Enhancement of the Practice Learning Environment/Educational Audit (NHS, Private, Voluntary and Independent Sector Placements)

Introduction
The purpose of this review/educational audit is to monitor and enhance the quality of the practice learning environment, student support and the assessment of practice. This is a professional body requirement for learning environments which support students on pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes as well as CPPD courses which have a formal assessment component.
This document has been revised and updated by the Pan London Practice Learning Group, which has representation from the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) as listed below, in liaison with their placement providers. Where placements are shared by students from a number of HEIs, it is only necessary to have one audit undertaken and this will be shared by all the relevant HEIs.
The review / audit process leads to the production of a specific action plan, where needed, for the placement area. The purpose of this action plan is to ensure that the learning environment continues to meet required standards or is supported in enhancing quality where necessary. Progress reporting against the actions and the agreed review dates should be documented in this audit as necessary.
This document was initially prepared for nursing and midwifery placement areas, but can be used to review the quality of placement learning environments for other healthcare professional groups (though not all statements might be relevant). / Name of Trust / Organisation:
Name of Placement:
Manager's Name:
Address:
Post Code:
Telephone Number:
Email Address:
Persons Completing the Review:
Date of review:
Date of last Review of Placement:
Main Focus / Speciality of Placement:
Practice Development Manager/Clinical Placement Facilitator
Name:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:
Organisation Lead for Education
Name:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:


Section 1- Further Placement Details

The following Universities use this Placement for Student Learning:

City University / London South Bank / Kingston
Middlesex / Kings College / Buckinghamshire
Greenwich / University of West London / Hertfordshire
Other
Please state:
Link Lecturer Details
HEI:
Name:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:
HEI:
Name:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:
HEI:
Name:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:
Shift pattern students may follow:
5 day a week / 7 day a week / Weekend working
7.5 hours shift / Early Start: / Finish:
Late Start: / Finish:
12 hours shift / Start: / Finish:
Night Duty / Start: / Finish:
OTHER (please state):
Level and Number of students supported in the area.
This number might not reflect the total maximum number of students that could be facilitated within the area as this can fluctuate depending on local circumstances. This opportunity should however be used to discuss the potential for expanding learning opportunities where possible. Any discussion regarding a change in the current capacity must be held with the Clinical Placement Manager/Organisation Lead for Education in liaison with the HEI and not agreed during the audit.
Pre-Registration:
CPPD:
Please note that there is an expectation that all areas can support students from different years / parts unless there is a clear rationale that indicates otherwise. This decision must be agreed between the educational lead in the organisation and the lead HEI.
Do you agree to immediately notify the University of any service provision changes that might affect the student’s ability to meet the specified learning outcomes?
(NHSL Standard 1.7) / Yes / No
Please give details of any anticipated changes:
Staff understand the procedures for alerting the university and acting upon any serious untoward incidents, which involve students, within 2 working days
(Core Placement Indicator 1.5)
Yes / No
Please indicate whichmembers of the multidisciplinary team the Students will have
opportunities to gain experience with:
Nurses / Doctors / Midwives
Physiotherapists / Occupational Therapists / Health Visitors
Dieticians / Psychologists / Operating Department Practitioners
Chiropodists / District Nurses / Healthcare Assistants
Social Workers / Speech and Language Therapists / Podiatrists
Others
List of learning opportunities (including inter-professional learning) available in the practice setting.
Please state any CPPD courses where a formal assessment component in practice is required:


Mentor details

All mentor details are kept up to date on the Trust mentor database (NHS only).
For all non-NHS organisations the HEI has responsibility for maintaining the mentor database (see below).
Yes / No
This will need to be confirmed by the Clinical Placement Facilitator/Manager/Education Lead
MENTOR LIST for PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT ORGANISATIONS ONLY (NON NHS)
Name / Course completed
& date / Date of last update / Date of Triennial review / Sign-off mentor Yes/No


Section 2- Health and Safety

Local Placement Health and Safety Lead (where applicable):

Name: / Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:

Trust / Organisation Health and Safety Manager

Name: / Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:
Will the organisations insurance cover any liability incurred by the student as a result of his/her duties?
(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL INDEPENDENT/PRIVATE SECTOR PLACEMENTS (NON NHS)
Do you have Employer Liability Insurance? Yes No
Expiry date:
Do you have Public Liability Insurance? Yes No
Expiry date:
Are the following policy/guidance available in the practice area and are staff aware of them (please tick which are appropriate)
Required: / YES / NO
Health and Safety
Confidentiality Policy
Equality and Diversity
Manual Handling
Violence And Aggression
Infection Prevention and Control
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults
Code of Conduct for Nurses & Midwives
(NMC 2015)
Lone Worker Policy
Escalating Concerns/Whistleblowing
Fire
OTHER (please name):
Accidents and incidents
YES / NO
Are you aware of a formal procedure for reporting and recording accidents and incidents?
Have you procedures to be followed in the event of serious or imminent danger to people at work?
Are risk assessments kept under regular review? / Yes / No
Are the results of risk assessment implemented? / Yes / No
Are there particular hazards in line with ‘The Management and Safety at Work Regulations 2006’ that could affect the health and safety of new and expectant mothers that work? It will be agreed between the relevant University and Trust/Organisation, following risk assessment, whether this remains a suitable learning environment for students who may be either a new mother or pregnant.
Date of most recent CQC Report:
The most recent CQC Report demonstrates that all reviewed standards have been met. / Yes / No
If any concerns have been highlighted regarding any of the standards, the HEI has been informed and a risk assessment has been undertaken to evaluate any impact on the student learning experience and recorded as part of an action plan as appropriate. / Yes / No / N/A


Section 3 - Placement Learning Standards

/ Statement / Please indicate / Examples of Evidence / Action
If required / RD/KP
(Review Date & Key Person) /
Yes / No /
1. / The organisation and delivery of individualised patient centred care is evident and students are made aware of the importance of consent, privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
2 / Practice reflects local, professional and national developments and is evidence based.
3 / Staff are offered professional development opportunities to support their practice.
4 / Communications between the University and placement area, and vice versa are effective and the role of the link lecturer is understood.
5 / Practice staff and students are aware of the procedures for raising and escalating concerns
6 / Students have an appropriate induction and orientation, including local policies and procedures relevant to the practice area.
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.11)
7 / Every student has a named mentor/supervisor for each period of practice learning and a structured support system is
in place when the allocated mentor /supervisor is not available to ensure learning is facilitated at all times.
8 / Whilst giving direct care in the practice setting, at least 40% of the student’s time must be spent being supervised (directly or indirectly) by a mentor/supervisor.
9 / Mentors/supervisors who are supporting and assessing students in practice can show that they have met the requirements for learning and assessment in practice *and have access to relevant resources to support them in fulfilling their mentoring responsibilities.
* (i.e. annual updating and triennial review for nurses and midwives)
10 / Mentors/supervisors are familiar with the student’s programme and have the ability to select and support a range of appropriate learning opportunities based on individual student’s needs.
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.4)
11 / There are a range of inter-professional learning opportunities made available to the student that facilitates their understanding of the benefits of a team approach to care.
12 / There is a process in place for placement evaluation and student feedback and there is evidence that this contributes to the ongoing enhancement of the learning environment.
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.10)
13 / Students receive a timely initial, mid-point and final interview during the placement. These interviews facilitate achievement of learning outcomes in order to achieve progression and highlight areas for ongoing development.
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.8 & 1.9)
14 / Students are encouraged to reflect on their performance and receive regular and timely feedback on their performance (in addition to key interviews)
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.8)
15 / Mentors/supervisors take appropriate and prompt action if a student is not performing at the required level and keep sufficient records to support and justify decisions regarding a students’ performance
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.9)
16 / Sign off mentors (Nursing) meet the NMC criteria and are accountable for the final sign-off in practice for all pre-registration nursing students. All midwifery mentors meet the criteria for sign-off mentor.
(Core Placement
Indicator 1.4)

See page 13 for the list of Core National Placement Indicators for Contract Monitoring, some of which will be addressed during this audit.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW / EDUCATIONAL AUDIT

Area Name:
/
Trust/Organisation:
/
Date of Review:
OVERALL STRENGTHS
ACTION PLAN (TO INCLUDE AREAS FOR ONGOING MONITORING)
Action / Review Date / Key Person / Progress
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 

PRESENT DURING REVIEW

Print Name / TITLE / DESIGNATION
(e.g. Manager, Link Lecturer, Reviewer, Observer)

If this document is completed online then only printed names are required (not signatures).

