Student Practice Supervision and Assessment Resource Centre

Find out more about supporting students and maintaining your status

Welcome to your Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor resource for health professionals, registered nurses, nursing associates and midwives who support learners in practice. This section enables you to identify and review professional standards for supporting, supervising and assessing learning in practice (NMC 2023, HCPC 2017). There are signposts throughout to further reading or study, helping you to reflect on your current role in supervising and assessing students.
If you are interested in consolidating your skills and gaining academic accreditation for supporting and assessing learners in practice, our distance learning module at either degree or masters level will enable you to study towards your CPD goals at a time and place that suits you.
( Principles of Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Practice)

Training

Practice Assessor (NMC registrants)
A Practice Assessor is NMC registrant who must be on the same part of the register as the students they assess. They are required to complete the student’s assessment process and (together with the designated academic assessor) make decisions about the student’s proficiency and progression at the end of each placement and from one stage of the programme to the next (normally at the end of the year). An assessor is normally designated for each placement experience or the whole year. 
Assessors need to undertake training and preparation for their role, and “maintain current knowledge and expertise relevant for the proficiencies and programme outcomes they are assessing” (NMC SSSA, standard 7.4). Assessors also have a responsibility to remain up to date with their own professional practice and the assessor role. Assessors need to:
  • understand the programme and assessment requirements
  • be on the employer/university Assessor Register
  • maintain their proficiency and CPD through regular assessor updates and revalidation.
All Nursing, Nursing Associate and Midwifery students require supervision and assessment by registrants who are prepared for that role (NMC 2023).
 

Online Practice Assessor preparation

Please complete your training via the following pathway.

Practice Supervisor (NMC/AHP registrants)
Nursing, Midwifery and Nursing Associate students are supervised in practice by NMC registered nurses, midwives, nursing associates, and other registered health and social care professionals (standard 2.7). These Practice Supervisors serve as role models for safe and effective practice in line with their code of conduct (3.1) and contribute to student assessments to inform decisions for progression (4.2). Practice Supervisors need to be trained and prepared to understand the programme and assessment requirements. 
All Nursing and Midwifery students require supervision and assessment by registrants who are prepared for that role (NMC 2023). 
 

Online Practice Supervisor preparation

Please complete your training via the following pathway.
NB: You can undertake training and preparation via your Trust or University placement lead. 
 

Practice Educator (Allied Health Profession registrants, excluding diagnostic radiography)
Practice educators (mentors) in Allied Health Professions will have undertaken a short preparation course to prepare them for the role for their individual profession. They must:
  • have relevant knowledge, skills and experience to support safe and effective learning and, unless other arrangements are appropriate, must be on the relevant part of the Register
  • undertake regular training which is appropriate to their role, learners’ needs and the delivery of the learning outcomes of the programme (HCPC, 2017).
Preparation to either transition from mentor to practice assessor or preparation for Practice Supervisor and Assessor roles within your organisation by PDT leads/learning and development advertised within your workplace.
Preparation for Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor Roles
Are you an Allied Health Professional (AHP) and want to become a mentor/educator?
Training for AHP mentors
Development of staff to provide high-quality clinical supervision, assessment and facilitation of learning for students on placement is a key commitment of the University of Plymouth. Current HCPC guidance requires that AHP mentors/educators undertake 'appropriate practice placement educator training' (HCPC Standards of Education and Training standard 5.8 (2017)), but do not stipulate that specific academic qualifications are required for AHP educators at this time*.
From Spring 2010, initial educator training for AHPs (with the exception of paramedics- see below) has been delivered in a new format, which has been designed to build on an existing provision to give participants a comprehensive preparation for student supervision and more consistent access to professional accreditation on completion of the course. This new format has also been designed to ensure that educator development activities meet both current and possible future requirements of the HCPC.
The AHP educator training programme consists of one taught day of study supported by a self-directed preparation pack. The study pack will cover core aspects of student supervision and facilitation of learning in the clinical environment, including objective setting, feedback and assessment. The taught study day will develop these areas further, focusing on the specific programme of study relevant to each profession, placement arrangements and assessment requirements of each individual programme.
*the exception to this guidance is paramedic mentors, where the Royal College of Paramedics stipulate that mentors undertake certified mentor training (e.g. HEAB370 or equivalent).
Who can apply to become a clinical educator/mentor?
Any existing profession specific guidelines should be adhered to. These generally recommend that AHP educators should:
  1. Have practised within their profession for at least two years. 
  2. Have undertaken regular updating of knowledge and skills. 
  3. Demonstrate a positive commitment to education. 
  4. Attend a course to develop teaching skills, an understanding of learning styles and assessment skills (including the giving of feedback). 
Application process
Days will be scheduled throughout the academic year.

Practice Education (Medical Imaging Departments)
Do you work in a medical imaging department and would like to know more about supporting learners?
Practice Assessors in Allied Health Professions need to undertake a short preparation course to prepare them for the role for their individual profession. 
They must:
  • have relevant knowledge, skills and experience to support safe and effective learning and, unless other arrangements are appropriate, must be on the relevant part of the Register
  • undertake regular training which is appropriate to their role, learners’ needs and the delivery of the learning outcomes of the programme (HCPC, 2023).
Preparation for Practice Educator/Assessor Roles
Society of Radiographers: 

HCPC new standards for Diagnostic Radiography Sept 2023:
HCPC Standards of Proficiency – Radiographers

Training for Practice Education in Diagnostic Radiography
Development of staff to provide high-quality clinical supervision, assessment and facilitation of learning for students on placement is a key commitment of the University of Plymouth.
From 2024, assessor training for those supporting learners in a Medical Imaging department through the University of Plymouth is being delivered in a new format, which has been designed to build on an existing provision to give participants a comprehensive preparation for learner supervision and more consistent access to professional accreditation on completion of the course. This new format has also been designed to ensure that assessor development activities meet both current and possible future requirements of the HCPC.
What makes a good placement experience?
  • Preparation
  • Welcoming learning environment and orientation
  • Clear learning outcomes, graded learning
  • Quality feedback
  • Open and honest relationships
  • Supervisor experience and skills

These aspects and the clinical education theory underpinning practice education and feedback are covered in the training.

Support and resources

Keeping up to date

Practice educator, mentor, supervisor and assessor development

UoP Community Nursing Toolkit

 
 

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