Study Skills for Nurses & AHPs
Undertaking the portfolio route of HEE’s Roadmap to Practice?
Or in the process of credentialing?
Lacking the skills needed to ace this process at Level 7?
Beginning on Friday 26 May, BNSSG Training Hub is set to run a series of 1-hour study skills workshops, designed to equip delegates with the skills required. Each workshop will provide a constructive environment in which to learn and practice, amidst likeminded colleagues and with a seasoned trainer.
For more information on what each session covers, and the available dates, please expand the boxes below.
Active Reading sessions
Please note: all sessions will run from 12.00 to 13.00 and cover the same material, so you do not need to come to all three.
In this session, you will gain tools to understand how to approach reading literature in a strategic way and making it purposeful. You will also touch on how to approach reading critically, to create ideas and arguments for your assignments and reflections. For this session, you will need to bring with you a journal article, relevant to your work and studies, that you have not yet read.
- Friday 21 May
- Wednesday 26 May
- Tuesday 1 June
Constructing Arguments sessions
Please note: all sessions will run from 12.00 to 13.00 and cover the same material, so you do not need to come to all three.
This session focuses on taking your ideas and reading to construct arguments. Specifically, looking at how to plan your assignments and reflections, and how to structure paragraphs. Please bring with you a title / idea of reflection that you have done some reading / research for.
- Friday 11 June
- Wednesday 16 June
- Monday 21 June
Academic Writing Style sessions
Please note: all sessions will run from 12.00 to 13.00 and cover the same material, so you do not need to come to all three.
This session will focus on how to write academically at Level 7. This includes what is meant by academic style and how to write critically. We will also touch on referencing tools that help to speed up the referencing process and tips on how to edit / proofread your work. Please bring with you a piece of writing that you have completed.
- Friday 2 July
- Wednesday 7 July
- Tuesday 13 July
All sessions will run from 12.00 to 13.00, on the dates listed. Each is standalone, so you can attend as many or few as you like — please note, you will not need to come to all sessions on a given subject, as they will cover the same material.
To register your interest, please contact Kerri Magnus (our ACP Lead) at kerri.magnus2@nhs.net.
Recent news
Aspiring Leaders in Health & Social Care Nursing
Reassured me personally, and I think it provided a really useful and positive way to view things.
It made me realise it’s okay that not everyone thinks the same way I do.
For new-into-post and aspiring nurse leaders in health & social care
Commencing on Wednesday 21 April
Beginning on Wednesday 21 April, a new run of our Aspiring Leaders in Health & Social Care programme will commence. This four-month programme has been put together for any and all new-into-post and aspiring leaders in health & social care in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire — to familiarise them and furnish them with skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will support them in their endeavours.
For 2021, however, we will be offering this programme exclusively to nurses — but as per usual, you may be working in primary, community, or social care. Over its duration, you will join four modules and engage with these pillars of leadership:
- Well-being and resilience on Wednesday 21 April
Facilitated by: Karen Storey (Primary Care Nursing Lead, NHS England), Liz Mallett (CCG General Practice Nurse Lead, BNSSG CCG), Rebecca Howard (from ShinyMind), and Tori McIntyre (Well-being Lead / OD Consultant, SCW CSU) - Harnessing personal strengths on Tuesday 18 May
Facilitated by: sidekick’s Hannah Miller - Navigating the bigger picture on Wednesday 23 June
Facilitated by: Eden & Partners - Application of quality improvement strategies on Wednesday 21 July
Facilitated by: The West of England Academic Health Science Network (WEAHSN)
To apply to join, please use the button below. Applications will be accepted up until 12.30 on Friday 16 April. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do send them to zach.barber@nhs.net.
Recent news
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) QI Project
Identifying the learning and training needs of our local ANPs
Complete the survey today
Organised by The ACP Forum’s Kerri Magnus, this quality improvement project has been devised to establish the existing training level and needs of ANPs, trainee ANPs, and aspiring ANPs working in primary care in BNSSG.
Completing the linked survey (via the button below) will help to identify the modules or courses required for these individuals to meet the standards set out in the Core Capabilities Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Nurse) Working in General Practice / Primary Care in England. The data will be compiled anonymously, but BNSSG Training Hub and Avon LMC will keep a summary of individual requirements so that, when resources do become available (and agreed by practices), we can direct appropriate funding.
Please ensure all qualified nurses working in your practice whom identify as working at an Advanced Practice Level, or are working towards such, complete this questionnaire as soon as possible.
To access it, please click the button below.
