare professionals in practice, so here’s some advice that will help you prepare ahead of time:
- Reflect on your clinical experience and career goals.
Because the programme offers both specialist pathways and a flexible generic route, it’s helpful to reflect on skills you want to develop or potential future roles. You’ll then work with me to choose modules that align with your professional interests and current area of clinical practice. - Be prepared for blended and self directed learning.
The course combines face to face sessions with online learning, guided independent study, and engagement with digital resources on the virtual learning environment. Not all learning takes place in a lecture hall, so taking time to read about study skills and determine your own individual learning styles and preferences will help set you up for success. - Expect to apply learning directly to your workplaceMany modules include work based learning elements, reflective portfolios, or practice focused assessments. Start thinking about areas of your own practice and the service within which you work that could benefit from further development.4. Familiarise yourself with Level 7 academic expectations.
- Familiarise yourself with Level 7 academic expectations.
The programme requires critical analytical thinking, thoughtful reflection, and curiosity. Do some reading about what is involved in Level 7 study, so that you are ready for this next step.