Operating Department Practice

Your Operating Department Practice interview will take place online through Microsoft Teams. As your interview is online, we highly recommend booking onto an Open Day or Taster Day to get to know ARU.

Your interview will consist of a number of individual questions. We’ll be interested in your knowledge and understanding of the role of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).

Below, you'll find some helpful information about your interview and some of the things we'll be discussing. Please take the time to read this.

Before your interview

Interview preparation

You'll need to be prepared with knowledge and understanding of the role of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP):

• When you graduate, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Therefore, you must be aware of and uphold the HCPC's professional values and behaviours.
• You will be asked to explain what professionalism means to you and the particular qualities required for the ODP profession.
• Additionally, as you’ll be working with service users at a very vulnerable time in their lives from early on in your degree, and throughout your career, you're expected to be familiar with and uphold the NHS Constitution and values.

Upload documentation

You will need to upload copies of the qualifications and ID documents you have declared on your application, which must be done prior to the interview.

If your name is now different to that listed on your certificates, you must also provide proof of this, eg marriage certificate, deed poll.

If you cannot find any of your certificates, we will check your Government Personal Learning Record (PLR) to verify these. The Personal Learning Record service is a permanent online record of your qualifications and achievements. It’s held by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE).

If we are unable to verify your qualifications via the PLR and you do not have the certificates, you must apply for a replacement(s) immediately. This process can take in excess of six weeks and a charge is involved. It is your responsibility to ensure all this information is provided as Admissions will not follow this up for you.

Before you can register as a student, all documentation will be checked for authenticity. If found not to be genuine, applicants will be immediately withdrawn and will not be able to reapply. All relevant authorities, funding bodies and professional bodies will be informed accordingly.

Teams interview

• Please ensure you have selected a suitable date and time on your Applicant Portal.
• If you are unable to attend the date you have chosen, up to two days prior you may cancel your current selection on e-Vision and choose another date. If your interview date is less than two days away, please email us at [email protected]
• We’ll send you a link to access the interview on Teams one day prior to your interview taking place.
• Please note your interview may be recorded.
• Please ensure you monitor your emails (including any junk/spam folder) and are at a device with a camera and a microphone with a reliable internet connection. We recommend accessing the interview from a laptop rather than a mobile phone or tablet if you can. We will contact you via the email address provided on your application form.
• This is an interview for a professional course leading to a professional qualification. Please dress and conduct yourself in a professional way.
• Please have available some photo ID to show on screen when asked by the interviewer. This is a standard check that would normally be undertaken in a face-to-face interview. This will be checked by the interviewing team. This can be a passport, driving licence or ID badge from your current employer or college.
• Telling us about any learning support needs you may have is a positive step and will help us to provide the support you need. Due to the online nature of the interview, we hope that you will have the resources you need to complete your interview. However, if you do feel that there are other learning support needs, please do get in touch via email to [email protected].

Interview format

We’ll be interested in your knowledge of the role of the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), your communication skills and your values.

Above all, you need to be certain that this is the profession you want to join. To succeed in the interview you’ll need to commit yourself to learning as much as you can before your interview day.

What happens next?

You’ll be notified via UCAS of the results of your interview within five working days.

What next if I am offered a place?

• Accept your offer via UCAS Hub.
• Arrange your accommodation.
• Complete your DBS and Occupational Health information.
• Notify the Admissions team of any changes to your circumstances.

What next if I am unsuccessful at interview?

• Please consider the areas which need improvement and ask for written feedback to prepare for future interviews.
• You will not be able to reapply for the same course in the same academic cycle, however we are happy to accept applications for next academic year.