Appendix 1

Suggested Sources of Evidence

SUGGESTED SOURCES OF EVIDENCE
(adapted to specific Learning Environment depending upon Health Care Provider)
Examples of documentation that may be available in the area:
1.  / Practice area philosophy or mission statement
2.  / Orientation/induction programme for students
3.  / Professional development opportunities identified for all nursing practitioners/staff
4.  / Nursing/midwifery/practice audit findings
5.  / National, local & professional reports & guidance e.g. Trust, DOH, NMC, QAA, CQC
6.  / Up-to-date list of student mentors for this area
7.  / Placement evaluations by students
8.  / Clinical/midwifery supervision strategy/record sheets
9.  / Current research/evidence-based practice initiatives
10.  / Service user feedback/patient satisfaction surveys
11.  / Assessment of student’s practice documents (examples/samples)
12.  / List of learning opportunities for students
13.  / Care Programme Approach (CPA) Policy ( Mental Health areas only)
14.  / Mentor evidence to support NMC standards.
15.  / Practice learning outcomes for the required range of Pre & Post Reg. programmes
16.  / Placement evaluations by staff
17.  / University placement guidelines

Appendix 2

Core National Placement Indicators for Contract Monitoring

The Authority expects the Institution to audit and monitor the quality of Practice Placements using a sub-set of Placement Providers, as agreed through the Contract Performance Management processes in line with the standards set out below, in conjunction with monitoring required to meet professional Regulatory Body standards.

1. The Institution shall procure that each Placement Provider shall:

1.1 Ensure that it makes appropriate senior staff (of a level of seniority to be agreed between the Institution and each Placement Provider from time to time) to be available to be involved annually in:

a) Reviewing the Institution‟s recruitment and selection policies and criteria;

b) Reviewing the education programmes set by the Institution;

c) Reviewing the Disclosure and Banning Service (DBS), formally Criminal Records Bureau, and occupational health clearance processes that the Institution has in place to screen Students before they are admitted on a Practice Placement; and

d) Reviewing the Dataset information to confirm that the information submitted contains no material inaccuracies in order to carry out the Annual Review process;

1.2 Ensure that it makes appropriate senior staff of the Placement Provider available annually for involvement in developing the Contract Performance Action Plans;

1.3 Ensure that all relevant clinical staff working in the placement area has clinical education responsibilities included in their job descriptions and competencies defined in their job specifications.

1.4 Ensure that all staff employed by the Placement Provider are either competent to support Student learning and assessment or are required to commence a programme of continuing professional development immediately on recruitment to achieve these competencies;

1.5 Immediately notify the Institution of any serious untoward incidents where involvement of any Student calls into question their fitness for training and report such incidents to the Institution within a timescale appropriate to the seriousness of the situation and in any case within two (2) working days;

1.6 Accept as valid the DBS and occupational health checks carried out by the Institution;

1.7 Immediately notify the Institution of any service provision changes that might affect the Students‟ ability to meet the specified learning outcomes set by the Institution;

1.8 Ensure that Students receive feedback on their performance in a time frame appropriate to the activity performed as agreed between the Institution and Placement Provider;

1.9 Ensure that Student assessment is appropriately moderated as agreed between the Institution and each Placement Provider;

1.10 Collect and collate feedback from all Students and regularly agree action plans with the Institution to address the issues raised; and

1.11 Ensure that Students receive an appropriate induction and orientation including local policies and procedures relevant to each their Practice Placement.

The following HEI’s were involved in the development of this audit document: Buckinghamshire New University, City University London, Kings College London, Kingston University London, London South Bank University, Middlesex University, University of Greenwich, University of Hertfordshire, University of West London. Revised 2016 1