The HCPC is working on a new programme of work to understand how preceptorship can be designed to best support our registrants.
High quality preceptorship programmes support health and care professionals to develop and maintain confident, safe and effective practice throughout their careers. Our work in this area forms a key part of our strategic objective to promote high quality professional practice, as a preventative and compassionate regulator.
As part of this work, we will be collaborating with partners at Health Education England (HEE) to engage stakeholders across the 4 UK nations and 15 professions to build on existing examples of good practice in preceptorship. The project will produce a set of evidence-led principles for Foundation Preceptorship that will aim to promote excellence and standardisation in the quality of preceptorship programmes available.
While preceptorship is often associated with newly qualified professionals, we know the value it brings can extend to registrants at many different transitional stages of their careers, including new graduates, those returning to work after a career break, international professionals new to the UK register and those taking on new responsibilities or significantly changing their job role.
We will be engaging with our registrants and stakeholders across the UK, leading up to a public consultation later this year. Please look out for further communications from us about how you can engage with this work.
What is preceptorship?
Preceptorship is defined 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.” – Department of Health (2010).
Foundation preceptorship support refers to a matrix of learning opportunities, training, and career support, tailored to individuals, to support their development and potential throughout their career. Through tailored foundation support, registrants will be supported to maximise their potential and transition to working at an enhanced level of practice in a timely and efficient way.