Operationalising Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment in Practice – preparation for roles and
dissemination – information for Academic Assessors.
School of Healthcare
June 2020
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INTRODUCTIONThis commentary supplements information already provided in the MYEPLG Context Document and SSSA Strategy discussion paper, the MYE Core Mentor Update and Factsheet and the Midlands, Yorkshire and East Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD) and Website: http://www.myeplg.ac.uk/
The aim of the Academic Assessor is to provide a guidance and support to learners, supervisors and assessors in practice.
As Academic Assessors are implemented the roles of link lecturer and personal tutor will be clearly defined in order to facilitate the transition, to the Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA).
How Will this Work?
The Academic Assessor role for the University of Leeds has been agreed with consideration of our staffing levels and workload modelling.
Therefore, a team of academic assessors will be appointed for each year of the programme, operating as follows:
· Working in partnership with the Director of Practice, Programme Lead and Practice Learning Facilitator (PLF) to ensure students have excellent practice learning experiences.
· Meeting with students to agree how practice goals can be related to theoretical modules, documenting in the practice assessment document (MYEPAD/ePAD) accordingly (see flowcharts on pages 7 & 8).
· Liaising with PAs through MYEPAD/ePAD, or via telephone/Skype as necessary.
· Recording students’ academic achievements in MYEPAD/ePAD to give PAs a view of overall performance and identify any areas of concern.
· Liaising with students and PAs at midpoint and face to face (tripartite) meetings at summative points; assisting PAs to write action plans, where appropriate.
· Initially 100 hours workload tariff will be allocated, subject to monitoring and review.
· A learner will have a different Academic Assessor in each year of the programme.
Note: MYEPAD/ePAD will be the key communication medium; this does not preclude essential clinical visits.
There is a Practice Learning Partner Handbook and a Practice Learning Handbook (for all learners) to support the transition to SSSA. These are available on the PPU website https://practiceplacements.leeds.ac.uk
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Preparation for the role of Academic Assessor (mandatory workshop) Time for Preparation
Up to 1.5 hours, plus online resources available
Aims of Session To prepare current academic staff for the role of AA
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, the registrant will be able to:1. Explain the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment and their
role within them.
2. Describe the communication and collaborative processes between practice assessor, practice supervisor and academic assessor
3. Describe how to plan and undertake a student assessment
4. Explain how to raise concerns regarding student concerns, conduct or achievement
Resources Required
The CodeThe Standards for Supervision and AssessmentCourse Plan and Outline for new nursing curriculaExample practice assessment document
Indicative Content
An overview of standards for student supervision and assessment
Role and responsibilities of practice assessor , the practice supervisor, the academic assessor and practice facilitator/educator
Overview of the communication and collaborative processes between practice supervisor(s) /practice assessor/academic assessor
Facilitating independent learning and empowering learners
Programme outcomes, proficiencies and practice components
Evidence based assessment- What is evidence- Types of evidence- Using evidence / feedback to support decisions of achievement / proficiency
Planning and directing an assessment for the student
When and how to raise concerns regarding student conduct / competence and or achievement
Due to covid19 this session can also be delivered remotely with AA undertaking pre reading of slides followed with a one hour AA team meeting for Q & A via the AA teams (Microsoft teams)
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Process for preparation of rolesRole Synopsis of role For those new to role For those already in
roleSupport for transitioning students
Practice Supervisor (PS)
A Practice Supervisor is a registered healthcare professional for example nurse, midwife, nursing associate, doctor, allied health professional who supports learning within their scope of practice, provides feedback and contributes to a learner’s records of achievement and assessment.
To meet NMC standards for being a Practice Supervisor, staff will be required to self- declare & demonstrate they are prepared for the role as well as being required to complete a once only practice supervisor preparation programme (on line or face to face).
Annually completes an episode of education reflection – recorded during annual appraisal process.
On line resource (https://anglia-ruskin-university.learnworlds.com/course?courseid=pspawork) for preparation in year 3 of the programme with follow-up tutorial (case study) discussion. All students from 0917 cohort onwards.
Practice Assessor (PA)
Assigned Practice Assessors supporting nursing students or trainee nursing associates on NMC education programmes must be suitably prepared registered nurses, or for midwifery students, suitably prepared registered midwives - or for trainee nursing associates, can also be a suitably prepared registered nursing associate. The role of a PA is to collate learner feedback from practice supervisors and confirm practice assessments, achievement of proficiencies and programme outcomes are achieved. A Practice Assessor cannot simultaneously be the Practice Supervisor to the same student
A PA will be required to have completed a practice assessor preparation or equivalent programme. Current SLiP will prepare for this role or a 2 day training will be required.
