School of Allied Health and Midwifery

Postgraduate Credit Advanced Clinical Skills in Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia) Management

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Postgraduate Credit
Start date(s)
3 October 2024
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (1 year)
Campus location
Walsall Campus
School
School of Allied Health and Midwifery
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

New 2023 intake coming...

We are at placement capacity 23/24 so own arrangements would have to be made.

This highly specialised course will enable you to demonstrate to employers and potential employers your knowledge and skills relevant to working in lactation, breastfeeding support and frenulotomy services. It will provide the theoretical and evidence-based theory which underpins contemporary practice and helps you to develop advanced techniques in tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) management.

This one-year programme prepares you to practise safely and effectively as a tongue-tie practitioner and is suitable for professionals from settings including midwifery, health visiting, advanced neonatal nursing practice, dentistry and paediatrics.

The programme will enable you to deliver and lead evidence-based care for families and babies, working in partnership with multi-disciplinary teams. This includes optimising normal physiological processes, providing a first-line response to, and management of complications, as well as supporting women and their babies with infant feeding needs. The programme reflects a student-centred approach to education with emphasis on active learning, research-awareness, professional reflection and critical thinking in preparation for you to assume autonomous practice.

INTAKE: February 2023

WHERE: Online

Course subject to a minimum number of confirmed students.

Delivery dates and times are subject to confirmation and may change due to the availability of specialist practitioners.

 

                                        FAQs

How much is this course?

We have three levels of pricing which are as follows:

Study days only - £175 

Arrange your own placement (study days and assessment) - £575 

If we arrange your placement - £875 (we are at placement capacity 23/24 so own arrangements would have to be made)

What experience is required for me to gain a place on this course?

Applicants must have experience in, and knowledge of, lactation support and infant feeding. Having the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) qualification is desirable, but not essential. Applicants must also be experienced and competent in supporting families with infant feeding. Having competency in the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) is also helpful but not essential. You must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland registers, a medical practitioner on the General Medical Council or Medical Council (Ireland) registers or a dental practitioner on the General Dental Council or Dental Council (Ireland) and have a minimum of three years’ post-qualification clinical experience. The course is aimed at National Health Service (NHS) professionals, who are already working in an established NHS ankyloglossia/frenulotomy service or willing and able to establish one in the future. Please ensure your application indicates all of your relevant experience.

How long is the course?

The course takes approximately 12 months to complete on a part-time basis. It begins with one mandatory study day held online followed by completing the competencies in clinical practice associated with ankyloglossia management and frenulotomy. You must complete 25 full assessments of tongue-tie (including an infant feeding assessment) and frenulotomies in order to pass clinical practice. This usually takes attendance at 4-6 clinics, depending on how many babies are seen in a clinic and how many of them go on to require a frenulotomy following assessment. It will also be dependent on how confident your supervisor feels you are at carrying out the assessments and procedures.

What do I have to do to achieve the full accreditation?

To gain full accreditation you must:

  • complete the mandatory study days (all day, online via the University’s virtual learning environment, Canvas)
  • submit a 1,500 word case study at Level 7 (Master’s level) achieving a pass grade of at least 50%. The case study will be based on a full assessment of ankyloglossia and subsequent frenulotomy performed in practice
  • undertake a clinical practice placement in order to achieve the competencies and undertake 20-25 assessments of ankyloglossia and frenulotomies s and complete a Practice Assessment Document (PAD).

Where can I do my placement?

Placements are available at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust or Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust but these are subject to availability and capacity is limited. Places at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust  and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are offered in the order which applications are received, therefore if you feel you will need a placement at Dudley or Worcester, it is suggested that you apply early. Your placement dates and times will be arranged with you following the mandatory study days. You are likely to need to attend a minimum of 4-6 clinics to achieve competency. Alternatively, you may wish to undertake a placement in your local area. If you are able to arrange this and organise appropriate supervision we will provide all necessary practice documentation.

What clinical competencies do I have to achieve?

You will be provided with a practice assessment document (PAD) and this will need to be completed by you and your supervisor. You must achieve competency in all areas and must be supervised carrying out a minimum of 20-25 full ankyloglossia assessments and frenulotomies.

How much academic work is involved?

Approximately one academic credit equates to 10 hours of study. This course is 20 credits, therefore, approximately 200 hours of study are required overall. This will include hours spent on the mandatory study days, clinical practice time and time spent writing your case study. The remainder of time should be spent reading around the topic to ensure you have a sound evidence base to underpin your practice. There is only one piece of academic work (the case study), which must be passed at a minimum of 50% at Level 7, and is submitted towards the end of the course.

Can I complete the study day only?

Yes, we now have an option to attend for the study days only. A certificate of attendance will be provided, however attending the study days will not lead to competency in this area and will not give you any Level 7 academic credits. You can apply to attend the study days

Do I need to register with the CQC?

