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.
What is a preceptorship
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 allied health professionals (AHPs) when they start employment in the NHS. A preceptorship can also 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
When 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
- 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 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.
Good practice in the NHS
Below are examples of good practice from NHS organisations that have been delivering preceptorship programmes and initiatives.