Practice Supervisor, Trainee and Practice Assessor Handbook 2018-19 - Trainee Nursing Associates - Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals ...
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Trainee Nursing Associates Practice Supervisor, Trainee and Practice Assessor Handbook 2018-19
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 The Importance of Practice Learning ..................................................................................... 4
1.3 TNA Support in Practice ........................................................................................................ 4
1.4 Other Support Roles.............................................................................................................. 5
1.4.1 Support from CCN and HSC ........................................................................................... 5
2 ORGANISATION OF PRACTICE LEARNING ......................................................................... 8
2.1 ‘Spoke’ Learning Experiences ............................................................................................... 8
2.2 Diversity of Placement Experience ........................................................................................ 8
2.3 Process of Allocation ............................................................................................................. 9
2.4 Exceptional circumstances affecting placement .................................................................... 9
3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS/APPRENTICES IN PRACTICE .................................. 10
3.1 Conduct............................................................................................................................... 10
3.2 Learning .............................................................................................................................. 10
3.3 Health & Safety ................................................................................................................... 11
3.4 Attendance .......................................................................................................................... 11
3.4.1 Record of attendance ................................................................................................... 11
3.5 Using your car to travel to supernumerary placements and ‘spoke’ experiences ................. 11
3.5.1 Car parking ................................................................................................................... 12
4 APPRENTICE SUPPORT IN PRACTICE .............................................................................. 13
4.1 Information about practice ................................................................................................... 13
4.2 What you can expect from your supervisor .......................................................................... 13
4.3 What you can expect from HSC and CCN ........................................................................... 14
4.4 What to do if you have concerns about your practice area .................................................. 14
5 PRACTICE PROGESS AND ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 15
5.1 Assessment process ........................................................................................................... 15
5.2 Who will be involved in your assessment ............................................................................. 15
5.2.1 Named workplace supervisor........................................................................................ 15
5.2.2 Named supervisor (placements) ................................................................................... 15
5.2.3 Practice Assessor ......................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Progress Reviews and Formative Stages of Assessment .................................................... 15
5.3.1 In your workplace: ........................................................................................................ 16
5.3.2 In supernumerary placements ...................................................................................... 16
5.3.3 ‘Spoke’ Learning Experiences ...................................................................................... 16
5.3.4 Evidencing your progress and learning ......................................................................... 16
5.3.5 Contact and working with your Practice Assessor......................................................... 17
5.3.6 Moderation of assessment process for TNAs ............................................................... 17
5.3.7 What to do if you are worried about your progress or assessment ................................ 17
6 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ................................................................................... 18
7 REFERENCES...................................................................................................................... 20
21 INTRODUCTION
This Practice Education Handbook is designed to support Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA)
apprentices, their Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors during the programme.
Thank you to those supervisors and assessors for agreeing to supervise a TNA.
The information in this handbook will help to guide you through the programme and you
should read through it to familiarise yourself with programme and University of East Anglia
(UEA) regulations. If you have any concerns or are unsure about the programme and wish
to clarify any points, the TNA team will be very happy to help you. This handbook is designed
for staff who may or may not have supervised before and so the information is written with
this in mind.
This innovative new programme for TNAs is jointly delivered by UEA and City College
Norwich (CCN) and has been developed as a partnership between local NHS Trusts, social
enterprises, and primary and social care employers across Norfolk and Waveney. This
‘whole system’ approach will ensure that the programme meets local needs and
prepares the TNA for work in a range of environments.
The Nursing Associate is an exciting new generic role, developed to provide skilful, person-
focused, compassionate care and support for patients/service users of all ages across
diverse health and care settings. On successful completion of the programme the TNA will
be able to apply to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice as a
Nursing Associate. The NMC is the Statutory Body which regulates the education and
practice of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting professions and is opening a new part
of their register ready for TNAs.
The programme aims to produce compassionate, confident, knowledgeable and capable
nursing associates who are able to deliver a wide range of evidence-based clinical, care
and inter-personal interventions. The TNA will be able to practice safely and effectively
within their scope of practice (NMC, 2018; HEE, 2016), making a significant contribution to
the nursing and care team and demonstrating appropriate values and behaviours to support
person-focused care provision.
