Evaluation Framework HSC Trust Infrastructure to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice. Project Plan

Transcription

1 Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery Evaluation Framework HSC Trust Infrastructure to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice Project Plan

2 1.0 Introduction 1.1 In 2009, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) provided funding to the five Health and Social Care Trusts (HSC) in Northern Ireland to implement an infrastructure to support learning and assessment in practice. This funding was provided to enable each HSC Trust to implement teams to support the learning and assessment of students requiring practice experience. Each of these teams comprises one Practice Education Co-ordinator (PEC) as the team leader and a number of Practice Education Facilitators (PEF), under the management of the Trust Nursing and Midwifery Assistant Director/Co-Director for Learning and Development. The PEC and PEF teams, which include a Band 3 administrator, were recruited and established during the period of May to December In addition, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the regulatory body for nurses and midwives, published new standards to support learning and assessment of students undertaking programmes for entry to their register or for recording qualifications (NMC, 2008) 1. The teams have a particular focus in ensuring that these standards are met within the Trusts. 1.3 It has been agreed that will lead the development of a regional framework to assist HSC Trusts in evaluating the impact of the implementation of the infrastructure. In addition, data collection tools will be developed and used to facilitate the evaluation processes. The project will be taken forward in partnership with the five HSC Trusts and will include collaboration with other key stakeholders, including the Higher Education Institutions in Northern Ireland who provide NMC regulated education programmes. 2.0 Background 2.1 The Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Learning and Assessment in Practice (NMC, 2008) were developed in response to concerns that registrants were failing to fail students whose practice was below the required standard (Duffy, 2006). The standards are applicable across the UK and detail the NMC s requirements for supporting the learning and assessment of students on NMC regulated pre and post-registration programmes for nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses. 1 NMC (2008) Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice. NMC: London

3 2.2 Implementation of the new standards was anticipated to create considerable pressures within the system. Preliminary work was undertaken to establish a foundation for an infrastructure to support learning and assessment in practice. A sub group of the Central Nursing Advisory Committee completed a report in May Infrastructure to support learning in practice (DHSSPS, 2007). The report made a number of recommendations and offered an outline description of the responsibilities that were required to be invested in education facilitator roles to include: Providing leadership concerning education and learning needs Assuring the quality of clinical placements Ensuring that systems are in place to teach, supervise and assess students Providing a liaison between the service and education programme providers 2.2 In advance of taking forward the work to develop a framework to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the infrastructure, significant preparatory work was undertaken by a small working group set up by the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (). The purpose was to develop a set of benchmarks, based on NMC requirements (NMC, 2008), which would identify the minimum standards that the PEC s and PEF s are required to meet. These benchmarks, which are available on the website, are presented within seven areas comprising: 1. Profile for practice placement 2. Local register of mentors and practice teachers 3. Practice placement audit 4. ocation of students 5. Monitoring the quality of practice experience 6. Managing students practice experience 7. Supporting mentors and practice teachers. 2.3 The benchmarks will be used to underpin the development of the evaluation framework. The following sections present a plan to complete this project.

4 3.0 Project Plan Aims and Objectives Aim of the Project 3.1 The aim of the initiative is to develop an evaluation framework to demonstrate the effectiveness of the infrastructure to support learning and assessment in practice. Objectives of the Project 3.2 The objectives of the project are to: 1. Develop an evaluation framework that will as a minimum provide processes to demonstrate that NMC standards for Learning and Assessment in Practice (NMC, 2008) are met 2. Develop tools to gather the data to facilitate on-going evaluation as identified within the evaluation framework 3. Recommend systems for recording required data 4. Recommend processes for the analysis of the required data 5. Recommend processes for the reporting of the required data. 4.0 Methodology Overview 4.1 It is intended to deliver the project between February and June. A work programme is attached at Appendix One, designed to achieve objectives of the project. 4.2 A steering group will be established to oversee the project. Membership and Terms of Reference are attached at Appendix Two and Three. A working group will be set up to take forward the various elements of the work programme. Membership and Terms of Reference are attached at Appendix Four and Five. 4.3 The working group will work in close collaboration with key stakeholders including service and education providers. Resources 5.1 The project will be considered a major part of the annual work plan. To support this, the DHSSPS has provided funding of 15, which will be allocated as follows: professional staff administrative and clerical support External Adviser 5.2 will maintain a robust audit trail of expenditure associated with the project.

5 6.0 Evaluation 6.1 The project will be evaluated on an on-going basis, evidenced through the audit trail provided by notes of meetings. 6.2 On-going progress will be reported to the Steering Group.

6 WORK PROGRAMME APPENDIX ONE September 2009 to January Preparatory work undertaken to include setting up the project, meetings with key stakeholders and the development and agreement of relevant benchmarks February to June Activity Target Related objective Develop project plan Establish Steering Group and set up meeting schedule Establish Working Group and set up meeting schedule First meeting of Working Group to secure required contacts within each Trust and establish terms of reference Second meeting of Working Group to obtain information regarding the Trusts infrastructures and where/whom information required can be obtained Third meeting of Working Group to review baseline information obtained from Trust contacts and agree appropriate data collection tools Second meeting of Steering Group Fourth meeting of Working Group to review developed tools and piloting of same Fifth meeting of Working Group to review and finalise data collection tools and report write up Third meeting of Steering Group Submission of final report to HSC Trusts January February February End February Mid March Mid May Late May Mid June Late June Late June Between Jun & Sept 2 2, 3 &4

7 APPENDIX TWO MEMBERS OF THE STEERING GROUP Dr Carole McIlrath (Project Lead) Frances McMurray Lesley Barrowman Moira Davren (Chair) Dr Bob Brown Senior Professional Officer Chief Executive Senior Professional Officer Learning and Development Lead Belfast Trust Learning and Development Lead South Eastern Trust

8 APPENDIX THREE TERMS OF REFERENCE STEERING GROUP 1. Approve project plan 2. Monitor progress and adherence to the project plan 3. Ensure the necessary resources are committed to the project 4. Receive regular working group updates and reports from the project lead 5. Ensure effective external communication and dissemination of information relevant to the project within each of the participating organisations 6. Agree final report for submission to the HSC Trusts 7. Consider and recommend strategies for the continuation and development of the project after the life of the project

9 APPENDIX FOUR MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP Dr Carole McIlrath (Chair) Dr Anne Lazenbatt Frances McMurray Mary McCartan Claire McGuigan Senior Professional Officer Reader in Childhood Studies Institute of Child Care QUB Chief Executive Professional Officer PEC (Northern Trust) Margaret Marshall PEC (Southern Trust) Evelyn Mooney PEC (South Eastern Trust) Sally Martin PEC (Western Trust) Elish MacDougall PEC (Belfast Trust)

10 APPENDIX FIVE TERMS OF REFERENCE WORKING GROUP 1. Develop a detailed work programme to meet the objectives outlined in the project plan 2. Undertake the work required to deliver the project objectives within the agreed timescales and resources as outlined in the project plan 3. Organise and undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders ensuring a coordinated approach across all relevant organisations 4. Maintain working group meeting agendas and minutes 5. Provide the steering group with updates and recommendations as necessary 6. Ensure timely submission of relevant reports required 7. Identify and resolve any implementation problems, with guidance from the project steering group

11 For further Information, please contact Centre House 79 Chichester Street BELFAST, BT1 4JE Tel: Fax: This document can be downloaded from the website March