If you are planning to set up a private practice then you must register with the Care Quality Commission which will incur a cost.

 

What happens on the course?

Study day

There are two study days on the course which both take place online. You will study a range of topics including anatomy and physiology, assessment of ankyloglossia, the frenulotomy procedure, any complications which arise, and running a tongue-tie clinic. Through a range of innovative learning and teaching approaches you will be empowered to think critically about evidence-based practice and develop your own knowledge and skills. A strong foundation of evidence-based theoretical knowledge allows you to become a knowledgeable, safe and effective practitioner.

Clinical practice

Clinical practice placements can be arranged by the University with The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust or Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, but places are limited and subject to availability. Places at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are offered in the order which applications are received. Alternatively, you are able to arrange your own clinical practice placement at a provider of your choice. Following the initial study day, the rest of the year-long course is spent undertaking your clinical practice placement (although it may not take the full year to achieve your clinical competencies).

Assessments

Our assessment strategy aims to mirror professional practices and real-world contexts, preparing you for the challenges of independent and team work, and developing skills that will help you to succeed in the workplace. You will experience creative, engaging and meaningful assessment tasks which contribute to your ongoing development as a critical thinker and as a life-long learner.

There are two assessments that need to be completed as part of the course:

  • Case study: 1,500 word case study based on a full assessment of tongue-tie and subsequent frenulotomy performed in practice.
  • Clinical practice: completion of clinical competencies related to tongue-tie and 25 full ankyloglossia assessments and frenulotomies.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

You will be prepared for assessing and managing tongue-tie in infants and be equipped with the tools to provide advice and support to families. On successfully completing the course you will exit with both 20 academic credit at Level 7 and the confidence to start practising as a tongue-tie practitioner.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

  • Wolverhampton is currently the only university in the UK to offer a Level 7 accredited programme for training in tongue-tie assessment and frenulotomy, running since 2013.
  • You will gain hands-on experiences in clinical practice working alongside tongue-tie practitioners and other professionals.
  • The University prides itself on its excellent partnership working arrangements with local NHS trusts and private, voluntary and independent sector organisations for placement opportunities. This partnership works to provide excellent support for you whilst you are on placement ensuring that you are supported and exposed to relevant learning opportunities. Our tutors work closely with practice staff to promote a dynamic, interactive learning environment in which you are encouraged to be an active participant in learning rather than a passive recipient.
  • You will be afforded inter-professional learning (IPL) opportunities as there are often students from different disciplines on the course. IPL is vital in supporting you to develop the knowledge, skills and insights necessary to ultimately deliver the highest quality of care and work within increasingly integrated and complex health and social care settings.

Who will teach you on this course?

All of the academic staff in the midwifery team are Registered Midwives. You will benefit from the team’s expertise, which draws on a wealth of different experiences including a range of clinical, managerial, commissioning and research.

Visiting and honorary lecturers/speakers from a wide range of healthcare and related participate in the programme, sharing contemporary and real-world examples of practice, including specialist practitioners from a local NHS Trust.

Want to find out more?

Why not attend one of our Open Days, where you will have the opportunity to talk to staff and find out more about the course and our facilities?

Twitter: @wlv_health

Facebook: facebook.com/wlvhealth

As a practitioner you will:

  • develop the skills needed to identify ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) through evidence-informed assessment, as well as safely and successfully performing frenulotomies. You will also gain skills associated with infant feeding support and advice
  • obtain the subject knowledge and understanding surrounding the professional and ethical conduct of a tongue-tie practitioner, to deliver a high standard of appropriate care, as well as being able to reflect on your personal and professional development
  • demonstrate subject-specific knowledge related to the field of tongue-tie, including professional and ethical practice, appropriate care delivery, managing care and personal and professional management
  • identify health and social care policy trends and be able to use evidence and develop arguments to underpin your own practice, to evaluate the delivery of healthcare services
  • be able to apply decision-making and problem-solving techniques in order to provide quality care to women and support their families.

  • You must be a qualified midwife, nurse or health visitor on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register or a medical practitioner on the General Medical Council register with significant experience in breastfeeding support, lactation services and an interest in ankyloglossia and frenulotomy.
  • You must have had a least three years’ post-qualifying experience.
  • If seeking financial support from an employer you must have agreed this in advance of the application. You must be able to achieve the practice competencies associated with this course. The University can arrange this on your behalf via our partner organisation The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust or you can arrange your own clinical placements for supervision by an ankyloglossia/frenulotomy practitioner.
  • Within the personal statement section applicants should identify their professional registration number, their experience of breastfeeding support and lactation services and whether they would prefer to have their placement organised by the University at our partner organisation (The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust) or if they will be arranging their own placement.
  • You will also be asked to confirm that you have a valid Disclosure and Barring Service check (from your employer within the last three years) and proof of occupational health clearance (from your employer).

Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate on-site programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.

 

Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.

 

Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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