This Foundation Degree in Health Studies (Nursing Associate Apprenticeship) is designed
specifically for TNA apprentices. The programme has been designed to help enable the
apprentice to develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues in health and
social care and their role scope, to support the development of academic and professional
skills, values and behaviours and safe, holistic and responsive care. Close links between
practice and learning are in place with much of the programme spent learning in the
apprentice’s current workplace (their primary placement). TNAs will be employed in one of
three health and/or care settings: in hospital; close to home or at home and will “experience
at least two substantial external placements; one in each of the other two settings” (HEE,
2017) and with exposure to patients/clients across the lifespan and a range of patient groups
(NMC, 2018).
This Handbook has been developed to meet the requirements of University Policy on
Placements (UEA 2018) and the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment
(NMC, 2018).
31.1 Overview
The School of Health Sciences (HSC) with CCN are committed to working with our partner
organisations to provide the highest quality of practice learning. This is to ensure that your
practice learning maximises learning opportunities, enhances your learning and ensures
that you meet the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship standard, the NMC Standards of
Proficiency for TNAs and Health Education East (HEE) curriculum guidance.
1.2 The Importance of Practice Learning
Practice learning experiences are a compulsory part of this programme.
TNAs require 675 hours of placements during the two year programme. In fact, more than
this is included within the programme as there are:
- Three supernumerary placement blocks - two in Year 1 and one in Year 2:
o Placement 1 is a block of six weeks (five weeks of 30 hours during the teaching
term followed by one week of 37.5 hours of placement) = 187.5 supernumerary
hours (please note 1 or 2 clinical skills and simulation days may be
scheduled during placement time; these will be advertised to you and
will count as theory hours).
o Placement 2 is a block of six weeks of supernumerary placement (37.5 hours
a week taking place after the teaching term has finished) =225 hours
o Placement 3 is a block of seven weeks comprising six weeks of 30 hours
during the teaching term and one week of 37.5 hours after teaching has
finished= 217.5 hours
- 10 days (75 hours) of supernumerary ‘spoke’ placements (see Section 2). These can
be taken as single days or blocks of days to maximise learning opportunities. These
‘spokes’ are not taken during the supernumerary placement blocks. Learning
from these ‘spokes’ is recorded in the relevant pages of the Practice Assessment
Document (PAD.)
1.3 TNA Support in Practice
Apprentices will be supported in their transition between working within their employer Trust,
for example as an HCA, and their TNA role, as well as supernumerary status when
undertaking placements through the setting of clear boundaries. Each TNA will be supported
by a range staff including:
- A Named Workplace Supervisor (a health or social care registrant) who will support
them for the whole of the two year programme
- A Practice Assessor who is a Registered Nurse
- A Placement Supervisor in each of the three placements
For explanation on how these roles will work please see the TNA PAD and the Ongoing
Achievement Record of communication and clinical skills (OAR.)
As employees of partner trusts, DBS clearance and Occupational Health clearance and
support will be carried out by your employer at the point of entry to the Apprenticeship
programme. Employers will provide confirmation of this to HSC who will record the
DBS/occupational health status of apprentices as part of the joint governance of the
apprentice. Employers will retain ongoing responsibility for maintaining and reporting
DBS/occupational health status throughout the apprentice’s programme.
4Placements are audited using HSC’s established process and will be re-audited as required
to ensure appropriate capacity and the availability of the Named Workplace and Placement
Supervisors and Practice Assessors.
TNAs, Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors will be prepared for practice and
supported during placement. HSC will regularly review the TNA’s practice learning hours to
monitor the number of hours and supernumerary and supported learning time TNAs
achieve. TNAs have a PAD for each of the years of the programme, as well as an OAR,
which records TNA progress through the duration of the programme. Regular reviews of
progress will be undertaken to meet the requirements of the apprenticeship (progress
reviews three times annually) and of the NMC (when regulation is in place).
During supernumerary practice experience TNAs will be supported by a range of practice
staff and supervisors who have had extra preparation to support apprentices in practice.
You will also be supported by a Link Lecturer who is an academic member of HSC or CCN.
1.4 Other Support Roles
As well as those who will directly support you in your day to day learning in your workplace
and on placements/spokes, a number of other key people are there to help TNAs,
Supervisors and Assessors.
