Updated: January 2025
Welcome to the East of England Advancing Practice Supervisor Training Resources
1. Introduction and purpose
High quality supervision is essential to support the development of confidence and capability for advanced practitioners and advanced practice trainees and underpins the importance of patient and practitioner safety. Workplace supervision that considers and responds to advanced practitioner or trainee learning and development needs should be recognised as part of any advanced practice workforce and business planning and include investment in supervisor training and development. Support and expansion of current supervisor capacity, coupled with succession planning, is linked with securing a capable and skilled future workforce whilst retaining and fostering the current workforce, as laid out in the HEE Educator Workforce Strategy (2023).
As part of this ongoing commitment, NHS England East of England Faculty for Advancing Practice has produced Advanced Practice Supervisor Training resources to support ICBs and organisations in the development and training of proficient and skilled advanced practice supervisors across the region, whose competencies and capabilities will align with The Advanced Practice Supervisor Capabilities (NHS England, 2023). This is in line with supporting the growth of multi-professional supervision capacity within region to meet the NHSE Long Term Workforce Plan’s (2023).
2. Overview of resources
The Advanced Practice Supervisor Training resources include self-directed study and completion of a workbook followed by mandatory attendance at an in-person or virtual day. The workbook has been mapped against the NHSE Advanced Practice Supervisor Capabilities (2023) and ensures that the dimensions of supervisor capability are addressed throughout the resources. PowerPoint slides have been created for use by the facilitator/s to encourage engagement and discussion from the practitioners, building upon and preparing for application of the learning from the workbook.
It is recommended that the workbook is completed prior to attending the in-person or virtual teaching session. To ensure adequate preparation for the in-person or virtual day, all mandatory resources within the workbook must be accessed and the critical reflection tasks undertaken. The learning and activities in the workbook will be utilised in the in-person/virtual session to facilitate further discussion. The workbook will also act as a repository for learning and a resource that may be referred to in future. An eLearning for Healthcare login is necessary to access some of the videos and modules in the workbook. The Faculty acknowledge that some of the content in the workbook will overlap with several capabilities; we have endeavoured to place the content in a logical order in the most appropriate section. It is estimated that the workbook will take between 1-2 working days to complete, depending on baseline knowledge.
Following the completion of the workbook, attendance is required ata teaching session, delivered either in-person or virtually. The topics for the discussion for the in-person/virtual session were identified by stakeholders as areas that may require a deeper dive and richer discussion to bring the learning to life. They include a session on learner focused approach, individual learning needs, and learning objectives. A second session will focus on giving and receiving feedback, and a third session will focus on trainees in/with difficulties. During the teaching session, practitioners may highlight other areas that are a priority, therefore, the facilitator/s may choose to tailor the discussion to meet the learning needs of the practitioners.
This format will provide a comprehensive training experience that combines self-directed study with interactive learning. Practitioners will benefit from a blended approach that maximises understanding of the material presented with the opportunity to engage with the content collaboratively with discussion and application of learning in a group setting. Date and mode of delivery of the in-person or virtual session will be at the discretion of the ICB Advanced Practice Lead or organisational Advanced Practice Lead. There may also be opportunities to collaborate with other organisations to deliver the in-person or virtual day, if appropriate.
Once the training resources have been completed, the practitioner should be able to evidence and apply the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in practice and in future supervisory roles linking to advanced practice.
It is recognised that each practitioner embarking on this training will have varying levels of experience and training related to supervision as well as a different rate of self-directed learning. It is estimated that the workbook will take approximately 1-2 working days. The benefit of the workbook’s structure allows the practitioner to work at their own pace and at their convenience.
3. Conclusion
Please note that this training will not be formally assessed by the East of England Faculty for Advancing Practice. By completing the Supervisor Readiness Checklist (NHSE, 2024) prior to commencing the programme, the practitioner will establish a baseline of supervisory knowledge and identify specific supervisor learning and development needs. Once the training is concluded, the practitioner can complete the Supervisor Readiness Checklist again to self-assess and evaluate supervisory learning and knowledge attainment.
On completion of the training, it will be the practitioner’s responsibility to inform their organisational Advanced Practice Lead that the completed workbook and the teaching session has been signed off. It will be the responsibility of the organisational Advanced Practice Lead (or other designated person in the organisation) to have oversight of who has completed their supervisor training and are now competent and available for/currently supervising advanced practice trainees. To assist with this, an area for sign off before and after training by the practitioner, line manager, and organisational Advanced Practice lead has been included in the workbook.
If there are any queries or feedback about the resources provided in this training, please contact the East of England Faculty for Advancing Practice at: england.eoeapfaculty@nhs.net.