Overview
What is advanced practice?
Advanced practice is delivered by experienced, registered health care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research, with demonstration of area specific clinical competence. The Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (2017) provides a clear definition and consistent approach to the development of advanced practice across England. All health and care professionals working at the level of advanced practice should ensure that their knowledge and skills meet the standards outlined within the framework.
Examples of how advanced practice roles are embedded into clinical practice.
Entry requirements for aspiring advanced practitioners:
Aspiring advanced practitioners
If you are an aspiring advanced practitioner, it is important to understand the expectations and commitment required to develop and meet the minimum requirements expected of this role.
Health and care professionals working at an advanced level of practice must demonstrate the underpinning competencies, skills, and behaviours applicable to the workplace setting (specialist or generalist) and within the defined role within which they are working.
The Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England published by HEE in 2017, stipulates 38 core capabilities extending across the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research, that advanced practitioners are required to evidence. A master’s-level educational qualification is required to ensure those working at the level of advanced practice have been trained and educated to achieve and demonstrate these capabilities.
Reflect on your clinical interests, career aspirations, and potential career trajectories and consider if becoming an advanced practitioner might be right for you.
The East of England Faculty for Advancing Practice have published a document titled ‘Readiness for advanced practice: A guide for aspiring and trainee advanced practitioners-What to expect through your advanced practice journey‘. You can find the document on the regional Advanced practice faculty’s webpage here.
This document provides a resource and reference for anyone considering applying to an Advanced Practice MSc programme or those who have been accepted into a trainee advanced practice role and are preparing to start their advanced practice journey.
Entry Requirements
What are the essential requirements when applying for a trainee advanced practitioner post?
- Hold a current statutory professional healthcare registration.
- Extensive experience post registration and in the relevant specialty area (recommend a minimum of 3 years clinical experience post registration with a further 2 years within the specialty area).
- Ability to study at master’s level and associated academic qualifications for role within a set time frame. This includes both clinical and academic criteria for advanced practitioner.
- Any practitioner with limited degree level study will require discussion with the education provider to assess suitability to study at master’s level. Apprenticeship requirements also state the need for level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) maths and English.
- Full support of your employing organisation
Employing Organisation Requirements
EoE NHSE Advanced Practice faculty stipulate that the employing organisation must agree to the following funding requirements:
- Provides an advanced practice training post during training
- Guarantees and advanced practice post on trainee qualification
- Provides clinical support and supervision
- Provides a named co-ordinating educational supervisor and supervision plan
- Provides a positive learning environment
Job descriptions for trainee and qualified advanced practitioners working in primary care are available from SNEE Training Hub, please contact [email protected]
Training and Development Pathways to Advanced Practice
MSc ACPs programmes and funding
SNEE Training Hub accepts Expression of Interests for funding applications from practitioners/practices who meet the entry requirements as stated above. Please complete the EOI form in the ‘Find Out More’ section below, and we will arrange a professional development conversation with a member of the Training Hub clinical team.
NHSE support funding for Advanced Practice MSc programmes at the following East of England Universities:
- University of East Anglia
- University of Essex
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University of Suffolk
All the programmes map to the Multi Professional framework for advanced practice (2017). Please contact the Universities course leads to discuss their programme, entry requirements and accreditation to the Centre for Advancing Practice.
NHS East of England ePortfolio (supported) Route
This opportunity is suitable for experienced practitioners who already have a significant body of evidence that can be mapped to the Multi Professional Framework with minimal or no gaps in that mapping. It is not a training route.
The ePortfolio (supported) Route enables experienced practitioners to evidence that they meet the advance practitioner requirements described in the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England by mapping their knowledge and skills to the MPF using the Centre’s ePortfolio.
Successful completion of the e portfolio route will be linked to a digital badge. Digital badges are validated/verified indicators of accomplishments, skill or quality earned through learning.
For more information and to register your interest please visit ePortfolio (supported) portal.
The Centre for Advancing Practice Digital Badge
What is a Digital Badge?
Digital badges are quickly becoming an essential part of the modern learning experience. Badges are web-enabled indicators that can be verified online in real time, allowing practitioners to showcase their abilities in a digital way. Not only do digital badges provide learners with a way to showcase their skills and accomplishments, but they also help employers easily identify qualified candidates for open positions. Digital badges standardise recognition of the quality assurance of advancing practice education, training, and experience
Practitioners who have successfully completed either a Centre for Advancing Practice accredited programme or the ePortfolio (supported) Route are eligible for an “Advanced” digital badge.
The Centre for Advancing Practice accredited programmes and ePortfolio (supported) Route enables practitioners to evidence that they have met the capabilities of the Centre’s framework for advanced practice.
The badge does not necessarily confer recognition of skills specific to a scope of practice.
Digital badges are shareable across the internet for maximum visibility and recognition. They are easily shareable and compatible with all of the major platforms searched by employers and educators, such as Facebook, twitter, or LinkedIn. Websites, blogs and digital CVs can have badges directly added.
For more information, please visit The Centre for Advancing Practice website
Advance Practice Supervision
HEE Centre for Advancing Practice Resources for Supervision (minimum standards) provides new guidance for supervisors, managers, employers, and trainee advanced practitioners and outlines the expected standards for supervision.
The minimum standards for Advanced Clinical Practice supervision are:
- To have a named co-ordinating educational supervisor (who ideally will have undertaken Tier 3 supervision training)
- To have access to associate workplace supervisors
- To have a minimum of 1 hour(s) supervision per week, of which 1 in 4 should be with your named co-ordinating educational supervisor
Supervision: NHSE have excellent supervision resources, these include Including ‘Employer’s Advanced practice Supervision Action Plan and Supervision Readiness checklist’ click here to find out more. The most recent publication is the Advanced Practice Supervisor Capabilities.
Resources
View the Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice – East of England website to keep up-to-date with important developments from NHSE.
Multi professional Framework for Advanced Practice here.
Readiness to become an advanced practitioner Readiness to become an advanced practitioner (hee.nhs.uk)
Core Capabilities Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (nurses) in primary care ACP-Primary-Care-Nurse-Fwk-2020.pdf (skillsforhealth.org.uk)
Core Capabilities Framework for Paramedics in Primary & Urgent Care Paramedic Specialist in Primary and Urgent Care Core Capabilities Framework.pdf (hee.nhs.uk)
Continuing Professional development (CPD). Advancing practice: Signpost for Continuing Professional Development (hee.nhs.uk) document. This document aims to ensure that CPD aligns with current national standards, professional regulations and academic best practice. It will also sign post to new and existing resources to support CPD and provide practitioners with a portfolio.
Advanced practice trainee and qualified job descriptions are available from the Advanced practice lead please contact [email protected]
Emerging Areas in advanced practice Workforce Transformation Resource; This resource is designed to support and standardise the approach to workforce transformation for advanced practice in emerging areas.
ARRs Advanced practice: Frequently asked questions
To find out more:
If you are interested in developing your professional career towards advanced practice or have employees who are keen to develop into advanced practitioners by undertaking a Masters level Advanced Practice qualification or completing the supported e-portflio route, please get in touch with the SNEE TH advanced practice team by completing this expression of interest form.
Advanced Practice Peer Support Network
A local peer support network for Advanced Practitioners and Trainee Advanced Practitioners working in General Practice across the Suffolk and North East Essex region.