1.4.1 Support from CCN and HSC
Practice education is supported by:
- CCN Apprentice Advisers who will visit you and undertake termly progress reviews
with the TNA and nominated employer representative
- the Placement Team within HSC – monitoring electronically submitted timesheets to
make sure you are on track
- the Learning Environment Facilitator and Nursing Associate Practice Educator
employed by the STP partners
- the HSC Multiprofessional Educational Coordinators
- Employer Practice Education Facilitators/Clinical Educators
Role Named Person Responsibilities
Director of Practice Neil James Placement strategy and
Education interprofessional
Emma Ferris collaboration
Deputy Director of Practice
Education
Profession specific practice Helen Bell (Adult Nursing) Liaise with specific Health
placement co-ordinators Ros McCartney (Mental Care Trusts/ fields/
Health) departments to address any
Stuart Higgins (Learning issues
Disability)
Deborah Caine (Midwifery)
Michael Pfeil (Children’s
Nursing)
5David Huggins (Operating
Department Practice)
HSC Lead for Standards of Emma Ferris Strategic lead for supervisor
Student Supervision and preparation and liaison with
assessment NHS Trusts
LTS Placement Team Katie Vaughan (Team Monitors placement hours
Leader) via electronically submitted
Sue Dolby (Senior Admin timesheets and verified
Assistant) practice hours as submitted
Three Admin Assistants within practice assessment
documents
Link Lecturers HSC and CCN Lecturers Support students and
supervisors in practice, visit
practices and delivers
supervisor education
Apprentice Adviser CCN Lecturers Undertake apprenticeship
progress reviews with the
TNA and nominated
employer representative
Practice Supervisor A registered nurse, midwife, Supports and guides the TNA
allied health or social care through their learning
professional experience, encourages and
develops reflective practice,
helping TNAs develop
appropriate skills and
competence and supports
learning.
The Named Workplace
Supervisor supports the TNA
for the whole programme
TNAs will have a Placement
Supervisor in each of the 3
placements of the
programme
Practice Assessor Registered nurse Named Practice Assessor is
responsible for assessing the
achievement of all the
required learning outcomes,
proficiencies and professional
attitudes and behaviours for
the TNA at the end of each
year of the programme
Learning Environment Oversee and
Facilitator (LEF) facilitate support for Practice
Supervisors and Practice
Assessors and the wider team
that are supporting the
Trainee Nursing Associate
6Apprentices. They will
facilitate and co-ordinate the
planning and management of
the Trainee Nursing Associate
Apprentice practice
placements in collaboration
with the nominated
Organisational Lead and
oversee that the protected
learning time is facilitated in
order to maximise the
learning opportunities
available.
Nursing Associate Practice NA Practice Educator will
Educator (NAPE) support the Trainee Nursing
Associates and the learning
environment in which they
are working and learning
across the partnership. They
will provide support, clinical
practice input and guidance
to the learning environment
areas. They will facilitate
regular feedback forums
capturing the lived
experience of the TNA as the
role becomes established.
Multi-professional Education Jane Fraser (Central Norfolk) The Multi Professional
Coordinators Renee Peile (East Norfolk) Education Coordinators work
Robert Green (West Norfolk) with placement providers to
support the learning
experiences of
apprentices/students
and provide additional
support to those
professionals supporting
learners in practice. They
have key roles in quality
assurance by facilitating
educational audits. They
respond to
apprentice/student feedback
from the UEA placement
survey and look for new and
innovative placements for
learners.
72 ORGANISATION OF PRACTICE LEARNING
Practice learning opportunities are organised by your employers to ensure a breadth of
experience, so placements are provided in different settings in Norfolk and Waveney.
Placements will be facilitated in the following way:
- The TNA’s primary placement will be their normal workplace (their home placement),
working with a Practice Supervisor (or their designate) as required by the NMC (2018)
- Employers will agree partnership arrangements for hosting students from other health
and social care partners in order to meet the required variety of practice experience
across diverse patient groups and the lifespan
- TNAs will experience care provision in hospital, closer to home and at home, and
across the lifespan
- TNAs will use their employing area as their home placement throughout the course;
the home placement will count as one of the above experiences. The TNA will
normally be based in their home workplace except when attending supernumerary
placements and ‘spoke’ experiences One or more of the supernumerary placements
and ‘spoke’ experiences may be elsewhere in the TNA’s employing organisation to
facilitate the breadth of experience of people across the lifespan and patient journey
- There will be three supernumerary placements, in the other two areas as well as
supernumerary ‘spoke’ placements (see below.)
