Three academics – two of whom have physiotherapy backgrounds – have helped to develop an online learning platform that aims to tackle a shortage of workplace educators in the NHS.
The interactive resource is aimed at physiotherapists and members of the other 13 allied health professions (AHPs) who want to qualify as practice educators and supervise students on work placements.
According to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 25 per cent more training places for AHPs will be needed by 2030-31 – bringing the total to 18,800. This will, in turn, require more AHP workplace educators to supervise trainees.
The three academics are lecturer Jo Kileff, John Hammond, a professor of interprofessional practice, and Tai Frater, a senior lecturer in practice education, who are based respectively at the universities of Southampton, Canterbury Christ Church and Winchester. Jo and John are physios by background, while Tai is an occupational therapist by profession.
Demands of workforce ‘never been higher’
A 2023 Council of Deans of Health report highlighted the issues, noting: ‘The demand for and expectations of the AHP workforce has never been higher. Securing the future and current professional workforce, is dependent upon a sustainable and high-quality education workforce both in practice and in academic settings.’
The online project was commissioned by NHS England South East to develop a single point of entry learning platform to support AHP educators. The new platform, which aims to support implementation of the existing AHP Educator Career Framework, will be launched at an online event on October 8 from 1pm.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Canterbury Christ Church and Southampton University to develop this exciting new platform for AHP educators across the south east and beyond [Tai Frater, Uni of Winchester]
The interactive learning resource was created using input from a stakeholders’ meeting held at Winchester in March, which was attended by 88 AHPs from a range of professions and career levels.
Participants asked for resources for all career levels – including support workers and learners, educators, strategic leaders and senior managers – and the new resource has ‘personas’ developed for learners at different career stages alongside vignettes from a range of professionals so that AHPs can access relevant information.
Alongside the platform hosted on the Learning Hub, the team has been developing the Future NHS Practice Education Training Workspace. This contains training and shared resources to support practice education.
‘Exciting new platform’
Tai said: ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Canterbury Christ Church and Southampton University to develop this exciting new platform for AHP educators across the south east and beyond.’
She added: ‘We hope this new platform will prove an essential tool for all AHPs seeking to develop their capabilities as effective educators able to support a diverse range of AHP learners.’
If you are interested in attending the online launch, email: tai.frater@winchester.ac.uk at the University of Winchester for more information and to obtain a link to the meeting.
About Winchester’s Post Graduate Certificate in Practice Education
The University of Winchester introduced the course – which is aimed at AHPs, nurses, midwives and social workers and AHPs wishing to become qualified practice educators – in 2022.
The year-long, online course is delivered flexibly, with significant opportunities for on-the-job learning and is applicable to professionals practising in a range of health, social work and education settings.
Since it began, the course cohort has grown from about 20 to more than 80.
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