Recent news
ACP Forum Newsletters
29 January 2021
22 January 2021
Published on Friday 29 January, this edition of our joint newsletter with The ACP Forum includes updates on:
Centre for Advancing Practice – Primary Care Supervision and Assessment Lead
HEE has established the Centre for Advancing Practice to support education and training for advanced practitioners in England, with a South West Manager recently being appointed.
BNSSG Training Hub has set up direct links with the Centre, including regular meetings for updates on the latest information and guidance. For further information, or to submit queries about Advanced Practice in primary care, please contact the Hub’s ACP Lead, Kerri Magnus, at kerri.magnus2@nhs.net.
FCP (MSK)
We are pleased to announce that our FCP (MSK) Lead will be joining the Hub Team this May. They will act as a focal point for the FCP roadmap, supporting PCNs and FCPs and facilitating delivery of the HEE roadmap.
In the meantime, if you have any queries regarding the FCP roadmap, please contact kerri.magnus2@nhs.net.
FCP (Paramedic)
The launch of the paramedic roadmap last week (end of January 2021) has understandably prompted many questions. Â A regional task and finish group has been set up, with representatives from NHSE / I, HEE, South Western Ambulance, and South Western systems to consider how best to support PCNs and community paramedics in the region. The South West HEE workforce team are also condensing the paramedic roadmap, and we will share the finalised document when available.
The BNSSG Training Hub team will shortly be appointing an FCP (Paramedic) Lead to champion development of the community paramedic role in BNSSG, too.
Pharmacy Technicians
There is funding available for pharmacy technicians to enhance their practice. Please consult the attachment below for more information on how to access this.
Clinical Supervision
Please see the attached information below on how to be a trainer or a supervisor.
Our ACPs are attending the Train the Trainers course in February and March, so we will roll out the teaching soon afterwards. We appreciate that supervision comes loaded with expectations, and we are hoping to address these.
Nurses
We appreciate the focus has been on the new ARRS roles, but we have not forgotten you. In March, we are hopeful that the new HEE GPN Career Framework will be launched. We will be liaising with our GPN colleagues to see how this affects us.
Mapping the Workforce – A learning needs survey
We will shortly be launching a learning needs survey; we appreciate that everyone is extremely busy with COVID-19 vaccinations, but we hope you will be able to participate.
We are commencing with nurses, but our intention is to roll this out for all FCP / AP roles. The aim is to eventually map and benchmark all FCPs / ACPs against each roadmap or framework, thereby enabling us to identify the CPD modules we require from HEIs, to direct educational funding to support staff and enable us to progress and enhance patient care.
Becoming an FCP / ACP Clinical Supervisor
To download this document – produced by our ACP Lead, Kerri Magnus – please click here.
HEE South - Funding pharmacy technicians
To download this document – produced by HEE South – please click here.
Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Information Event
Discuss UWE’s Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme
With representatives from UWE and HEE present
On Tuesday 9 February, from 13.00 to 14.00, Avon LMC, UWE, and BNSSG Training Hub will be holding a virtual event to discuss UWE’s Nurse Degree Apprenticeship programme — the programme’s content, funding, admission prices, and employer expectations will all be covered.
UWE staff will be presenting, and representatives from Health Education England will be on-hand to address funding / levy transfer queries.
To join, simply download the flyer below and use the enclosed link on the day. Should you have any questions, please send them to Lucy Murrell (Director of Nursing, Avon LMC) at lucy@almc.co.uk.
Recent news
Care Leadership Programme for GPNs
We Care About GPN Leadership
A fully-funded 10-week Leadership Course for GPNs
Beginning on 19 February, the Care Leadership Programme for GPNs is now open for applications! This national 10-week programme is a great opportunity for general practice nurses to advance their leadership skills, whilst developing a project a population health management or health inequality need for their practice. Additionally, delegates will receive support in strengthening their team resilience during this turbulent period.
As stated, this course will run for a 10-week period, but applicants need only commit to 2 hours per week.
If interested, please download the application form below and send to Liz Mallett (CCG General Practice Nurse Lead) at elizabeth.mallett1@nhs.net by Sunday 31 January, or drop her a line to arrange a discussion for further information.
There will be an engagement event on Tuesday 26 January, at 15.00. If you are able to join, please either click here or contact Liz Mallett for a formal invitation.
Recent news
BNSSG GPN Forum
On Tuesday 12 January, 2021
Featuring information on the Care Leadership Programme
Organised by BNSSG CCG, Avon LMC, and ourselves, the next BNSSG General Practice Nurse forum will be held on Tuesday 12 January, at 13.00.