2.1 ‘Spoke’ Learning Experiences
During the programme you are required to have 75 hours of supernumerary ‘spoke’ learning
experiences i.e. additional learning opportunities, for example, shadowing a team member,
following the patient through their journey. These are ‘spokes’ and enable you to achieve all
the practice learning outcomes. Where appropriate you are encouraged to be proactive in
selecting and organising a range of ‘spoke’ opportunities. However, these will always have
to be negotiated and agreed with your named workplace supervisor who will retain overall
responsibility for your practice experience. TNAs are expected to experience the ‘24-hour
and seven-day week’ nature of health care which may require working different shift patterns
from your home workplace.
2.2 Diversity of Placement Experience
TNAs must gain experience in, and be assessed in practice ‘in hospital’, ‘close to home’,
and ‘at home’. (HEE 2016.) Examples of these include:
In Hospital: Close to Home: At Home:
- NHS - Hospice - Nursing homes
- Independent sector in- - General Practice and practice - Residential homes
patient services nurses - District and community
- Paramedic services - Respite care nursing services
- Emergency assessment - Mental health crisis house - Assisted living
units - Community outreach teams - Community mental health
- School Nursing teams
8Supernumerary practice education is a vital part of the programme, providing at least 20%
of the TNA’s learning experience. Employed apprentices are exposed to a variety of
placements, and local reciprocal agreements between the employing trusts are in place to
ensure the breadth of experience is there for you.
Example placement plan for Year 1 of the programme for September and November 2018
cohorts:
2.3 Process of Allocation
The Host Employer Partner will hold the registers of TNAs; ensure Practice Supervisors are
available and Practice Assessors who support, supervise and assess TNAs are available
and are suitable and compliant with NMC requirements. The Host Employer Partner will
evidence the placement circuit for each TNA under the requirements set by the cross-system
Learning and Development Agreement.
The process of allocation to a practice environment is individually and carefully considered
in relation to the specific needs of the TNA and to the overall experience of the programme.
You will not be able to attend placements if the following is not in place and up to
date at the start of the programme:
- Disclosure and Barring clearance*
- Occupational Health clearance*
- Ongoing Occupational Health clearance for Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP)
- Mandatory and Statutory Training (MAST)- this to be recorded in the TNAs PAD
*However changes which affect these clearances during the programme must be reported
and may affect the TNA’s overall clearance to attend placement.
2.4 Exceptional circumstances affecting placement
Please advise your employer and Apprentice Adviser of any disabilities, exceptional
circumstances or adjustments required or which may impact on you in relation to your day
to day work in practice. See also Section 3.3 Health and Safety.
93 RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS/APPRENTICES IN PRACTICE
3.1 Conduct
When you are in your normal workplace and on placement you are required to present
yourself and behave in a professional manner at all times. Whilst in practice you will be
expected to:
- Ensure that you inform service users/patients of your student/apprentice status
- Wear your name badge
- Ensure you abide by the dress policy of the practice education provider
- Adhere to all practice policies (available on HSC Student Zone Blackboard site)
- Comply with all the policies and procedures within all the departments and
organisations you visit whilst in practice
- Recognise and demonstrate the importance of safe practice within your work
- Complete UEA post-placement feedback survey
- Report to your supervisor and/or HSC any concerns you may have in relation to your
placement using the HSC Raising Concerns in Practice Policy located in the
Placements folder in the HSC Student Zone Blackboard site whether:
o It is related to the care given to patients and service users or
o It is related to the learning environment.
You must abide by The Code (NMC 2015; revised edition expected autumn 2018). Further
information on guidance for students can be obtained from the NMC website - Guidance on
professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students.
TNAs will need to comply with these expectations in addition to any obligations to their
employer organisation during working hours.
3.2 Learning
As adult learners, the School expects you to take responsibility for your learning in practice.
This means that there is an expectation that you will:
- Access and read pre-placement information relating to your practice area where
available prior to attendance. Information about many practice areas can be found in
the Placements section of HSC Student Zone.
o Take the initiative to contact your practice area/supervisor two to four weeks
before you start, accessing the contact details from the placement section of
the HSC Student Zone Blackboard site. A pre-practice visit to the clinical area
is encouraged
- Take responsibility for organising your own travel arrangements
- Consider your personal learning needs for your stage of training and take advantage
of every opportunity on placement to develop these
- Be proactive in planning a programme of practice experience with your supervisor
which reflects the opportunities of the placement and is commensurate with enabling
you to meet your learning outcomes.
