Clinical practice

An essential part of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice is the clinical practice element or Off the Job hours. In addition, attendance is required at university for lectures and seminars and there is a significant commitment in terms of independent study.

 

You will be working with a clinical supervisor who will be either: a hospital registrar or consultant; a GP; or a qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner. Initially you will ‘sit in’ or ‘shadow’ the clinical supervisor and, as you gain more clinical knowledge, skills and competence, you will begin to undertake your own consultations and practice, always under the supervision of your clinical supervisor. In this way, you will be able to put into practice the generic skills and knowledge learned on the programme in your own clinical area. As you begin to take on the role of an advanced clinical practitioner during the course, you will continue at all times to work within your own professional scope of practice.

 

You will need to spend a minimum of 50% of this time working with your clinical supervisor. The remaining 50% can be spent with other clinicians – normally of the same or equivalent grade – but may also be with other professions or specialists, such as clinical nurse specialist, or other professions allied to medicine. You will be expected to continue in development of your advanced practice skills throughout your working week, but may not be under direct supervision of your clinical supervisor. 

Recording and assessment of clinical practice

You will produce a clinical e-portfolio which will comprise:


The course requirements include tripartite reviews with your clinical supervisor and a member of the programme team.

 

You should aim to have an informal meeting within the first month at the start of the course.

 

Tripartite review meetings will normally take place within your clinical practice area. These meetings are three-way meetings between your clinical supervisor, academic assessor and yourself.  The purpose is to review and document evidence of your progress, identify any learning opportunities, needs or issues and signpost you to appropriate support, review and set actions in a learner progress plan, and confirm that you are meeting the hours requirements for the programme. These meetings will be recorded by each participant in the relevant area of PebblePad.

 

There will be tripartite meetings between you, your clinical supervisor and personal supervisor at a minimum of every 12 weeks.


The third year will conclude with the Transition to Advanced Clinical Practice module for the final 20 credits of the Masters. You will not be able to graduate from the programme unless you are able to provide at least the log of hours and completion of all tripartite reviews, including the sign-off as competent, from your clinical supervisor.  The clinical e-portfolio is housed on PebblePad and can also be used as part of your accreditation requirements for your own professional body, as well as evidence in support of any future job applications.

 

If you fail to meet the hours required, then you will have to demonstrate that you have made this time up via the log of hours in line with University reassessment dates. In the event that you do not achieve the competency required at first attempt, this can be reassessed in a timeframe in accordance with University reassessment dates. You would then work with your clinical supervisor and personal supervisor to develop an action plan (included in the clinical e-portfolio) in order to facilitate a pass at second attempt.