All PA’s will annually complete an episode of education reflection – recorded during annual appraisal process and attend an update workshop.
Current Mentors or Sign off mentors will not need to undertake a new PA programme but will be required to self-declare and undertake some additional learning (online or face-to face) on the new role. PA status will be recorded on PARE by PLF.
Academic Assessor (AA)
The aim of the Academic Assessor is to provide a guidance and support to learners, supervisors and assessors in practice.
Undertake mandatory face to face training (2 hours) to be recorded by school secretariat
See flowchart for ePAD monitoring
Liaison/Link Lecturer
Not linked to AA role. Role involves regular contact with clinical (link) areas providing information (mentor/SSSA updates) and supporting the education audit.
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OVERVIEW OF PA, PA, AA and NP ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Practice
Supervisor (PS)
Practice Assessor (PA)
Academic Assessor
(AA)
Nominated Person (NP)
Trust Induction √ (or trust rep)Induction to placement √ or √ or √Arrival in placement √ or √Induction to practice checklist
√ or √
Initial Interview √ and √Additional notes √ √ √ √Action plans to meet standards/skills exploring IPL opportunities
√ √ √ √
Service user feedback √ or √Learning outcomes √Midway Interview √
· Action Plans √ √
Final Interview √ √· Action Plans √ √ √
Programme specific assessments (eg Episode of care)
√ √ (where necessary)
Evidence contributions to assessment
√ √ √ √
Standards and Skills √End of placement/progression
√ √
Student Feedback √ √ √ √
Nominated Person
Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust – Practice Learning Facilitator (Nursing & Midwifery)
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust – Practice Learning Facilitator / Educational Lead
Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Team Manager / Educational Lead
Leeds Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub – Education Lead
PIVO Areas – Liaison Lecturer to discuss this with each area and PPU to record on SPARC.
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Academic Assessor (AA) nominated by Programme Lead at the start of the academic year and allocated a student group
Student’s allocation for stage year published (on SPARC 4 weeks prior to placement)
Practice area lead (Nominated Person) allocates Practice Assessor (PA)
AA meets with student group and agree objectives aligned to theoretical/practice modules prior to practice placement
AA enters record of discussion in MYEPAD/ePAD
PA and Student review AA comments and discuss learning opportunities in practice - set date for final interview and inform AA
PA and student work together as far as practicable over initial phase (some practice supervisionmay be required – but will be planned and nominated)
AA to monitor ePAD , review completion of practice standards and attend practice as per flowchart (page 8-10)
(Nursing programmes) Spoke placements – Planned objectives as discussed with Practice and Academic Assessor
OVERVIEW – AA supporting students during assessed placements
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DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
Stakeholder events have been held by MYE PLG along with two information webinars: see http://www.myeplg.ac.uk/ for details
Stakeholder meetings for implementation of SSSA have been held with all practice partners in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University (next meeting planned March, 2020)
Presentation slides and resources have been developed for the mentor updates in 2020. These are hosted on the Practice Placement Unit website https://practiceplacements.leeds.ac.uk/nursing-and-midwifery/mentors/find-a-mentor-practice-assessor-practice-supervisor-update-session/
Practice Assessor Preparation is included within the SLAiP programme currently being delivered by University of Leeds (face to face) and Leeds Beckett University (on-line) all those successfully completing this programme will be recorded (on PARE) as both mentor and PA. This demonstrates both similarities and differences between pre and post 2018 standards. New (2 day) PA preparation to be cascaded via MYEPLG expected March 2020.
Practice Partners have communicated with mentors/sign off mentors the need to maintain the requirements for Supporting Learning and Assessment in Practice (pre-2018 standards) in order to support students on current programmes – mentor newsletter and email communique October 2019 to January 2020.
Mandatory Academic Assessor preparation to be delivered during March 2020. To be recorded on secretariat database. (2nd, 5th, 10th & 12th March)
Support for students in preparation for the role of Practice Supervisor will be included within Theory/Practice Module (TP6) in the 2019/20 academic year.
Mechanism for monitoring and reviewing how the NMC standards are being met agreed with learning partners (within Stakeholder meetings)
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