- Work within your scope of practice
- Use the opportunity of supervision and assessment in a positive way and to actively
engage with the process
- Abide by NMC Code of Conduct at all times (NMC 2015)
- Report sickness/absence using your employer’s policy and procedures and
- Complete and submit all the relevant paperwork by the required date
10- Inform your supervisor and/or your practice assessor, your employer or the School of
any problems or unforeseen circumstances which may prevent you from meeting
your learning outcomes within the time allocated for your placement.
3.3 Health & Safety
- When you are in practice it is important you comply with the health and safety policies
of the employing organisation to ensure the safety of service users, other staff and
yourself. This means that:
- You must be familiar with the relevant policies for the particular Trust/social care
organisation in which you are based
- You need to ensure that your annual mandatory training is current and recorded in
your PAD
- You should make sure you inform your supervisor if you are unfamiliar with the use
of any equipment so that they can ensure you are instructed as to the proper use
- If any incident occurs in practice, you need to ensure that this is reported and
recorded in your practice area and also that the School is notified
- If you experience an incident in practice related to your health, such as a needle stick
injury you need to follow your employer’s procedures and occupational health
policies.
- You should inform your Apprentice Adviser if you require any special adjustments in
practice following any occupational health or Student Support Services assessment
- You should inform your Apprentice Adviser if you are pregnant and follow guidance
for students during and after your pregnancy.
3.4 Attendance
3.4.1 Record of attendance
Following the Clothier Report (1994) it is a professional recommendation that all student
sickness is monitored as it occurs thus allowing patterns of sickness and absence to be
visible. In addition, the School must account to the NMC that students have completed the
required practice learning hours. Please carefully follow the instructions that you are given
for recording practice learning hours otherwise your progression through the course may be
delayed.
Attendance is recorded either as present, sick or absent. Due to the strict regulation of
attendance by the NMC there is no opportunity for any absences to be authorised except in
very exceptional circumstances.
You are able to claim a maximum of two days from either theory or practice for attending
employment related activities to include open days/job opportunities and interviews.
TNAs should note that the above is in addition to obligations to their employer with regards
to any sickness and absence policies.
3.5 Using your car to travel to supernumerary placements and ‘spoke’ experiences
There may be occasions when you use your own car to reach a practice placement area,
and this might include visiting a patient/client at their own home. Such use is regarded by
some insurance companies as “incidental business use” and their policies may or may not
11cover it. If you intend to use your own car for this purpose, you must check with your
insurance company that these journeys will be covered. The UEA does not provide
insurance cover for apprentices using their own vehicle.
3.5.1 Car parking
Parking at the University is in high demand and we encourage apprentices to look at
alternative travel options such as public transport or cycling. Apprentices who wish to drive
to UEA from further afield are advised to use the Costessey Park & Ride Services which are
free of charge (subsidised by UEA) for anyone travelling to main campus at UEA (on
production of your UEA campus card). The Konect bus service 510 from the Costessey Park
& Ride Services serves the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital every 30 minutes and
is suitable for those travelling to the Edith Cavell Building. This service is provided by NNUH
and UEA staff and apprentices are required to pay £1.00 to use the service. Please see
See Parking for Students on the Portal for more information.
124 APPRENTICE SUPPORT IN PRACTICE
There is a strong and robust system in place to support you during your practice learning.
Whilst in practice you will be allocated to a Named Workplace Supervisor (in your normal
workplace, supporting you throughout the programme) and a Placement Supervisor in each
supernumerary placement. A Supervisor is a registered health or social care professional,
and has undergone an approved training programme and is eligible to supervise you. You
will have a nominated Practice Assessor who is a Registered Nurse who will assess your
progress against the required learning outcomes, proficiencies and professional attitudes
and behaviours. They will periodically observe the TNA in practice and liaise with the TNA’s
practice supervisor when making assessment decisions.
In addition, degree apprentices will be assigned an Apprentice Adviser who will visit whilst
in practice and/or during employment periods and undertake termly progress reviews.
These support roles are explained in more depth in the PAD (see, for example PAD year 1
pages 5-8).
TNAs are supernumerary whilst in practice placements and when undertaking ‘spoke’
placement experiences. “Supernumerary means that the student will not, as part of their
programme of preparation, be contracted by any person or body to provide nursing care.”
(NMC 2010: 65). For TNAs this statement applies to all periods designated as placements
and ‘spoke’ learning hours within their programme of study.
4.1 Information about practice
Information about your practice learning environment will be available on the HSC Student
Zone Blackboard site under placements; you should read the information prior to attending
your practice. There is information available about your practice area known as a ‘practice
profile’ and a ‘welcome’ pack produced by the practice area.
