Practice Development and Education
The Practice Development and Education Department lead and facilitate the development of a competent, knowledgeable & multi-professional workforce. This includes nursing, midwifery, AHP, pharmacy and clinical scientists. We equip them to provide high-quality person-centred care through:
- Evidence based teaching provided by qualified specialists in clinical education.
- Supporting the learning environment across the trust and ensuring compliance with the NHS England Safe Learning Environment Charter.
- Working collaboratively with partner NHS organisations and higher education institutes.
- Ensuring education governance to comply with the Education Funding Agreement and maintaining quality and safety for patients, colleagues and learners.
- Managing role expansion through an extended scope of practice process and leading on the implementation of new roles for nurses, midwives, AHPs and healthcare support workers.
- Encouraging and motivating staff to innovate or evaluate practices.
Individuals within the department are responsible for healthcare support worker development, pre-registration, post-registration, return to practice and supporting internationally educated health professionals.
The Department co-ordinates training and competency assessment programmes that support skills and role development. It also continues to lead the development and implementation of protocols linked to clinical practice, to meet patient needs throughout the organisation. These provide a supportive and legislative framework for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals when undertaking practitioner-led activities and skills.
The Department also facilitates the development, validation and implementation of evidence-based policies, guidelines and associated documentation Trust-wide. The consultation and development process for policies and guidelines is undertaken as a collaborative partnership between clinical, governance teams, relevant committees and Practice Development and Education staff.
The Department offers multi-professional clinical skills training in areas such as intravenous therapy, catheterisation and cannulation.
The Practice Development and Education team play a role in the recruitment of newly registered professionals to the Trust in conjunction with the HR Department, and co-ordinate the Preceptorship Programme for these staff. The team also provide a clinical induction for all new clinical staff to the organisation. In relation to Post Registration Education, the team is responsible for the allocation of funding for continuing professional development (CPD) across a wide range of courses including to degree, master’s and professional doctorate level. This is facilitated by the Department working closely with educational providers.
Colleagues within our team are also involved in academic research development, research leadership development and work in partnership with NIHR.
The Practice Development and Education Department understand and respond to the needs of the organisation and the local community to help shape the workforce locally and strive to create supportive working relationships, both internally within the Department and externally throughout the organisation, which enables personal, professional and practice development.
Contact Information:
For further information please contact:
The Practice Development and Education Administration Team
Tel: 01603 641488 or internal ext:1488