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• Health Professions Council (HPC) Registration & CPD Audit Support
• Preceptorship – for New AHP Graduates in Their First year of Practice
• Secondments to Undergraduate AHP Training

For more details or to register interest please contact Julie Gripton on 0121 424 1363 or emailJulie.gripton@heartofengland.nhs.uk 

Health Professions Council (HPC) Registration & CPD Audit Support

The HPC is the regulatory body for a wide range of professions including Allied Health Professions, Clinical Scientists & Clinical Psychologists. Each profession is required to re-register every 2 years. At time of registration a sample of the profession are audited to ensure they compile with the HPC continued professional development standards. 

An one hour update on the registration & CPD audit process is available on request for all HPC registered staff.

Individual support is available to anyone called for audit. 

Contact AHP Advisory Team to book update sessions or to request audit support. The team may also be contacted for any other HPC related issue.

Preceptorship – for New AHP Graduates in Their First year of Practice

The Preceptorship year is the first year of clinical practice for new AHP graduates, and can also include those returning to practice and overseas registrants new to practice in England.

The aim of the Preceptorship period is to enable new graduates (preceptees) to apply knowledge, skills and competencies acquired as students into their area of practice laying the foundations to move from a novice to expert practitioner.

Preceptorship is defined by the department of health (2010) as:

‘A period of structured transition for the newly registered practitioner during which he or she will be supported by a preceptor to develop their confidence as an autonomous professional, refine skills, values and behaviours and to continue on their journey of life-long learning.’ – DOH 2010.

Preceptorship for AHP’s in HEFT

• Preceptees have an identified Preceptor who is qualified, experienced practitioner who has been trained as a preceptor to support new graduates.
• Access to Flying Start this is a web based programme that supports your development in first year of practice, guided study & reflection on your practice.
• Band 5 development programme – this is a multi-professional development programme for Nurses  & AHPs, it comprises of 4 workshop days delivered over 6 month period. All scheduled courses can be found listed under courses on the A-Z.
• A guided programme of development within your clinical area.

Secondments to Undergraduate AHP Training

This scheme is supported by the Strategic Health Authority it enables assistant practitioners and clinical assistants from the Trust to be seconded to undertake a course at a University in the West Midlands region leading to a qualification that meets the eligibility requirements for registration with the Health Professions Council.

Currently the eligibility requirements are:

• Worked for the Trust for a minimum of a year
• The prospect student must meet the University access criteria and have applied for a place on a course at a University in the West Midlands
• Priority is given to those with an offer of a place
• The course must be on the list identified by the SHA (usually diploma operating department practitioner or BSc (hons) degree for dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy and radiography.)
• A candidate must be supported by the head of the professional group for which they are proposing to study.  If a candidate is proposing to train in an area different to their current work they must establish links with and gain the support of the profession in which they intend to qualify.
• Line manager’s reference will also be required.

Important Information regarding undergraduate secondments

This is not a Trust scheme.  The number of places available, terms and conditions, eligible professional courses and eligibility criteria are determined by the Strategic Health Authority.  This may vary from year to year.

If considering secondment to undergraduate course the following steps are recommended.

• Candidates must be able to meet University academic entry requirements.  Please check these requirements with the University.  If you plan to undertake studies to gain the required entry qualification please seek appropriate advice.
• Discuss options with line manager and the lead for the profession within the Trust.
• Register interest for future secondments with the professional lead and AHP Advisory Team on 0121 424 1363/1372 AHPteam@heartofengland.nhs.uk
• Please note secondment is not an entitlement and there are no waiting lists
• Places are very limited demand for places is frequently greater than those allocated.

The following will apply for selection:

• Places are competitively selected – application and interview maybe required
• Priority given to those with offered places
• Trust workforce plans and areas where recruitment is difficult will also influence selection.

  Guidance on timescale (this is a general guide only)

• Autumn / Winter – UCAS applications & register interest with line manager/professional lead and AHP
• Advisory team.
• Spring – Trust receives notification of scheme terms and conditions from SHA and eligibility criteria along with details of number of places in allocation.  Please note this may not be received until April/May.
• Approx May – Trust application selection process
• June – Notification to Universities and West Midlands SHA of nominated secondee students.