1. Sign Off Mentor Preparation
Faculty of Health and Human Sciences
Placement Development Teams 1

2. NMC Criteria for Sign-off Mentors
Sign off mentors are required for:
3rd year nursing students’ final placements.
Midwifery students at all progression points and at point of entry to the register (final placement)
Return to Practice & Overseas Adaptation
They must have undertaken an approved mentorship programme or equivalent to the Mentorship module. 2

3. Accountability The NMC expect registrants to protect the public
The sign-off mentor role was introduced to ensure mentors were equipped to make decisions in recommending a student for registration.
Large numbers of registrants are going through capability or fitness to practice investigations (NMC 2014).
Too many mentors are not referring students early on in their programme giving benefit of the doubt or not addressing issues
Survey of 2,000 mentors 75% said they had passed a student who they were concerned about (Nursing Times 2010)

4. Sign off mentors
Introduced to ensure sound judgements made about whether a student has achieved the required standard of proficiency for safe effective practice for entry on to the register.
Mentors with a qualification or experienced mentors working towards a qualification, prepared to meet additional NMC criteria and recorded on the Trust Register.
In midwifery, a sign off mentor is required to assess the student at the end of years one and two. In the final placement sign off mentor or mentor supported by sign off mentor will make the final decision relating to proficiency..
Sign Off mentors must spend the equivalent of an hour per student per week in addition to the 40% expected (approx 18 hrs) –to focus on monitoring the student’s progress against their learning objectives and the assessment criteria, and is known as ‘protected time’.
To protect the public by raising the standards 4

5. Role
Support and assess final placement students on the same part of the NMC register
Support junior mentors in difficult decision making or supporting novice mentors undertaking their preparation.
Support and assess students undertaking post registration programmes.
Support and assess students on other programmes in years one and two, although only midwifery sign-off mentors may assess midwifery students. 5

6. Using protected time effectively
Making final assessments can be daunting
You are vouching for students’ proficiency and ability to function and be accountable as a new registrant.
NMC requires 1 hour ‘protected time’ per week in addition to 40% directly/ indirectly supervising student’s practice.
How could you use this time effectively?
How could other members of the team support you in achieving this?

7. A few ideas
Interviews/ review meetings in addition to initial, formative and final. Provide formal feedback on a regular basis.
Review student’s progress; identify particular trends. Consider ways they respond to constructive advice.
Gain information from other members of the team to guide your overall assessment.
Consider how you may address any identified issues
Review portfolio (OAR and any electronic component)
Spend time giving feedback on how they
manage care for a designated group of clients.

8. Students in Practice Need to focus to achieve proficiency (time frame)
Planning – OARS – Learning contract - Band 5 Job competencies.
Examples
Management experience – organising and delegating care for a group of clients
Teaching and leadership experience – eg: contributing to the support of junior students and placement information
Inter-agency referrals and follow ups – discharge – ongoing care (pathway)
Policy - Lone worker (community) and supernumerary guidance.
A review with mentors and students who graduated last year identified the following 8

9. Year 3 Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate an ability to manage own practice and that of others in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
Demonstrate achievement of competence/ proficiency in care management for entry onto the register.
Demonstrate achievement of all professional standards and programme requirements for entry to the specific part of the NMC register. 9

10. Confirmation of Proficiency
Make a final judgement: Has the student achieved the required standard of proficiency for safe effective practice for entry to the NMC register?
Competence: is the ability to perform consistently to the required standard, demonstrable only after a period of practice or rehearsal.
Proficiency: can be applied to a practitioner/learner who consistently applies the competency standard deeming the student to be proficient for registration 10

11. On-going Achievement Record (OAR) NURSING
Seen by each mentor in the first week of the placement and signed at the end
Seen by personal tutor after every placement and at the end of each year
Only formally submitted at the end of the final year - (usually last week in August)
Sign off mentors to provide an overview of the students 3yrs of practice and their proficiency for registration (not just this placement).
If student opts for an 'elective’ placement during last 4 weeks of final placement the sign-off mentor should complete final Sign Off Comments prior to the elective
Separate sheet for the 'elective' supervisor/mentor to provide additional comments at the end of the 4 weeks – see POPPI for further information. 11

12. On-going Achievement Record (OAR) MIDWIFERY
Seen by sign-off mentor in the first week of the placement and reviewed regularly throughout the placement
Comprises EU (European Union) numbers, placement records/ progress reports and the Mentor Assessment of Practice (MAP) document
Midpoint and end of placement progress reports need to be completed by the student and sign-off mentor and any contributing buddy mentor/ attending midwifery lecturer
MAP evidence needs to be regularly reviewed and updated
Grading of practice takes places at the end of a placement/ year (depends on clinical area pattern)
Sign-off mentor, student and midwifery lecturer must attend the summative tripartite when grading takes place
OAR formally submitted at the end of each year
In Year 3, the sign-off mentor also needs to sign the practice proficiency statement for entry to the register. 12

13. After reflecting on this presentation go to the Sign Off Mentor Quiz to consolidate your learning