Dear colleagues,

As you have expressed an interest in becoming a mentor to support aesthetic practitioners undertaking the Northumbria University Aesthetics Practice programme, please find below further information.

1.Why do we need mentors?

We are developing a course in partnership with practitioners to enable participants to meet the Health Education England Standards for non- surgical cosmetic interventions, but also to be safe & accountable professional practitioners, and ultimately to protect the public through raising standards of aesthetic practice. Because we want to assess not only participant’s knowledge, but also their competence, we need to include not only academic, but also competency assessment. The best way of doing this is through practice based assessment by experienced and competent aesthetic practitioners who have been prepared to validly and reliably assess competence in practice.

2.What does being a mentor involve?

Being a mentor involves meeting the NMC (2008) standards for learning and assessment in practice.

What qualification is required to be a mentor?

A range of qualifications may have been undertaken to prepare you as a mentor. These include

  • City & Guilds 730
  • ENB 997/998 or equivalent in Scotland or Wales
  • Facilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice (FLAP) module
  • Certificate in Education

In order for the mentor qualification to be deemed current, you must have supervised and assessed students or colleagues undertaking an accredited programme of study in practice since 2007 (perhaps in an NHS setting).

If this is not the case, then you are required to refresh this qualification through accreditation of your experiential learning as a mentor (APEL) against the current mentor qualification (Facilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice module.

3.How can this qualification be obtained?

A mentor qualification can be gained in 2 ways

  • Undertaking the taught version of the Facilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice module
  • Accrediting prior experiential learning (APEL) against the facilitating learning and assessment in practice module

4.Process/ cost

Both versions are offered at level 5(Diploma) or 6 (Degree)and offer 20 CAT points. We expect that experienced aesthetic practitioners will have experience of facilitating learning and assessment in practice and are able to APEL.

Because we want to recruit and work in partnership with you to support the programme, the mentor module or APEL will be provided at no cost to you (usual cost £700) and offers an academic and professional qualification required in the majority of roles, as well as library access and academic support.

5.Accrediting prior experiential learning as a mentor (APEL)

In order to APEL, the process requires you to

  • Submit an application to Northumbria University via Linda Mather or Anne McNall
  • Attend an introductory full day session 16 July 2015at Northumbria University to explain the APEL process
  • Submit a short CV by 27 August 2015 articulating your experience mapped to the mentor standards (a format, example and tutorial support is provided)
  • 30 minute discussion with a member of the university teamduring wc 31 August or 7 September 2015negotiated to suit your commitments

6.Being a mentor for the aesthetics practice programme

What is expected of me?

  • To be a qualified mentor on Northumbria University database
  • To support a participant on the course (who will be a qualified and registered nurse, doctor or dentist) by allowing them to work alongside you and learn from you to supplement their academic study
  • To observe them assessing, communicating with and providing treatments and aftercare to clients and assess their competence in practice
  • Participate in annual curriculum and mentor updating

Time involved

It is difficult to identify exactly how much time will be involved as all students are different; you will support the student until you deem them competent, but they will have undertaken theoretical learning prior to coming to you, and had procedures demonstrated via video and in workshops.

Support provided

Mentors will be supported with any concerns by a practice educator who is an aesthetic practitioner, and the academic staff within the university.

Indemnity implications

All students registered with Northumbria University are covered by our indemnity arrangements. All students you will be supporting will be professionally registered practitioners in their own right, accountable under their professional registration for not acting outside of their sphere of professional competence.

7.Professional and personal benefits of being a mentor

  • The learning opportunity of gaining or refreshing the mentor qualification can be used as part of your professional revalidation portfolio.
  • You will achieve 20 credits at Diploma or Degree level at no cost
  • This provides the minimum entry requirements should you wish to undertake an academic award with Northumbria University (such as the aesthetics programme)
  • Being a registered aesthetic mentor for the programme will bring professional recognition as an expert, safe and accountable aesthetic practitioner. Northumbria University is a nationally recognised high quality provider of continuing professional development, and winner of the Nursing Times Best Provider of CPD Award as voted for by our students in 2012, 2013 & 2014.

8.What if I want to undertake the course myself?

We are aware that aesthetic practitioners who act as mentors may also want to undertake the aesthetic programme themselves, as the HEE (2104/15)standards indicate that all aesthetic practitioners must meet the standards by 208 or they will be unable to practice in aesthetics. Applications from aesthetic mentors supporting our programme will be prioritised and subsidised.

If you have any further questions please contact;

Anne McNall : Development Lead

Linda Mather: Practice Educator in Aesthetics

Emma Senior: Programme Lead