Monthly Updates

Advanced Practitioner role evidencing transformation and positive impact within infection sciences  

Advanced Practitioner, Laura Ahearn, is transforming the service at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust to use a person-centred approach – examining the patient, understanding their co-morbidities and their quality of life, and promoting collaborative working to determine the appropriate treatment. She is also working to optimise treatment of those with Clostridoides difficile. You can read the full case study including the positive outcomes for patients, sustainability, workforce education and reduction in antibiotics (Respiratory ACP in Infection Sciences – Case Study – Advanced Practice).  

Quality Improvement Projects – trainee ACPs at MMU 

MMU held their first showcase event which featured  the outstanding Quality Improvement Projects that ACP Apprentices have been working on since last September, and which forms a vital part of their assessment on their MSc Programme.  

The event was held in the Brooks Building at MMU where employers and NHSE Regional Lead – Annabella Gloster attended this event. 

Opportunities to talk to the trainees about their role and their Quality Improvement projects took place in the morning, with the afternoon scheduled for the trainees formal assessments of their projects and posters. 

Many of the projects are the start of what will be a longer-term solution / impact for patients across specialities and sectors. Innovation across virtual wards, care homes, surgical SDEC and respiratory services were a small number  of the projects discussed with tangible measures already seen. 

Trainee ACPs were passionate and articulate about driving improvements for patients across services. We look forward to seeing the fruition of these projects and the dissemination of these in local, regional and national publications. 

Results of the National Education and Training Survey (NETS) 2024 

Thank you to all trainees who completed the NETS survey in autumn 2024, providing insight into their experience of work based training and education during their advanced practitioner programme. The North West Advanced Practice results were fantastic overall, outperforming the national average across all categories! The Faculty are currently meeting with the trainee steering group, AP Leads, PCTH Leads and ICS’s to disseminate the results and to discuss next steps for further development.  

An overview of the North West NETS results for Advanced Practice can be found here

The NETS survey opens each year in October, remember to have your say and share your experience to help improve the trainee experience. 
  

NHS Trust Advanced Practice Leads – Planning day

Fourteen of the thirty-one NHS Trusts across the North West participated in the first collaborative planning day for Advancing Practice. The day focused on two main areas:
 
Focus One – Advanced Practice Workforce: This session covered workforce modelling and planning. Using a knowledge café structure, participants engaged in facilitated discussions to solve problems, drive innovation, and build a community advocating for Advanced Practice as a workforce solution in service reform. Topics included services with appropriate levels of Advanced Practitioners, lessons learned from exemplary service reforms, and current areas of service reform.
 
Focus Two – Job Planning Portfolios and Measuring Impact: Participants discussed how to collect data to measure impact and empower Advanced Practitioners to deliver service improvements through their practice pillars, evidencing improved patient outcomes and efficiencies. Another discussion focused on embedding non-clinical pillars and standardization within trusts. Participants explored how trusts with robust processes can support those looking to embed these practices and maximize outcomes.
 
The day was a success, with AP Leads taking away productive actions to support the maturity of governance for Advanced Practitioners. The Advanced Practice Leads felt the event met their expectations and expressed interest in holding these collaborative days twice a year to create efficiencies, share good practices, and solve problems collectively to support the future of the Advanced Practice workforce.

Thank you to our Training Programme Directors, Anna and Kay
 
The Faculty team would like to inform you that Kay Ruscoe (Mental Health Training Programme Director) and Anna Riley (Surgical and Critical Care Training Programme Director) have departed the Faculty this month. Kay and Anna have been with the Faculty for a number of years, during this time their contributions in leading and developing advanced practice across the North West have set some brilliant foundations for future developments. I’m sure you will all join us in thanking Anna and Kay for their support over this time!

Eid Mubarak!
Wishing a joyful and blessed Eid al-Fitr to all our colleagues and friends in Advanced Practice celebrating this week.

Meet David Baron, Health and Care Education Administrative Assistant

E-mail address: david.baron1@nhs.net
David joined the team in January 2025 to provide admin support to ensure the delivery and implementation of the faculty’s objective, projects & initiatives.

Previously David worked in two departments in the Civil Service working on IT procurement , training procurement and 3^rd party contract management. He also spent several months assessing new applications for the initial introduction of the levelling up fund process.  In addition he previously worked in a Jobcentre and an office dealing with disability benefits assessments and writing Tribunal appeal submissions. Last year he completed and passed the CompTia Data+ CM examination. He is looking forward to working in a new and important sector.

North West Faculty for Advancing Practice Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner Steering Group

The second meeting of our Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner Steering Group, for 2024 – 2025, was held on Tuesday 29th January. The meeting was attended by steering group ambassadors. It was a great opportunity for us all to hear about the brilliant work that is happening across the region.

In return for your engagement as a steering group ambassador the faculty will provide networking, support, and guidance, alongside your academic and clinical roles. This will equip you with vital knowledge and skills that help you progress on your journey from Trainee to Qualified ACP.