4.2 What you can expect from your supervisor
TNAs will have a named Practice Supervisor in your ‘home’ practice area who will have
overall responsibility for your practice learning. When your Practice Supervisor is not
available, supervision will be delegated within the team to a designated person (see PAD
page 5). When you are attending supernumerary placements you will also have an allocated
Supervisor.
“The Practice Supervisor ensures the learning they provide, organise, or delegate is tailored
to enable the student (sic) to meet their learning outcomes and learn ‘independently’ where
appropriate.” (NMC, July 2018).
“Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that
all students on an NMC approved programme are supervised while learning in practice.”
(NMC May 2018: 6)
The nature of supervision will vary according to the individual needs of the TNA and “can
decrease with the [apprentice’s] increasing proficiency and confidence” (NMC, May 2018:
4). Explanations of what is meant by direct and indirect/remote supervision are given in the
PAD (page 6).
13More detail of what the TNA can expect of their Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor
is given in the PAD.
4.3 What you can expect from HSC and CCN
There is close partnership working with practice education providers to ensure that the
learning environment meets quality standards and that your practice area allows you to
achieve your learning outcomes.
This is managed through close partnership working at strategic and operational level
undertaking educational audits, providing Link Lecturer contacts and visits, offering regular
supervisor training, regular monitoring and evaluation of practice through student feedback.
Your CCN Apprentice Adviser is responsible for:
- Providing support to you in practice and is available by email, telephone and face-to-
face contact. Whilst all Apprentice Advisers are available to visit you in practice, it is
your responsibility to initiate contact and request a visit if you need it. CCN will provide
you with full details of who your Apprentice Adviser is and how to contact them
- Facilitating termly progress reviews
- Discussing with you any concerns you raise about practice
- Discussing with practice any concerns they might have about you.
The HSC Multiprofessional Educational Coordinators are responsible for:
- Work with clinical education teams to support the apprentice feedback process and
respond to feedback from the UEA placement survey
4.4 What to do if you have concerns about your practice area
HSC takes very seriously concerns raised by you about any practice area that you are
exposed to. You may have concerns relating to your learning environment or concerns
relating to the delivery of care you observe or take part in. In both cases HSC has a duty of
care to you and service users to report and follow up any concerns and we have very robust
processes in place.
In the first instance we expect all apprentices to raise these concerns with their supervisor.
However, HSC recognises that students may not always be able to do this and on occasion
may find the issue although raised, remains unresolved. In this instance you should raise
your concern(s) with your Apprentice Adviser, your Assessor or other suitable member of
practice or academic staff.
Ensure that you read the HSC Policy on Raising and Escalating Concerns Relating to
Practice 2018 available via the HSC Student Zone Blackboard site.
145 PRACTICE PROGESS AND ASSESSMENT
5.1 Assessment process
Assessment of your development in practice will take place as described in your PAD
however, below are the overarching principles. You have:
- a PAD for each year of the programme - summative assessment takes place at the
end of each year of the programme, drawing on all the evidence of learning for that
year. Your Practice Assessor completes this. He or she can of course sign off learning
outcomes achieved ahead of the final summative assessment meeting
- an OAR to record your progress in relation to the communication and relationship
skills, and clinical/procedural skills this runs over the whole programme. Your
Workplace Supervisor, Placement Supervisors and Supervisors during ‘spoke’
learning experiences and during simulation can contribute to the completion of the
OAR
5.2 Who will be involved in your assessment
5.2.1 Named workplace supervisor
All TNAs will be allocated a Named Workplace Supervisor for the two years of the
programme and this will normally be a registered practitioner (health or care practitioner)
who has undergone further training to develop teaching and learning skills to manage your
learning needs in practice. They will review your progress and provide feedback regularly
and liaise with Placement Supervisors and the TNA’s Practice Assessor.
5.2.2 Named supervisor (placements)
TNAs will be allocated to a Placement Supervisor when attending supernumerary
placements. They too will have received preparation for the role. TNAs will have an initial
interview (in the first week of placement), a mid-point review and a final interview which will
include an achieved/not achieved review of professional attitudes, values and behaviours
and feedback from patients/service users. See PAD for detail.