Attendees will enjoy these updates:
- From Lucy Murrell – on Avon LMC
- From Phil Elverd – on BNSSG Training Hub (tbc)
- From Liz Mallett – on BNSSG CCG
- On the Care Leadership Programme
- On Safeguarding
The link to join can be found in the agenda, which can be downloaded using the button below.
Recent news
Nursing Associates
What can nursing associates do?
What benefits can nursing associates bring?
What should I look for from a nursing associate?
What is their scope of practice?
What benefits can nursing associates bring?
How much training do they have?
Can I receive funding to employ them?
Can I see some case studies?
Am I eligible for the apprenticeship levy?
What academic qualifications should an NA have?
Any example job descriptions?
Any sample interview questions?
What clinical supervision do I need to provide?
Who can supervise a trainee nursing associate?
What ongoing support can I provide?
What can nursing associates do?
The nursing associate role is a new role in the NHS, bridging the gap between a healthcare support worker and a graduate registered nurse. Nursing associates are qualified at foundation-degree level and work with individuals of all ages / backgrounds, across a range of health and social care settings.
Nursing associates work alongside registered nurses, carrying out much of the same clinical duties and care, but they do not share the same status and therefore cannot perform certain tasks
What benefits can nursing associates bring?
The nursing associate role was introduced in 2015, in response to the Shape of Caring Review from Health Education England. This document stipulated that healthcare assistants and nurses require high-quality education and training, if they are to provide the highest standard of patient care, and identified three key problems within primary care:
- A lack of training / development opportunities for HCAs, despite their supporting the bulk of over 60% of care work
- An aging population with increasingly complex needs which demanded nurses delegate tasks more, so that they are able to focus on these complex issues
- A shortage of nurses in the NHS and social care
Including nursing associates in your MDT will help address these issues and convey the following benefits:
- Improved service delivery and patient care
- Improved staff retention
- A ‘grow your own’ nurse workforce
- A tried-and-tested nursing programme, accredited by the NMC
- Nursing associates, once qualified, can go on to registered nurse status
- Providing supervision and preceptorships can improve recruitment and retention rates
Sources
HEE’s Why hire a nursing associate?
Click here
HEE’s Nursing Associates page
Click here
What should I look for from a nursing associate?
The Standards for Proficiency for nursing associates, as set out by the NMC, outlines six standards:
- Be an accountable professional
- Promote health and prevent ill health
- Provide and monitor care
- Work in a team
- Improve safety and quality of care
- Contribute to integrated care
Two annexes emphasise that nursing associates should be able to communicate effectively and sensitively, and to manage relationships with people, too.
For more information, please read the Standards themselves, by clicking the button below.
What is the scope of their practice?
Nursing associates work with people of all ages, in a variety of settings in health and social care; contribute to the core work of nursing; and free up registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical care.
Duties / areas nursing associates cannot perform:
- Act autonomously to change the prescribed plan of care
- Act autonomously in situations where there may be limits to confidentiality – for example, in safeguarding situations
- Decide to make specialist referrals
- Decide to share information across multiagency boundaries
- Interpret and resolve risk issues (they must be able to identify risk and halt practice if necessary)
- Decide to discharge an individual from a service
- Manage situations of conflict or risk beyond immediate actions to maintain safety
- Administer medicines under a patient group directive
- Prescribe medicines
How much training do they have?
In addition to complying with the NMC’s Standards for Proficiency, registered nursing associates must have completed a foundation-level qualification approved by the NMC over the course of two years. This usually involves 2,300 hours of training and studying, split between academic and vocation-based learning.
A condition of the programme is that nursing associates must gain experience of all nursing areas: mental health, learning disability, adult, and children, to ensure they have the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience needed to support and enhance the quality of care. This is achieved by trainees taking on placements outside of their usual employment setting.
Can I receive funding to employ them?
As an employer, you can fund your nursing associate programme through the apprenticeship levy scheme. This is paid by all employers who have an annual bill of £3 million or more, which they can claim as funding for a max of 15,000 per employee.
Nursing associates are commonly taken on by employers via the apprenticeship route, but there are a number of self-funded university-level courses.
You can find out more about how you can employ nursing associates through the apprenticeship route below.
NAs and the apprenticeship levy: A quick guide for employers
To read this document from HEE, please click here.
Apprenticeships Procurement Toolkit: Guidance for Employers
To read this document from HEE, please click here.
Using the apprenticeship levy
To read this article from NHS Employers, please click here.
Your Future Nursing Associates infographic
To view this infographic from NHS Employers, please click here.
Can I see some case studies?
