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Physician Associates in Primary Care

Preceptorship Application Form

South East School of Physician Associates - Thames Valley/Wessex

Introduction

 

The concept of a preceptorship year is increasingly used across clinical professions to support the development of both clinical and professional skills in complex clinical environments.  Following completion of their pre-registration education, support for new graduates on entry into the workforce has been demonstrated to enhance confidence and competence, providing a bridge between the supervision of the pre-registration learner and the mature clinician.

Preceptorship Guidance.

As part of the nationally agreed funding model introduced in 2018, NHSE has invested a £5000 education support payment for Practices/Primary Care Networks to support the development of the PA.

Employing Practices and/or Primary Care Networks in the South East region [Thames Valley, Hampshire & Isle of Wight] should contact TVW Hub SESPA with any queries or questions: sepaschool.tvw@royalberkshire.nhs.uk

Please note you should be fully qualified and have passed the PA National Examinations to apply. 

 

Your data will be processed by SESPA NHSE in accordance with the privacy notices.  Your data will be held for 24 months after submission of this form in accordance with the GDPR guidance and used for the purpose of this programme and its evaluation.

1

The preceptorship programme will be undertaken for a minimum of 1 year [whole time equivalent] and must entail a minimum of 50% [or 6 months’ full time equivalent in any rotation of placements] being spent in Primary Care. 

2

The Preceptorship is only being offered to either a) a PA who is commencing a programme in the first twelve months of practice after first gaining registration on the national register or b) a PA taking up their first post in primary care since gaining registration. This would also include the transition of PAs from secondary care.

3

The Employer must have read, understood and be prepared to implement the guidance within the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) document ‘Employers’ Guide to Physician Associates’ found here:

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/file/7623/download?token=4C7OyR_p

4

The weekly timetable must include at least 1 dedicated session for education.

➢ The PA preceptee must work under GP clinical supervision during their day-today clinical practice. They must also have access to a GP Clinical Supervisor to support their professional development and undertaking of any portfolio-based assessments (GP CS training available if not accredited at time of appointment of PA).

5

The Preceptee must have access to a trained mentor for the duration of the Preceptorship. The designated mentor must not hold the roles of a line manager, clinical supervisor, or educational supervisor, for the individual, and should not have direct involvement in their day-to-day responsibilities. It is recommended that the mentor is from a different department or organisation.

Please Note: TVW SESPA will arrange the mentoring sessions and inform the practice/PCN during the preceptorship.

6

If being employed by a PCN, the PA Preceptee must work in no more than 2 practices for the first 6 months of their Preceptorship year.

7

The preceptee must have a suitable induction period, an induction meeting with their supervisor, a mid-point and an end of programme review with their supervisor [regardless of whether they have been a PA student on placement with the practice]. A template preceptorship induction plan can be found here under ‘useful resources’ entitled ‘GP Supervisor and Physician Associate Guide’:

https://www.fparcp.co.uk/employers/pas-in-general-practice

8

The programme must use suitable supportive records of the preceptor’s progress. For example, the FPAs ‘First Year Post Qualification Documentation’ which can be accessed under ‘Employer Resources’

https://www.fparcp.co.uk/employers/guidance

9

The preceptee must take part in the employer's annual appraisal system.

10

Should offer an approved structured development plan with clear objectives, goals and a shared understanding around how the practice will support the preceptee to gain the clinical experience and skills required. For example, this could be from a local HEI or equivalent, which will include alumni activity or could also be in-house (or could be in-network). 

Please email separately to the SESPA TVW hub a copy of the PA's induction timetable and job plan to the below email:

sepaschool.tvw@royalberkshire.nhs.uk 

11

The preceptorship programme will set out expected outcomes for the preceptee in the form of competence acquisition or a brief curriculum which may be locally derived but based on established national guidance. This can be found within the FPA document; First Year Post Qualification Documentation.

12

The preceptorship programme must enable the post–holder to engage in multi-professional learning activities with protected time to ensure this.

13

There the post-holder’s objectives include a further course of study, this should usually be funded from the support payment. This could be up to the cost of a postgraduate certificate qualification if appropriate for the preceptor and the service context; this funding should be used flexibly to meet the needs of the preceptor.

14

Individual post-holders will be expected to complete and maintain all of the requirements of the UK PA Managed Voluntary Register [PAMVR] or subsequent register.

15

At the start of employment, newly qualified PAs in Primary Care should have 30-minute patient consultation time allocation with a debrief after each patient. This should be reviewed between 3-6 months and the consultation time adjusted as appropriate.

16

Employers must consider a rota with a maximum of eight patient-facing clinical sessions a week for the first 6 months of the Preceptorship programme. 
Integrated Care System