The frequency of the meetings has been increased to every two months to maximise engagement with you all. If you know of any trainees who are not members of the steering group, please ask them to email the Faculty to sign up.

We also encourage membership from trainees who have just completed their studies and are in the first 12 months of their substantive role. We aim to support the transition from trainee’ to ‘qualified’ and act as a point of contact during your preceptorship period.

We asked for volunteers to be trainee representatives for each of the HEI’s. If this is something you are interested in please email england.acp.nw@nhs.net with your expression of interest.

Our next scheduled meeting is March 25th 12-1pm. A Microsoft Teams invite will be sent along with an agenda closer to the time. We look forward to seeing you there!

This is an evolving group and we welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can improve it.

NW Faculty for Advancing Practice Meets with NHS Trust AP Leads 
In October and November 2024, the NW Faculty for Advancing Practice held bi-annual meetings with NHS Trust AP Leads. These meetings aim to support NHS Trusts in advancing practice developments using two self-assessment tools: 
organisation’s readiness checklist: Rates the readiness of organisations to support trainee advanced practitioners. 
the Centres Governance Maturity Matrix; Assesses progress in governance to ensure safe, effective, and successful employment of advanced practitioners. 
  
The trusts have made incredible progress over the last six months, significantly enhancing the quality of training and experiences for trainees aspiring to become outstanding Advanced Practitioners. 
  
Quality of Training and Practice Learning 
  
Quality training and practice learning are top priorities for the Faculty. During the meetings, we discussed: 
Our quality concerns and change in circumstances process. Learn more 
The National Education and Training Survey and previous results, ensuring improvements are embedded from identified themes. 
Early stages of transformational advanced practice workforce solutions, ensuring clear understanding and development of new roles. 
 
National Education and Training Survey (NETS): Take the survey, drive the change 
  
The NETS survey closed on 26^th November 2024. Thank you to all education providers and AP Leads who helped with the NETS survey campaign this year! Our completion rates reached 25%, with us achieving a well above the national average of 15%. Our Training Programme Directors (TPDs) enjoying attending the Universities, meeting trainees, and discussing the importance of NETs.  
  
Thank you to all trainee APs who completed the survey. Your experiences and responses help us to understand your training experience and make improvements for current and future trainees.  
  
Results of NETS will be available in Spring 25, following which the Faculty will devise targeted strategies to enhance training environments and experiences for APs across the North West. 

NHSE North West AP Faculty Trainee Steering Group

The first meeting of our Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner Steering Group, for 2024 – 2025, was held on Tuesday 26th November. The meeting was attended by 21 steering group ambassadors and provided an opportunity for them to meet the training programme directors and to think about what they would like to get from the steering group to enhance their learning experience.

In return for your engagement as a steering group ambassador the faculty will provide networking, support, and guidance, alongside your academic and clinical roles. This will equip you with vital knowledge and skills that help you progress on your journey from Trainee to Qualified ACP.

In response to feedback, we have increased the frequency of our meetings to every 2 months, to maximise our engagement with you all. In addition, we will be running a drop in ‘Open Surgery’ each month. This will be run by one of the training programme directors and can be used by you, your peers and supervisors. It will be an open forum and a point of contact with the faculty for any queries, questions, concerns.

We also encourage membership from trainees who have just completed their studies and are in the first 12 months of their substantive role. We aim to support the transition from trainee’ to ‘qualified’ and act as a point of contact during your preceptorship period.

Our next scheduled meeting is January 28th 12-1pm. A Microsoft Teams invite will be sent along with an agenda closer to the time.

This is an evolving group and we welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can improve it. If you would like to join please email your interest to: england.acp.nw@nhs.net

Meet Dr Kirsty Martin-McGill, Advanced Practice Education and Training Senior Manager

Email address: Kirsty.martin-mcgill@nhs.net

Kirsty is the Education and Training Senior Manager for the faculty. Kirsty joined the team from a national role, previously working as Recognition Lead at the Centre for Advancing Practice. She is a registered dietitian and has experience of working in clinical and research environments, specialising in neurosciences, and in academia as a senior lecturer and programme lead.  Kirsty completed her PhD in 2019; the innovative research led to her being awarded CN ‘Clinical Nutrition Professional of the Year’.  She has authored numerous Cochrane reviews and contributed to NICE guidance publications.

As the Education and Training Senior Manager, Kirsty leads on supervision and assessment, ensuring quality learning experiences and environments.  Kirsty works closely with education providers, advanced practice leads and training hubs to achieve this. She also supports the
wider workforce transformation agenda, such as the successful delivery of the long-term
workforce plan in relation to advancing practice across the North West
region.   

The Faculty invite you to become a member of our Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner Steering Group, for 2024 – 2025.
This group was founded in 2023 in a bid to involve trainee advanced practitioners in the work that the Faculty are doing to improve and uphold the quality of your education and training.

