Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor roles and training
Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor
All nurses, midwives and nursing associates in any practice learning environment should be capable of fulfilling a practice supervisor role, as set out in the NMC Code.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) published new standards for student supervision and assessment in May 2018, (updated May 2023).
Supporting and supervising students and junior colleagues is an important part of many professionals’ roles as expected by not just regulators, but employers too.
The practice supervisor and assessor should draw upon their own previous and current experience, scope of practice, education, and training to support students. They should also be able to think about how they may want and need to develop their skills, if needed, through additional training.
Academic assessors
The role of the Academic Assessor is to collate and confirm student achievement in the academic environment, as well as working with the practice assessor to confirm the student’s progress in their practice learning.
All nurses, midwives and nursing associates in any practice learning environment should be able to undertake a practice supervisor role, as set out in the NMC Code. They need to have been prepared to take up their role and have up-to-date knowledge and experience relevant to the student they are supervising.
As previously stated the NMC do not stipulate any specific training, but they do set-out standards that need to be met.
To meet the NMC required standards, the Inspire Training was created as part of the GPN 10 Point Plan. It is free to access, and the presentation and accompanying materials should enable any registered professional, who has not had any previous educator training or experience, to act as a practice supervisor. The short training has been designed to fit in with the busy life of nurses working in general practice, whilst at the same time providing adequate training to enable them to feel confident as educators.
The Inspire Training can be accessed HERE
If you feel you require more in-depth training, you can consider one of the following free online courses:
Update training should be undertaken. There is no specific interval recommendation, but every 3 years is a useful guide. Inspire Training is suitable as update training. As are the other two online courses below:
Practice assessors, assess and confirm the student’s achievement of practice learning for a placement or a series of placements, (previously known as sign-off assessors). They can also act in this capacity for Registered Nurses and Nursing Associates working in general practice undertaking specific training e.g. Cervical Cytology and Child immunisations, providing they have the required knowledge and skills.
As previously stated the NMC do not stipulate any specific training, but they do set-out standards that need to be met.
The short training provided by the Inspire training, is probably not adequate to enable a nurse with no previous educator experience or qualifications to act in the assessor role. Therefore, the recommendation would be to undertake more in-depth training which can be accessed online free:
Update training should be undertaken. There is no specific interval recommendation, but every 3 years is a useful guide. The two online courses below are suitable for updates:
Academic assessors collate and confirm student achievement in the academic environment, as well as working with the practice assessor to confirm the student’s progress in their practice learning.
NMC Practice and Academic Assessors guidance can be accessed HERE
Certificate
If you would like a certificate to confirm completion of your training, please complete reflection on your learning, using the Reflection in Action Notes sheet (below) and emailing it to hwetraininghub@nhs.net. Your name will then be added to a local Practice Supervisor/Assessors register and a certificate issued.
Additional Useful documents
GPN Student Placement Booklet