# 2 Encouraging practice and learning

As with any new or evolving role, it is important to feel well-informed, to understand the scope, requirements and responsibilities and to feel adequately prepared to undertake the role effectively and confidently.

This section will encourage you to consider what it means to provide effective support to pre-registration students undertaking practice learning as part of their University programme of study.

In this section you will undertake learning meeting the following outcomes:

- to reflect on your development and readiness to undertake the role
- to consider what effective learning might look like in the workplace
- to reflect on the benefits and challenges of working to standards of supervision and assessment
- to explore the regulatory standards for supervision and assessment in the workplace
- to understand the knowledge and skills required of supervisory and assessing roles in the workplace.

## Activity 3

It is important to reflect on your own development and how ready you are in taking on the roles/responsibilities of either a Practice Supervisor or Practice Assessor. In preparation for this role, you need to consider what attributes you currently have and where there are areas you need to develop. To help you with this, answer the following four questions and put your answers in the relevant sections of the Strengths, Learning needs, Opportunities and Threats (SLOT) analysis template below.

1. What do you believe you bring to a practice learning role (Strengths)?
2. What development do you require to address any specific learning needs (Learning needs)?
3. What might the role of practice supervisor/assessor add to your own professional (and personal) development (Opportunities)?
4. What barriers might there be for you if taking on this new/evolving role (Threats)?

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### Discussion

There are clearly no right or wrong answers here. Anyone preparing to develop into an educational role will bring with them a range of experiences, knowledge, skills, values and attitudes.

Below is an example but you may have considered other issues.

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Strengths Extensive professional experience Significant interest in education Compassionate attitude Ability to act as a role model Strong leadership skills/experience Knowledgeable Excellent communicator Strong collaborative skills People being at the heart of all that I do | Learning needs Curriculum Assessment methods Coaching techniques Feedback approaches Managing time
Opportunities Contribute to workforce development Professional development Could provide variety in role Enhance clinical experience | Threats Time pressures - busy professional role and/or home life Lacking in confidence Dealing with challenging students Already juggling a great many things

Take a few minutes to consider what measures you might be able to put in place to mitigate any ‘threats’ you identified above?

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### Discussion

This might include, but is not limited to:

- seeking adequate support from your team
- shadowing others who have extensive experience of supervising/assessing students
- seeking further support from your employer’s education team
- speaking to University colleagues
- thinking about undertaking further development opportunities yourself
- effective planning of your day, preparing a ‘to do’ list
- set yourself realistic goals, objectives and deadlines
- consider delegation of some duties/responsibilities where viable.

OpenLearn - Practice supervision and assessment in nursing
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