We had over 40 responses last year and some of our current members will continue their tenure throughout their programme of study.  So far, our members have helped shape key documents such as our Practice Support Guide and supported the Faculty as ambassadors for the National Education and Training Survey.  In return for your engagement as a steering group ambassador the faculty will provide networking, support, and guidance, alongside your academic and clinical roles.

 Membership is voluntary. In response to feedback, we have increased the frequency of our meetings to every 2 months, to maximise our engagement with you all. In addition, we will be running a drop in ‘Open Surgery’ each month. This will be run by one of the training programme directors and can be used by you, your peers and supervisors. It will be an open forum and a point of contact with the faculty for any queries, questions, concerns. 

We also encourage membership from trainees who have just completed their studies and are in the first 12 months of their substantive role. We aim to support the transition from trainee’ to ‘qualified’ and act as a
point of contact during your preceptorship period.

Our first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 26th November, 12 – 1pm.  A Microsoft Teams invite will be sent once applications have been reviewed.
All members receive a certificate to acknowledge their contribution at the end of each academic
year.  
This is an evolving group and we welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can improve it.  

If you are interested in joining us, please complete the form here, by end of day Friday 15th November 2024.

Advanced Practice CPD day for the NW Imaging Academy 

Annabella was invited to speak at the NW Imagining Academy CPD event to deliver a session on Advancing Practice. The day was hosted at Edge Hill University and was attended by radiographers at various stages in their careers. 

An overview of the Centre for Advancing Practice, the NW Faculty for Advancing Practice, and the Society for Radiographers Education and Career Framework for the Radiography Workforce was discussed in relation to advanced and consultant level practice.  

The day concluded with a consultant breast radiographer sharing her week as a consultant radiographer. 

Touching base with conference a year on  

The NW Faculty for Advancing Practice hosted its annual conference 19th May 2023, which was delivered in collaboration with the three ICS Advanced Practice Leads.   

The Faculty have recently emailed out a short survey to delegates who attended, asking how the information and knowledge from the conference has been implemented into practice within the last year.  

If you have not yet completed this survey and attended the conference but have not yet  received a survey link, please use this link so we can hear and learn about the amazing work you are doing in your service, for patients and organisation. This will help capture how we are optimising Advanced Practice across the North West and creating impact across all four pillars.

The deadline for completion of this survey will be COP Friday 12^th July. 

Trust AP Leads meetings 

During April and May the Faculty have been meeting with the AP Leads for the 32 NHS Foundation Trusts. We have a small number of meetings taking place in June. These meetings have been to discuss: 

– Achievements in the last 12 months that have made improvements that aligned to the governance maturity matrix 

– 24/25 Funding – offers, ensuring timely recruitment for trainees to commence in September 2024 

– Trainees that started in September 2022 onwards to discuss any quality concerns and changes in circumstances  

– Results from the NETs survey and actions to take forward 

– Supervisors and supervisory needs (capabilities/growth) – assurances that the trainees are getting the minimum supervision standards 

– Strategy and Transformation within the Trust to support the Long Term Workforce Plans for Advanced Practitioners.  

North West’s HEI Advanced Practice Programme Leads meeting  

Early June, the Faculty met with the NW programme leads from all the North West Universities that deliver an Advanced Practice MSc programme. The focus of the meeting was quality, ensuring everyone is aware of the processes in place for quality concerns and changes in circumstances. The day provided fruitful conversations of scenarios of where earlier interventions could take place to reduce the number of trainees who may go on interruption or withdraw from programme.  

The meeting also explored supporting future educators and cross – collaboration to evidence the impact of advanced practitioners across the North West. 

Governance Maturity Matrix – Primary Care Meeting  

The three ICS Primary Care Training Hubs were invited to discuss the Advanced Practice Governance Maturity Matrix. This tool has been developed  to ensure organisations have the right governance and support in place for the development of Advanced Practitioners. It is essential this is embedded into Primary Care Organisations, as the tool highlights the due diligence that is required for an effective learning environment. The Training Hubs are working to support practices post funding being offered to ensure the right governance is in place.  

How the Faculty are connecting Trusts across the North West to develop Advanced Practice roles 

As the Advanced Practice workforce grows across the North West there is the development of transformational and innovative roles. It is important to share and connect across the north west. Recently the Faculty have created connections for the following: 

– NHSE are currently funding two different Trusts that have recruited Podiatrists that are attending the specialist Masters of Podiatric Surgery (Advanced Clinical Practice Apprenticeship) in Huddersfield.  The Faculty have been able to create a connection with another Trust who are looking to develop an Advanced Practice role within a Podiatry service. 

– A Trust has reached out to the Faculty regarding the development of a Senior Advanced Practitioner in the Community and wanted to see if there are current roles across the North West that they could learn from. The Faculty have access to data to identify such roles and create those connections.  

Please reach out to the Faculty if you are thinking about developing an Advanced Practice role within your service and want to learn from other experiences to help shape that role and support the business case for development.