Supporting Students in Non-NHS Organisations
In Northern Ireland (NI) there are three universities who deliver NMC approved programmes i.e. Queens University Belfast (QUB), The Open University (OU) and Ulster University (UU). The Practice Learning Environment and the university will work collaboratively to provide and support opportunities for the education and training for pre-registration and post registration students. The education and training provided will meet the NMC Standards (2024). The university is responsible for ensuring that a current audit is in place. Practice Learning Environments will be audited by a university in Northern Ireland (NI) in partnership with the organisation. The audit will identify the maximum number of students undertaking Practice Learning with the Practice Learning Environment and shall be agreed between the Practice Learning Environment and the university and a copy of the completed audit will be retained by both organisations.
Understanding Students Supervision & Assessment (SSSA)
This animation sets out how our Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) provides the structure and guidance that students need to learn and achieve their goals. It covers the roles of supervisors, academic assessors and practice assessors. It also describes the importance of a positive and inclusive learning culture in both practice and simulated settings, enabling students to be the best future professionals they can be.
Further Guidance-
Role of the Nominated Person
The NMC require that all students have access to a nominated person who can actively support students and address any concerns they might have while in a practice placement learning environment.
The NMC do not stipulate who this person might be, or what qualifications or registration they need to have, only that they must be available to support students and be able to suitably address their concerns. This can mean a number of things depending on the circumstances or the nature of the concern that has been raised. The nominated person should work within local processes for raising and managing concerns whenever relevant.
They do not necessarily need to be based within the learning environment, and in many cases it may be inappropriate for them to be so, for example, if it would mean that, due to staffing constraints, a practice supervisor would also be the ‘nominated person’. It will be up to the AEI, with their practice learning partners, to decide who can fulfil this role, provided students are supported and our standards and public protection are upheld. Students should be informed throughout their programme about who the nominated person is for each environment, what their role is, and how to get in touch with them should they need to raise any concerns.
- Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA)
These standards set out the roles and responsibilities of practice supervisors and assessors, and how they must make sure students receive high-quality learning, support and supervision during their practice placements. They also set NMC expectations for the learning, support and supervision of students in the practice environment. As well as setting out how students are assessed for theory and practice learning.
Practice supervisors and assessors should use these standards to ensure the best possible learning experience for students.
The NMC’s four-minute animation ‘Understanding students supervision and assessment sets out how our Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA)’ provides the structure and guidance that students need to learn and achieve their goals.
It covers the roles of supervisors, academic assessors and practice assessors. It also describes the importance of a positive and inclusive learning culture in both practice and simulated settings, enabling students to be the best future professionals they can be.
Helpful guides to all roles and the standards can also be found on the NMC Website.
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