The Preceptorship Process and Roles | NHS Education for Scot

The Preceptorship Process and Roles

The HCPC recommends that ‘Preceptorship should be tailored to the individual Preceptee, their role and their work environment. Preceptorship should not retest clinical competence but instead, empower the Preceptee to reflect on what they bring to their role and identify support needed to develop their professional confidence.’^{3 (p.10)}

The preceptorship process

The preceptorship process should follow a structured yet flexible pathway, allowing it to be tailored to individual preceptee’s profession, experience, and learning needs. It is designed to offer additional support during transitional periods to build skills and confidence in a new role as an Allied Health Professional or Healthcare Support Worker. The duration of this will be based on individual needs and experience. See suggested steps in the preceptorship process below.

Preceptorship process

Steps in the preceptorship process

Preparation

Identify individual who requires preceptorship support
Assign preceptor prior to commencement of post
Preceptor and line manager to be familiar with HCPC Preceptorship Principles and best practice guidance and any learning needs identified.

Commencement of role

Preceptee starts in post
Completes local induction including introduction to role, team, and workplace

Preceptorship agreement

Initial meeting with preceptor to set expectations and outline the preceptorship process
Preceptorship agreement completed

Initiate preceptorship

Baseline self-assessment of skills and confidence
Develop an individualised preceptorship plan including:
- Learning objectives identified
- CPD opportunities and strategies to meet these objectives identified
- Enrolment to programmes of learning that support preceptorship such as Flying Start NHS or local preceptorship programme if available.

Review preceptorship progress and guide learning

Interim meetings focused on learning objectives and reflections of learning and development
The number of interim meetings will be dependent on individual needs and length of preceptorship period and ad hoc support may be required as necessary.
Preceptee Engagement in CPD activities

Completion of preceptorship and next steps

Formal review of preceptorship period
Review of learning objectives and how these have been met
Reflect on successes and challenges
Recommendations for ongoing learning and development

See section on ‘How is preceptorship recorded?’ for suggested meeting documentation to support the preceptorship process.

Roles and responsibilities

The responsibilities are based on the HCPC principles for preceptorship and are intended to be used as a reference to support organisations and teams to engage in best practice. The principles can also be used for benchmarking practice and evaluation as needed.

All roles should as a minimum familiarise themselves with the HCPC Preceptorship Principles, being aware that the principles are relevant to both registered and non-registered individuals.

Preceptorship should involve active participation from both preceptee and the preceptor with objectives set to inform the learning required during the Preceptorship period.

Learning should encompass all the four pillars of practice (clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership and evidence, research and development) included in relevant frameworks for example the NMAHP Development Framework as well as any standards or frameworks required by the specific profession.

Please see the following sections for further information on roles and responsibilities:

The Preceptorship Process and Roles