Skip to main content Skip to footer

Quality and governance

07

AHP Practice-Based Learning standards and peer support

Included on this page:

  • PrBL cancellation guidance
  • Incident reporting and confidentiality breaches
  • Raising concerns and whistleblowing
  • AHP Practice Based Learning Partnership Agreements (PrBLA)
  • Quality Standards for Practice Learning (QSPL)
  • Scottish PrBL networks and co-ordinators

PrBL cancellation guidance

Placements should only be cancelled after all other solutions and processes have been explored. Cancellations must be agreed by AHP Director or Strategic lead within an organisation or the NHS AHP PrBL Partnership agreement signatory. Direction can be found in the AHP Practice Based Learning Cancellation Guidance.


Incident reporting and confidentiality breaches

Any incidents or near misses involving AHP learners should be reported immediately. Examples of incidents include but are not limited to falls, violence and aggression, injury from a sharp object, breaches of confidentiality, and inappropriate use of social media.

Step 1

 

Step 2

 

Step 3

Report incident


Report the incident following local policy and using your organisation's incident reporting system

 

Inform contact


Inform the main placement contact from the HEI by email or phone as soon as possible

 

Inform learners


Inform learners they can contact the HEI for support. They will respond within 72 hours

Any breach of confidentiality will be handled very seriously by the HEI as it is a breach of the HCPC guidance on conduct and ethics for students and Professional Association standards.

 

AHP students raising serious concern on placement - resources for AHP practice educators

Please find below two key resources that support AHP practice educators in assisting students who wish to raise a concern during placement, as well as resources for practice educators who may need to raise a concern involving students on placement.

 

Raising Concerns and Whistleblowing

This page Raising concerns and whistleblowing contains

  • AHP students raising serious concerns on placement - Resources for AHP practice educators
  • Whistleblowing resources for AHP students and practice educators

 

Illustration of university building

AHP Practice Based Learning Partnership Agreements (PrBLA)

The AHP PrBL partnership agreement for pre-registration learners is in place between the majority of AHP programmes in universities in Scotland and NHS Scotland health boards. NHS Health boards and HEIs have signed the AHP PrBL partnership agreement for pre-registration learners. HEIs may also have memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with organisations out with the NHS to support delivery of placements.


Quality Standards for Practice Learning (QSPL) resources

 

Quality Standards for Practice Learning (QSPL)

The Quality Standards for Practice Learning support and evidence HCPC standards in practice education in Scotland. The standards have five sections — for learners, practice educators and teams, managers, host organisations and HEIs.

Regular audits using the QSPL ensure that practice education is meeting required standards. Practice educators should complete the following every two years when they re-register with the HCPC or in line with existing organisational cycles:

QSPL section 3 is completed every three years within each profession and should include placement coordinators, leads and managers and HEI representatives. QSPL section 4 is completed strategically within the organisation every three years. Please contact your local AHP PEL for more information on the audit cycle.


AHP principles of practice-based learning resources

 

Scottish PrBL networks and co-ordinators

AHP-wide and uni-professional PrBL groups meet 2-4 times a year in most health boards to share learning, collaborate and support the quality of placement provision alongside HEIs and NHS Education for Scotland (NES). They also share responsibility to prevent cancellation of placements.

National AHP Practice-based learning networks in Scotland also support the delivery of PrBL in Scotland and have members from HEIs, health and social care, health boards and NES. More information is available on TURAS Learn.

PrBL Co-ordinators, an experienced Practice Educator in each area, are responsible for coordinating placement offers, supporting local Practice Educators, supporting completion of QSPL audits, and representing their service locally and nationally.

AHP Practice-Based Learning standards and peer support