5.2.3 Practice Assessor
The Practice Assessor is a registered nurse who has undergone some further training to
fulfil the requirements of the Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (NMC, July
2018) set by the NMC. The Practice Assessor assesses the TNA’s achievement of the
learning outcomes at the end of each year of the programme as well as observing the TNA
in practice periodically. This will include direct observation of an episode of patient-centred
care in Years 1 and 2 of the programme.
5.3 Progress Reviews and Formative Stages of Assessment
There will be regular informal and formal reviews and feedback on your progress. If you
need further support, then these reviews provide an opportunity to put in place an action
plan to help you on your way.
155.3.1 In your workplace
- initial review of OAR- with your named workplace supervisor
- regular reviews of your progress
- termly progress review with Apprentice Adviser and employer representative
- post placement reviews
5.3.2 In supernumerary placements
Placement review with your placement supervisor has three main stages:
a. Preliminary interview:
Details on what should be covered can be found within the PAD. This should normally
be completed in the first week of placement. If you experience difficulty obtaining a
date and time for your preliminary interview please alert the Apprentice Adviser.
b. Mid-point interview:
You will review your progress your placement supervisor and will be given feedback
on whether you are ‘on target’ in your learning for the specific placement. It is
particularly important at this stage that if there are any concerns about your progress,
the Apprentice Adviser should be notified and a specific plan discussed, agreed, and
documented. If you experience difficulty obtaining a date and time for your formative
interview please alert the Apprentice Adviser.
c. Final interview:
This should normally be completed in the last week of your practice and documents
your learning from the placement. Cross reference the PAD with the OAR to ensure
all your learning is captured.
5.3.3 ‘Spoke’ Learning Experiences
In the PAD for each year are forms that can be completed to record your learning whilst
undertaking ‘spokes’ so that this can feed into the reviews of your progress.
5.3.4 Evidencing your progress and learning
At the end of each year, the assessment decisions made by your Practice Assessor will be
based on three types of evidence:
- Observed:
Your Named Workplace Supervisor, Placement Supervisors during external,
supernumerary placements and Practice Assessor (and others) will work with you on
a regular basis and therefore have the opportunity to observe your practice
- Discussed:
Your supervisor (and others) will discuss your learning with you regularly in order to
ascertain your knowledge and understanding. Apprenticeship progress reviews will
also provide valuable opportunities to discuss your learning.
- Documented:
You will be required to maintain written records and reflections of your learning and
achievement within:
o the PAD document itself
o learning and achievement during ‘formal’ spoke placements must also be
documented on the ‘spoke’ forms within the PAD
o the OAR of TNA communication and relationship management skills and
clinical/procedural skills
165.3.5 Contact and working with your Practice Assessor
Although the final signing off of the learning outcomes for each year of the programme is
scheduled for the end of each year, it is important that your Practice Assessor has the
opportunity to:
- observe you working in practice and provide developmental (formative) feedback
- discuss your progress with you and your Named Workplace Supervisor and
Placement Supervisors to get a full picture of your progress. This may take place for
example face to face, by phone, Skype or email
- undertake a formal assessment of you whilst you undertake an Episode of Person-
centred care in year 1
- discuss your summative assessment and progression between Years 1 and 2 of the
programme with the Named Academic Assessor
5.3.6 Moderation of assessment process for TNAs
The TNA’s progress is formally reviewed on a termly basis by the Apprentice Adviser,
Nominated Employer Representative and TNA. From time to time the Link Lecturer may
attend one or more of the assessment interviews in order to support the process and advise
on any issues relating to the achievement of the learning outcomes and appropriate
evidence. There will be a nominated Academic Assessor who will communicate with the
TNA’s Practice Assessor when confirming the TNA’s progression and achievement of the
learning outcomes and proficiencies.
The PAD and OAR will be submitted to CCN by the specified date and formal moderation
will be undertaken by the CCN and HSC Course Directors or their designates.
5.3.7 What to do if you are worried about your progress or assessment
If you are worried about your progress, in the first instance you should discuss your concerns
with your Supervisor and as appropriate your Practice Assessor.
However, if you are unable to discuss it with your Supervisor or your Practice Assessor is
not available contact your Apprentice Adviser or the Learning Environment Facilitator/NA
Practice Education Facilitator.
176 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I have an identified additional learning need. Should I tell my supervisor(s)?
We encourage you to do so as early as possible - your supervisor may ask you at your initial
interview if you have any specific learning needs and this is a good opportunity to disclose
any needs and worries. Your Apprentice Adviser can support you in deciding how to
disclose. If your Supervisors are aware of your learning needs, they can discuss with you
what strategies you already use to aid your learning and provide appropriate support and
guidance regarding adaptive strategies that may be useful on a practice placement.
