Preceptorships
The beginning of a newly qualified practitioner's career or a colleague changing role or organisation can be a challenging time and their initial experiences can shape how they develop in their career. A quality preceptorship programme can ensure the best possible start for newly qualified nurses, nursing associates, midwives and allied health professionals (AHPs).
A preceptorship is a period of structured transition to guide and support newly qualified practitioners from students to autonomous professionals. This is to develop their practice, not to compensate for any shortfall in pre-registration education.
Preceptorship programmes can be used for nurses, nursing associates, midwives or AHPs when they start employment in the NHS. As well for those new to role in a new organisation, a preceptorship can support international recruits and those returning to practice. During this time, preceptees should be supported by an experienced practitioner, and a preceptor, to develop confidence as an independent professional and to refine their skills, values and behaviours. Expert support and dedicated learning time provides a foundation for effective patient-centred care confidently.
In June 2023, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan set out ambitions to address inconsistencies in the delivery of preceptorship programmes for newly qualified staff across the country.
To ensure consistent delivery and a high-quality preceptorship experience for all early career healthcare professionals, the NHS will support trusts to adopt the national preceptorship framework and principles. Having a strong preceptorship programme in place will be vital to achieving these aims.
Benefits of a preceptorship
It is recognised that where a preceptorship is well embedded as part of the organisational culture, there are significant benefits to newly qualified staff, teams, patients and the organisation itself in terms of retention, recruitment and staff engagement. Investing in a preceptorship programme can deliver a variety of benefits for the preceptee and employer, such as:
- enhanced patient care and experience
- becoming an employer of choice due to enhanced preceptorship offer
- improved retention
- reduced sickness absence
- more confident and skilled staff
- increased staff satisfaction and morale.
Employers are encouraged to track, measure and evaluate the success of their preceptorship programmes to be able to demonstrate value and make improvements where necessary.
Support to enhance preceptorship offers
Knowing where to start when providing preceptorships can be challenging. But there are several simple steps employers can put in place to help make them a success:
- Collaborate with the preceptee to understand their learning needs. Agree on an action plan and use a coaching approach for support. Review the plan regularly in person to track progress.
- Undertake a comprehensive induction and discuss preceptorship on a one-to-one basis.
- Identify a named person for support from day one, with whom the preceptee can discuss any problems or concerns. Ensure there is a stand-in to account for leave and other times when they may not be available.
- Consider providing paid protected time, possibly a day a month, for preceptees to have time for reflection, study and peer networking.
- Support preceptees to have time with senior clinical leaders for mentoring and guidance so they can consider development opportunities.
- Provide information on other support available within the trust such as occupational health, counselling and trade union support. Also highlight external forms of support including peer support forums and groups and accounts on social media.
Learning from the pandemic
Following the pandemic, NHS organisations continue to experience high levels of pressure. However, they want to ensure newly qualified professionals have the best introduction to their new working environment, ensuring they stay in health and social care.
The pandemic affected education and training and it led to increased online learning and less placement and work experience opportunities. This brought a risk of students experiencing worse anxiety, stress and potentially burnout in their new roles. While all individuals who have qualified are undoubtedly competent, there are some scenarios they may not have encountered during their disrupted learning. This is where preceptorship programmes play an important role now more than ever.
