1. FdSc Health and Social Care Practice Practice Mentor Guidance and Essential Information
Academic Year 2019/20

2. Aim of today It’s all about you!
An opportunity for you to ask questions about the role of Practice Mentor.

3. Darlington Campus Teesside University Vicarage Road Darlington DL1 1JW
Reception Desk T:

4. School of Health and Social Care
Teesside Main Campus
School of Health and Social Care
Centuria Building
Teesside University
Middlesbrough
Tees Valley
United Kingdom
TS1 3BX
Information desk and general enquiries T:

5. Meet the Academic Team Clare Marron Paula Shirley Senior Lecturer
Mary Nesbitt
Senior Lecturer
Clare Marron
Senior Lecturer
Christine Brown
Senior Lecturer
Paula Shirley
Senior Lecturer
Graham Jones
Senior Lecturer
Meet the Academic Team
Fiona MacGregor
Senior Lecturer
ext. 5196
Vicki Russell
Senior Lecturer

6. The Overall Aims of the Course
Develop the student’s ability to be an efficient, effective, safe and motivated practitioner within the workplace/practice setting in the context of their role within health and social care.
Develop the student’s ability to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team.

7. Competency or Non-Competency?
The majority of students will follow a Competency Route

8. Competency Route
Nursing – Adult, Child, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities
Operating Theatres
Rehabilitation – OT and Physiotherapy
Radiography
Biomedical Science
Endoscopy
Allocated a Practice Mentor who will support, guide, supervise and verify Practice Competencies and learning tools
Associate Mentor
Practice Competencies
Review Points
Review Forms
Progress and Development forms

9. Non-Competency Route
Care homes
GP Practices
Drug and alcohol abuse centres
Clinical and non-clinical areas other than those detailed previously
Students working in these areas benefit from following a Non- Competency Route. The emphasis is on relevant practice experience.
Allocated a Practice Supervisor who will verify relevant practice experiences and learning tools
Associate Supervisor
Practice Experiences
Review Points
Review Forms
Progress and Development forms

10. 1st Year of the Course
Foundations of Practice
FDS1027-N
(60 Credits module)
***
Learning to Learn: An Introduction to Academic Study Skills
FDS1043-N
(10 Credits module)
Introduction to Anatomy and Pathophysiology
AHH1070-N
(20 Credits module)
Specialist Module
(30 Credits)
On successful completion of the 1st Year the student will have gained the required 120 credits by passing the modules above and will proceed into the 2nd Year.
*** Practice Mentor input required here.

11. 2nd Year of the Course Orientations of Practice FDS2004-N
(60 Credits module)
***
Investigating Evidence and Contributing to Change
SIH2006-N
(20 credits)
For 17 weeks only
Specialist Module(s)
(40 Credits in total)
On successful completion of the 2nd Year the student will have gained another 120 credits by passing all modules detailed above. They will then have 240 credits in total and will be awarded the FdSc Health and Social Care Practice.
*** Practice Mentor input required here.

12. Practice Mentor
The Practice Mentor will be a registered health or social care professional within the student’s area of work
Students undertaking the Foundation Degree must be supported in practice by a Practice Mentor (Competency Route) or Practice Supervisor (Non-Competency Route)
A Practice Mentor must be professionally competent and be able to make assessment decisions in practice; verifying the work based student’s competencies (competency route) or practice experiences (Non-competency route).

13. Qualifications for Practice Mentors
Practice Mentors must be professionally competent i.e. they must have a minimum of one year’s post-registration experience in their field of practice. In addition to aid their role as mentor they will be expected to have participated in a Practice mentor workshop.
These are held at Darlington Campus and other external sites
All details are present on the Practice Support Site

14. https://sohsc.tees.ac.uk/sites/practicesupport/
Practice Support Site

15. Your role as Practice Mentor
Provide a patient/client-centred approach to caring/service provision in the clinical setting in which student learning can be negotiated and facilitated.
Work/provide supervision with/for the student on a regular basis.
Ensure that a programme of learning is identified and implemented for the student.

16. What we require you to do in this role
Keep the Academic Tutor/s and Clinical Manager informed of the student’s progress and development as appropriate.
Record information of the student’s progress and development within the student’s portfolio.
Provide on-going feedback to the student.
Make a final judgement regarding whether the student has achieved the practice experiences (non-competency route) and competencies and benchmarks (competency route).
Inform the Apprenticeship Coordinator in your workplace of any issues.

17. Apprenticeship support
Apprentice Reviews – 12 weekly to take place between the student / employer representative and the University
20% off the job training – please support your student to complete their documentation
End Point Assessment
Finances

18. What we would like you to do in this role
Participate in the evaluation of the course including the portfolio module.
Your feedback is very important to us!

19. FDS1027-N Portfolio Essential Evidence Year 1
Students will develop essential evidence in their portfolio which relates to the practice competencies/experiences.
Generic and Field Specific Competencies – Competency Route Or
Practice Experiences – Non-Competency Route

20. Details of Portfolio Essential Evidence
Generic Competencies – Year 1
SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)
Learning Contract developed using the SMART Acronym (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound).
Evidence of regular review (throughout the academic year) of the learning contract.
Practice competencies (generic and field specific) verified by the Practice Mentor.
Record of on-going progress and development recorded on the Progress and Development form
Review form completed with evidence of three review points first review by week 8, second review by week 17 and final review during weeks 26-28

21. Learning and Development Tool
This tool is part of the Essential Evidence for the generic competency route and is required to be completed throughout the academic year.
Communication Tool
2. Infection Prevention and Control Tool
3. End of Year 1-Personal and Professional Development Summary

22. Practice Mentor input Practice Mentor will add comments to:
Review Form for the three reviews
Progress and Development Form
Verification of Practice Competence (Competency Route)
Practice experiences (Non-competency route)

23. Agendas for each review
Practice Mentor’s can access the agenda for each review in the student’s portfolio.
After each review the Student, the Practice Mentor and Academic Tutor complete their specific section identified on the review form.
If the Practice Mentor has any issues, concerns or queries they should contact the Academic Tutor identified to support the Student and Practice Mentor.

24. Informed Consent Declaration forms
A student must gain informed consent if specific patient/client data/information from the practice area is used within the student’s work.
The Practice Mentor is responsible for:
Providing the student with appropriate support and guidance whilst obtaining informed consent form the patient/client and/or patient/client representative.
Signing the Obtained Informed Consent Declaration Form, only if they are confident that the criteria have been met.

25. Competence Achieving Competence Skills Attitude
Knowledge
Attitude
Skills
The student needs to be observed undertaking safe practice whilst demonstrating the appropriate attitude and professional conduct.
Evidence that the student’s practice is safe will be provided by the Practice Mentor who will assess the student and determine their ability to meet the practice competencies.
This involves direct observation of the student’s practice skills, abilities, attitude and conduct by the Practice Mentor.

26. Practice Mentor
•The Practice Mentor will verify the student’s competence / Practice Experience as they progress through the academic year
•The Practice Mentor will confirm the student’s overall competence as being achieved at the end of the academic year.
•Observation of safe practice and appropriate attitude/professional conduct by the Practice Mentor Supervisor.
•Discussion through question and answer with the Practice Mentor to establish the student’s understanding of the underpinning knowledge and its application to practice.

27. And finally…..
Because without the support of Practice Mentors like yourself, the students could not succeed.