Advanced practice toolkit

Supervision aims to provide practitioners with time, feedback and guidance, in a psychologically safe space, to critically reflect on and in, their practice. Supervision provides an opportunity to explore new approaches and decide on courses of action and helps to build personal and professional resilience.

Advanced level practitioners have a responsibility to participate in regular supervision themselves, as well as provide supervision for others (NMC 2018, HCPC 2016). Supervisors should maintain records of their preparation to undertake the role, ongoing CPD and supervision activity to assist with local governance monitoring.

You can learn more about supervision and becoming a supervisor by visiting the TURAS Supervision learning site.

All advanced level practitioners should have a named clinical supervisor and be offered at least four supervision sessions per year (CNOD 2021 Paper 7 Transforming Roles Phase Two).

Trainee supervision requirements

A ‘tripartite’ approach is recommended and involves:

• A Practice Supervisor who will be an experienced senior clinician who is doing or is able to do the same job the trainee ANP is preparing for. This individual could be a suitably qualified and experienced advanced practitioner or they may be another suitably qualified and experienced healthcare professional, most often a consultant, General Practitioner or registrar.
• An Educational Supervisor who will be a suitably qualified and experienced educationalist (e.g. personal academic tutor). This could be the Programme Leader for the course the trainee is undertaking, or another member of the programme team the responsibility is delegated to.
• The trainee’s line manager who will be responsible for ensuring that the trainee is supported and appropriately clinically supervised throughout their entire training.

Ideally, at least one of the supervisors should be an Advanced Practitioner. On occasion one individual may be able to undertake more than one of these roles. However, best practice would be to involve three separate people with distinct responsibilities.

The supervisory relationship is central to all supervision. For optimum performance at work and effective learning and development, the supervisee needs to feel emotionally ‘safe’; free from judgement and reprimand and assured that the discussions will stay within the professional boundaries out with the session.

Clinical supervision for developing advanced level practitioners will have a focus on supporting proficiency and capability. While there is no regulated preparation, professional codes of conduct require the supervising practitioner to work within their scope of practice and capabilities. This therefore requires supervisors to ensure they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide effective supervision and assessment, as well as the relevant clinical expertise to support the trainee.

Those providing supervision and assessment should meet the governance requirements for the trainee programme.

Practice Supervisor

As a Practice Supervisor you will be responsible for ensuring the trainee is appropriately clinically supervised throughout their training. This will involve providing or facilitating supervision and meeting with the trainee on a regular basis at least 6 - 8 weekly.

To be a Practice Supervisor you must be a senior clinician who is technically skilled to undertake the role the trainee is preparing for. Be registered by appropriate registering body NMC, GMC, HCPC and be able to prescribe. Ideally be educated to masters level.

Educational Supervisor

As the Educational Supervisor you will be responsible for ensuring that the trainee can access the modules on the programme, will provide academic advice and support to the trainee.

To be an Educational Supervisor you must be part of the programme team at the Higher Education Institution the trainee is undertaking the qualification at. Be employed by the institution or hold an honorary contract with that institution and hold a masters level qualification or above and ideally be an advanced level practitioner.

As the Line Manager you will be responsible for ensuring that the supervision model is working, that the trainee is getting the personal, professional, academic and clinical support that they need. The line manager is also responsible for ensuring that the trainee has appropriate time for learning built into their job plan and that they can access all appropriate learning opportunities.

The three supervisors should communicate with each other on a regular basis, and it is good practice for all three to meet together with the trainee at least once a year.

More information can be found here:

Advanced nursing practice – NMC Guidance

Standards for student supervision and assessment - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Advanced nursing practice - transforming nursing roles: phase two

• Annex B - Advanced nursing practice - transforming nursing roles: phase two - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

NHS Health Education England have developed a guidance document to support multi professional approach to supervision and sets out seven considerations. 

• Workplace Supervision for Advanced Clinical Practice - Advanced Practice (hee.nhs.uk)

A good example of supervision roles is supporting prescribing practice. Please watch these videos to find out more:

• The Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) role https://vimeo.com/801284755/9042a9a48b 
• The Named Practice Supervisor Role https://vimeo.com/801269135/2b88657056 
• Becoming a non-medical prescriber https://vimeo.com/801275951/fd678bbe31 

Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Allied Health Professions

Advanced Pharmacy Practice