Mentors Triennial Review

Introduction

In 2006 the NMC published ‘Standards to Support Learning & Assessment in Practice’ (NMC 2006[1]). From September 2007 these standards became active; they seek to strengthen mentoring and have implications for all placement providers and mentors. From these standards three main issues are required, or require action: a local mentor database, mentor development (including into sign off mentors) and triennial review. This document focuses particularly on triennial review as a local mentor database is already in place and the majority of Portsmouth Hospitals Trust (PHT) departments have sign off mentors.

This triennial review is necessary for mentors to verify that they have maintained their mentorship skills, knowledge, and competence through regular updating.

The purpose of continuing professional development for mentors, according to the NMC Standard (NMC 2006, p.30), ensures that mentors:

  • "Have current knowledge of NMC approved programmes"
  • "Are able to discuss the implications of changes to NMC requirements"
  • "Have an opportunity to discuss issues related to mentoring, assessment of competence and fitness for safe and effective practice"

Demonstrating regular updating will ensure that mentors are maintained on the local mentors’ database enabling them to continue to mentor student nurses or student midwives. It is the mentors’ responsibility to provide evidence of regular updating, and the employers’ responsibility to provide opportunity for them to do so. This evidence will be demonstrated at a triennial review.

Evidence for Triennial Review

Evidence required for the triennial review consists of:

  1. The mentor should have mentored at least two students within the three-year period.
  2. The mentor should have evidence of annual face to face update, which should include an "opportunity to meet and explore assessment and supervision issues with other mentors" (NMC 2006, p. 8).
  1. The mentor should have evidence of participating in a group activity exploring the reliability and validity of "judgements made when assessing practice in challenging circumstances" (NMC 2006, p. 8).
  2. "Mapped ongoing development in their role against the current mentor standards" (NMC 2006, p.8)
  3. Have met all requirements (above) to be maintained on the local mentor database.

Methods of meeting above requirements

There are a number of ways the mentor can maintain and update their mentorship skills knowledge and experience:

  • Attendance at a Trust / University mentor update session. NB this will cover points 2 & 3 above.
  • Attendance at a conference/training event that has relevance to the development of the mentors role
  • Attendance at a local workshop on completing the Assessment of Practice document
  • A witness testimony from the University link of the mentor’s management, in consultation with the university link of a challenging student situation within the learning environment
  • Have taken part in a tele-briefing in preparation for mentoring an OU student.
  • A witness testimony from the University link of the mentors role in developing a learning resource within the learning environment.
  • A copy of plans and reviews from students mentored.

Method for Triennial Review

Ensuring mentors are reviewed 3 yearly is expected to be exceptionally difficult logistically. It is proposed that:

  • Mentors are reviewed triennialy at appraisal using the triennial review form (appendix 1)
  • The triennial review form becomes embedded in annual appraisal and will be available to managers on the mentorship page of Learning and Development Zone.
  • Managers and mentors review progress, looking back over previous years to monitor and record number of students mentored, and annual updates completed.

Monitoring of compliance

Monitoring mentor development and triennial review will be through reports against the PHT mentor database. Managers will receive an annual report, which they will be requested to update and return to the Practice Based Learning Manager (see appendix 2 for flow chart).

PHT Mentors Triennial Review

Triennial Review

Assessment Form

The NMC Standards (2006) require that every mentor be assessed against the following criteria every 3 years; failure to provide the required evidence will lead to the mentor being removed from the ‘live’ mentor database and unable to mentor student nurses and midwives. To prevent this occurring the following form should be updated annually at appraisal between the mentor and their appraiser. Triennially, year due as indicated by annual mentor database report, a signed copy should be returned to the Practice Based learning Manager, Education Centre, E Level, QAH

Ward: ______Ward Manager: ______

Date: ______Mentors Name: ______

Statement / Development Plan Required? * / Review Date (if development plan implemented / For use Post Development Plan if applicable
Is there evidence that the mentor has mentored at least 2 students in last 3 years? / yes / no / yes / no / yes / no
Is there evidence that the mentor has had a face to face update annually over the last 3 years? / yes / no / yes / no / yes / no
Is there evidence that the mentor has mapped ongoing development of their role against the NMC Standards? / yes / no / yes / no / yes / no
Are you satisfied that the mentor is confident to either pass/fail a student in practice? / Yes/ no / yes / no / Yes / no

* In the event that the Appraiser is not satisfied that all of the criteria are being or have been met then a development plan should be instigated between the mentor and their appraiser / manager (see next page).

I am satisfied that ______has met all of the criteria for triennial review and is eligible to remain on the mentors data base.
Signed ______Print Name ______
Designation ______Date ______
To be signed triennially and copy returned to the Practice Based Learning Manager
TRIENNIAL REVIEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN (if required)
Mentor name / Ward / Department
My Learning Needs are: / Date
Indicate how you plan to meet your learning needs / Date
Progress Report /
Date

PHT Mentors Triennial Review

Appendix 2

Process for monitoring of compliance of triennial review against the NMC Standards (2006)

PHT Local Register of Mentors established.
Practice Based Learning Manager requests an annual update of ward/departmental reports of PHT mentors database from departmental managers
PHT mentors database updated annually from returned reports.
At annual appraisal triennial review form (available on mentorship page Learning
and Development Zone) is updated if applicable
Triennially, date specified on ward / departmental mentor database reports, copy of mentors triennial review form (signed by manager) retuned to the Practice Based Learning Manager.
Triennial Review Form returned. / Triennial Review Form not returned.

PHT Mentors Triennial Review

[1] NMC (2006). Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice. London: NMC.