Mentor Update 2007/8

1. Mentor Update 2007/8

2. Update format • Aims and objectives for this update • Suffolk College and NMC standard changes • Discussion points • Questions and answer session

3. Update Aim: • To familiarise mentors to current changes both within Suffolk College and NMC standards • To facilitate critical debate on the key issues encountered when supporting student learning in practice

4. Update Objectives: • At the end of the session you will be able to: • Explain the new NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice • Analyse the role of ‘mentor’ in supporting learning in practice • Propose strategies to assist learners in practice

5. Changes within Suffolk College • Higher Education and Further Education split • Higher Education moves to University Campus Suffolk (UCS) • Further Education provided by Suffolk New College • Affiliated to both the University of East Anglia and University of Essex • Development of education quarter in Ipswich centring on the water front

6. NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in practice (2006) • Published in October 2006 • Provides a 4 stage development framework for all roles within nursing education • Stage 1: All registrants (Associate mentor) • Stage 2: Mentor • Stage 3: Practice Teacher • Stage 4: Teacher (lecturer)

7. New developments • Placement providers now responsible for maintaining mentor register • Mentors MUST attend annual mentor updates to stay current on the mentor register • Placement providers must review mentors, sign off mentors and practice teachers mentorship practice every 3 years (triennial review)

8. Normally should not have more than 3 students, from any discipline, at any one time • When giving direct care you must supervise your student (direct or indirect) for a minimum of 40% of the student’s time • In addition, sign off mentors during the final placement, must have 1 hour per week protected time to meet with their student • Introduction of student passports

9. Triennial Review Requirements • You must have mentored a minimum of 2 students in 3 years (Practice Teachers, 1 student) • Must have attended an annual update • Had the opportunity to meet other mentors to discuss issues of accountability, assessment and challenges of judging competence (incorporated in to annual updates) • Must map & provide evidence of your ongoing development in your role against the current NMC standards • Have met all the requirements to remain on the local register as a mentor, sign off mentor or practice teacher

10. Recurrent Issues • Grading student competence • Supporting under-achieving students • Supporting students with difficulties • Enhancing quality of mentorship

11. Discussion Points(Workshop Activities) • Divide into four groups and review your given scenario • Debate the issues within your group remember to consider: mentor accountability, reliability, validity and objectivity of assessment etc • Nominate a spokesperson to feedback to the whole group

12. Helpful Resources • Suffolk College mentor website: provides guidance on grading, completing the PA document and much, much more! (http://healthweb.suffolk.ac.uk) this website is no longer available. Go instead to www.ucs.ac.uk find the faculty of health, wellbeing and science pages and clink on the link to ‘Health Partners’ • Clinical Practice Facilitators • Link Lecturers – list available on website • NMC (2006): Standards to support learning and assessment in practice. NMC, London.