1. Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery Information session for Practice Education Co-ordinator posts Lesley Barrowman

2. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice The DHSSPS convened a working group to discuss the need for an infrastructure in HSC Trusts to support learning and assessment in practice. The group reported in May 2007. The following are the recommendations contained in the report.

3. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice HSC Trusts work in partnership to develop organisational wide infrastructures to ensure consistency in the management of all aspects of practice placement experience Service and education providers further develop partnerships to promote new ways of working

4. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice An individual is employed within HSC Trusts at a strategic level and reporting to the Executive Director of Nursing, who will provide leadership and ensure that there are processes in place to manage and coordinate practice learning to support the achievement of safe and effective care

5. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice An individual has the lead role in ensuring that there is appropriate participation in all curriculum development to ensure the demands of the changing context of healthcare delivery are reflected within the various programmes

6. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice A robust and effective performance management framework is developed and maintained that will ensure arrangements are in place to meet NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice across a variety of care settings

7. Infrastructure to Support Learning in Practice Individuals are employed within HSC Trusts for nursing and midwifery practice who can: provide leadership for education and learning needs ensure systems are in place to teach, supervise and assess students and support mentors, sign off mentors and practice teachers assure the quality of practice placements provide liaison between service and education programme providers

8. NMC Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice 2008

9. New framework Developed to assure the NMC that students undertaking programmes have been supported and provided with appropriate supervision and assessment of competency by practitioners with the necessary knowledge and competence Implemented for students who commence programmes from 1 September 2007

10. Responsibilities of Trusts Ensure mentors and practice teachers are prepared for their role through an NMC approved programme and ensure sign-off mentors meet required standards Maintain an up to date register of mentors, sign off mentors and practice teachers, Make provision for annual updating in collaboration with education providers Ensure triennial review of mentors/practice teachers takes place (Appraisal of competence) Ensure access to support and supervision for mentors and practice teachers

11. Responsibilities of Trusts contn. 40% of student’s time is supervised directly or indirectly by a mentor/practice teacher Mentor/practice teacher requires time with the student to engage in learning activities Final period of practice learning - one hour per week with sign off mentor in addition to above Mentor will have access to sign off mentor/practice teacher for support where students are failing SEE RESPONSIBILITIES PAPER ON NIPEC WEB-SITE (NMC STANDARDS PROJECT)

12. Responsibilities of PEC post The overarching responsibility is to ensure that students are provided with a high quality practice learning experience that enables them to achieve specified outcomes.

13. Responsibilities of the PEC post This will be achieved through working to the education lead in the Trust and working with a dedicated team of Practice Education Facilitators with designated clerical support.

14. Responsibilities of the PEC post The PEC will be required to have a wide range of skills and knowledge related to organisational and management competencies and an in-depth understanding of matters relating to practice learning for students undertaking NMC regulated programmes.

15. Responsibilities of the PEC post Some of these issues are: providing leadership, including development of policies and guidelines providing leadership, including development of policies and guidelines securing and maintaining effective practice learning environments for students securing and maintaining effective practice learning environments for students knowledge and understanding of nursing and midwifery programmes, pre and post-registration knowledge and understanding of nursing and midwifery programmes, pre and post-registration

16. Responsibilities of the PEC post Issues (cont’d) liaising with education providers and other external agencies liaising with education providers and other external agencies working with lead nurses and midwives across the Trust working with lead nurses and midwives across the Trust securing and organising practice placements securing and organising practice placements competence in assessment, including managing failing competence competence in assessment, including managing failing competence quality assurance of practice learning, including placement audit quality assurance of practice learning, including placement audit

17. Responsibilities of the PEC post Issues (cont’d) ensuring mentors are practice teachers are available to support and assess studentsensuring mentors are practice teachers are available to support and assess students maintaining local registers of mentors and practice teachersmaintaining local registers of mentors and practice teachers supporting mentors and practice teachers with their role in teaching and supervising in the practice settingsupporting mentors and practice teachers with their role in teaching and supervising in the practice setting

18. Responsibilities of the PEC post Issues (cont’d) ensuring NMC standards are met in full ensuring NMC standards are met in full making arrangements for external review, as required making arrangements for external review, as required

19. Responsibilities of the PEC post The overarching responsibility is to ensure that students are provided with a high quality practice learning experience that enables them to achieve specified outcomes.