Supervisors can only support you in your learning if they know of your learning needs.
The above guidance applies to an apprentice or student with any disability. The University
and the HSC can offer sources of information and support in relation to your academic
studies if you have any disability issues. Access through your Apprentice Adviser.
For day to day issues/adjustments in practice you need to approach your employer for
tailored support.
When should I determine the dates of my interviews and progress reviews?
It is important you and your supervisor(s) and practice assessor establish the dates of your
formative interviews, progress reviews and summative assessments early so that they can
be accommodated in everyone’s plans. If you are having difficulty organising the dates of
the formal progress reviews contact your Apprentice Adviser.
My supervisor(s) are off sick/on holiday and my final interview is due. What should I
do?
Speak to your clinical lead/team leader in practice, if they are not available contact the
Learning Environment Facilitator (LEF) or NA Practice Educator (NAPE).
My Practice Assessor has not said when my summative interview is due to take place
and we are in the final two weeks of the year. What should I do?
Ask your practice assessor for a date. If they are not available or able to set a date speak
to your clinical/team lead or the LEF/NAPE.
Who has to complete the sample signature section of my Assessment of Practice
document?
This will be any supervisors who are responsible for supervising you, and your Practice
Assessor who will be assessing you in practice and who have completed and signed your
PAD. We also recommend that if different supervisors have signed your skills book they
should complete this section of your PAD as well.
What happens if I disagree with the outcome of my practice assessment?
The Practice Assessor’s decision is final. If you have concerns about your assessment you
can discuss with your supervisor, the clinical/team lead or the LEF/NAPE or the Apprentice
Adviser.
Where can my Supervisor or Practice Assessor find out about the programme and
access the relevant documents?
These are available on the UEA Mentors & Practice Educators Website.
18What should I do if I can’t get to the practice area that my supervisor says to meet
them at?
Contact your supervisor to advise them of the problem. It is good practice for you and your
supervisor to exchange work mobile numbers if you are working in the community
environment, so that unexpected occurrences can be managed effectively.
Can I fail the Episode of Person-Centred Care assessment and pass the learning
outcomes, or pass the Episode of Person-Centred Care assessment and fail the
learning outcomes?
No, you are required to pass both.
Do a have to demonstrate competency (at level 4 as a minimum) in all communication
and relationship management and clinical/procedural skills in the (OAR)?
You will be expected to demonstrate safe and competent achievement (level 4) in the skills
in all five aspects of the communication and relationship management skills and in all 10
aspects of clinical/procedural skills as detailed within the OAR (NMC, April 2018) by the end
of the programme. Some may be demonstrated through simulation or discussion.
You are not expected to achieve level 5 in all skills.
What is a testimonial?
These are witness statements as to your performance in practice and are generally written
by other members of practice placement staff or service users. You should not ask service
users to write you a testimonial, if they offer one then you should add it to your evidence. In
the PAD there are patient/service user feedback forms which should be completed by
service users who have consented to participate.
Who can sign my OAR skills document?
This would generally be your Named Workplace Supervisor or Placement Supervisor. It can
be another registered health care professional you have worked with when your supervisors
have not been available or when attending a ‘spoke’ learning experience.
When should I get my OAR skills document signed?
The signing of your OAR should be undertaken regularly. Please share your OAR frequently
and do take the initiative more in deciding which skills to aim for in your workplace or when
attending placements/’spokes’. When you return from a placement do make sure you review
your PAD and OAR with your named workplace supervisor. Don’t forget some skills can and
will be signed off during the simulation and scenarios you will undertake as part of the non-
credit bearing Clinical Skills module.
197 REFERENCES
European Council Directive 2005/36/EC (2005) Article 3. Training for Nurses responsible
for general care. In: NMC (2010) Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Education. NMC
London
NMC (2015) The Code: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and
Midwives. NMC London.
NMC (2018a) Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment. NMC: London.
NMC (2018b) Draft Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates. NMC: London.
NMC (2018c) Draft Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Associate Programmes. NMC:
London.
NMC (2011) Guidance on Professional Conduct for Nursing and Midwifery Students. NMC
London.
UEA (2014) Practice Learning and Work Based Learning: A Code of Practice
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Date last modified: 06/11/2018
By: Rosie Doy
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