About Preceptorship

The NMC provides guidelines on preceptorship identifying that all newly registered practitioners should have a formal period of support, however the NMC states that the content and length of time for this period of support will vary according to individual need and local context (NMC 2006).

The guidance provided by the NMC advises that newly registered practitioners should be allocated a named individual, who works in the same area of practice and in the same setting and who is available to help, advise and support. Preceptors can be called upon by the preceptee's if:

  • Help is needed with a procedure the registered practitioner is unfamiliar with;
  • Help is needed with a situation not encountered before;
  • Guidance or help is needed with any other aspect of their practice.

Within Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust preceptorship is defined as a scheme to 'provide support to newly qualified practitioners and therapists during their transition from the role of student to autonomous practitioner' (Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust 2006). The Agenda for Change Handbook (January 2005) and the Knowledge and Skills Framework Handbook (October 2004) identifies preceptorship within this Trust as a six to twelve month period where newly registered practitioners will have two development reviews to establish progression towards the foundation gateway. The guidance also identifies that preceptorship should be closely linked to clinical supervision and the Performance Appraisal and Development (PAD).

Preceptorship within Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust is in the process of development to enhance lifelong learning and forms step one in a three step programme of leadership/educational development to support recruitment, retention and career progression. The proposal for the preceptorship programme outlined below will act as a "pilot" for newly qualified practitioners starting in June 2007.


Aims of Preceptorship

  • Enhance transition of theory based learning into direct clinical practice
  • Develop clinical skills and professional behaviour
  • Promote continuous reflective practice
  • Identification of personal and professional development plans and introduce arrangements for clinical supervision
  • Establish recovery and values based approaches as the underpinning philosophy of all clinical practice
  • Meet or show progression towards the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) foundation gateway for band five Mental Health Practitioners.
  • Develop partnership driven practice alongside service users, carers and other agencies
  • Increase team effectiveness within the care environment
  • Identification of mandatory training needs and introduction to clinical area policies and procedures

What is the Starting Out programme?

The 'Starting Out' Programme within Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust has been developed to provide a formal structure to employing newly qualified practitioners within the Trust by offering a six month preceptorship programme within an identified service area. Each newly qualified practitioner employed in the Trust will commence on the programme and be provided with an identified preceptor working within the same clinical area. Alongside this practice based support all newly qualified practitioners will have six (Monthly) half day sessions focused on providing educational development opportunities and group supervision.

In your role as a preceptor, the Starting Out Programme provides you with an online learning tool to help develop the knowledge and skills you will need to become an effective preceptor. Alongside working through the learning tool, you will also have access to supervision sessions to support your development as a preceptor.

Aims of the Learning Tool

  • To highlight the importance of the preceptor in supporting the transition from student to newly qualified practitioner
  • To critically reflect on the roles and responsibilities of preceptor and preceptee within the workplace
  • To increase the preceptors awareness of the experiences of newly qualified practitioners
  • To critically reflect on the challenges of being a newly qualified practitioner in practice
  • To explore a range of situations within everyday practice and highlight how to support newly qualified practitioners in dealing with these

Work Area

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