There are a number of case studies available from HEE, with many NHS Trusts across England – including Devon, Birmingham, Pennine, and Mersey – having employed nursing associates.
You can access these studies below. Please do note, though, that many of them pertain to settings other than primary and social care.
Am I eligible for the apprenticeship levy?
Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy contributions to pay for places on apprenticeship programmes. Any business with a payroll below £3 million is eligible for government funding that will cover at least 95% of the cost of an apprenticeship course.
As an employer, you must be able to meet any costs exceeding the 15,000 per employee allowance, and this includes clinical supervision. For more information, please click the button below.
What academic qualifications should an NA have?
A nursing associate should have:
- A foundation-level qualification accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, completed over two years
- This must include 2,300 hours of on-the-job training and academic study, with varied clinical placements
- This is principally achieved through an apprenticeship or self-funded university route
Additionally, trainee nursing associates must:
- Be employed within healthcare, for 30 hours+ per week
- Have the support of their employers
- Confirm eligibility for apprenticeship funding *
- Have evidence of study at level 3 (e.g., A Levels, BTEC Health & Social Care, or evidence of ability to study at or above this level)
- Level 2 / GCSEs in Maths and English, at C+
- Have an Enhanced DBS Adult and Child Workforce, dated within the last 12 months
- Have occupational health clearance from their employer
* Please note: entry requirements will vary between universities
Any example job descriptions?
At present, HEE have not issued any job description for the nursing associate role. However, it is clear that this will likely cover and include experience, skills, and attributes described in previous sections as core to the nursing associate role.
Once qualified, a nursing associate will be able to undertake skills including, but not limited to, compression bandaging, drug administration, cervical cytology and childhood immunisations.
Any sample interview questions?
At present, there are no guidelines on job interview questions. But HEE shall be releasing some guidance on the job description details for nursing associates in the near future.
What clinical supervision do I need to provide?
Trainee nursing associates are assigned a practice supervisor, a practice assessor, and an academic assessor. Practice supervisors can be any registered health and social care professional, though it is typically a registered nurse, in the case of nursing associates. Practice assessors cannot simultaneously be the supervisor for a student.
Supervision is outlined by the NMC’s employer guidance as follows:
- Sharing, demonstrating, and providing support
- Confidence building
- Encouraging and developing reflective practice
- Developing appropriate skills and competence
- Supporting learning
- Providing any required guidance, signposting, and information
- Helping the trainee nursing associate to make progress
Additionally, whilst in your employ, trainee nursing associates should have:
- A thorough induction into work
- Preceptorship * and mentoring (especially if newly-qualified)
- Ongoing access to professional development
For more information on supervision standards, supervision codes of conduct, and the * principles of preceptorship, please look below.
Standards for student supervision and assessment
To view this document from the NMC, please click here.
Practice supervisor preparation
To read this article from the NMC, please click here.
Principles of preceptorship
To read this article from the NMC, please click here.
Who can supervise a trainee nursing associate?
The curriculum framework states that supervision can be provided by an appropriate manager or any registered health professional (e.g., a registered nurse (across any of the professions)) working in practice that has been prepared to take up the role and is up-to-date on the knowledge and experience relevant to the student.
Supervision can be provided directly / face-to-face or indirectly / virtually.
What ongoing support can I provide?
You can:
- Assign supervisors for each trainee nursing associate on placement
- Manage both poor performance and recognise good performance — and, legally, you are responsible if a nursing associate carries out duties beyond their defined capacities and this results in errors or harm
- Conduct annual appraisals, to review the progress and performance of nursing associates in your practice
- Take all steps to improve management of the employee’s fitness to practice
You can read more about the support you should provide and your responsibilities by clicking the button below.
Additional literature
HEE's easy-read
To download HEE’s easy-read guide on nursing associates, click here.
Additional A/V resources
New Roles: Nursing Associate
To watch HEE’s video on the work of nursing associates and their invaluable opportunity the role provides, in the words of an nursing associate ambassador, please click here.
[This video was published on 25/10/19]
Becoming a nursing associate
To watch HEE’s video on becoming a nursing associate and joining the wider nursing team, please click here.
[This video was published on 08/01/20]
Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer webinar
A new webinar from GatewayC
On Friday 11 December, GatewayC will facilitate a webinar on Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer, from 14.00 to 15.00.
Aimed at all members of the primary care workforce, this webinar will cover:
- The challenges of diagnosing ovarian cancer in primary care
- Common symptoms and presentations of ovarian cancer
- Key risk factors
- Essential primary care investigations
To register, please click the button below.