AHP Practice Educator Resources

This is a one point access page for information to help you support students whilst on placement.

For more information please contact iownt.ClinicalEducationTeam@nhs.net

This information is regularly checked but if you notice something incorrect or out of date please let us know.

The HCPC defines ‘practice educators’ as a person who is responsible for a learner’s education during their practice-based learning. 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’ October 2020

Every HCPC registered AHP should participate in providing clinical placements to meet their registration requirements and are receiving payment to do this as part of the agenda for change pay agreements in their salary. 

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/about-us/corporate-governance/policies/statements/hcpc-statement-on-student-supervision/

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/students/learning-materials-for-students/case-study/case-study-reasonable-adjustment-on-student-placement/

‘Everyone has a student offer – What is yours?’

Capacity for AHP clinical placements is limited and has restricted the ability to grow the numbers in education to meet the needs of the workforce. The Covid -19 pandemic with its requirements for social distancing and PPE has compounded this issue. This means that ‘catch up’ capacity is required on top of the planned provision.

The supply and demand gap in the South East is significant for some of our AHP professions.

There is a predicted increase in demand for more than an additional 100 Occupational Therapists and more than an additional 250 Physiotherapists in the South East Region.

The current forecast indicates that, without additional actions, there will not be sufficient supply to meet service demands.

It is particularly important for the following professions where supply will not meet projected workforce demand between now and 2024:

• Occupational Therapy
• Dietetics
• Physiotherapy
• Diagnostic Radiography
• ODP

HEE resources for AHP Placement expansion and innovation can be found here: Resources | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk)

A practice placement is where students apply and consolidate their learning, bringing together academic theory, workplace practice to develop skills and competences needed to register.

Stuart Norton (2018) Academic Lead on Employability from the higher education academy describes why placements are important as the following:

‘As well as allowing students to apply subject knowledge and technical skills in a professional environment, placements also provide a helpful insight into organisational discourse, culture, professional socialisation, applied skills and working relationships. And, perhaps more importantly, placements are incredibly valuable for increasing self-confidence and encouraging reflective practice – while providing students with those “missing skills” that employers seek in graduates.’

The aim of this resource is to support Practice Educators to ensure placements are learner focused. Using a coaching model with learners encourages them to take responsibility for their own learning. This toolkit contains guidance, resources and options that support clinical areas and learners.

• HCPC Practice Based Learning
• Placement checklist
• Local induction and links to Trust policies
• Practice Supervision options
• Sample placement timetable
• Practice Based Learning project ideas
• Coaching conversations and GROW model action plan
• Placement Visit Opportunities including a list of AHPs in non-clinical roles
• Reflective log and Supervision record 
• Service user feedback form
• Useful contacts

 Toolkit here.