Supervising and Assessing in Healthcare Practice (Online)

This course will equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to educate, develop, and formally assess the progress of others within healthcare  or social care settings (e.g. pre-registration nursing students, or community SPQ/SCPHN students).

The course has been designed to complement the NMC 2019 document: Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment. It is similar to previous CPPD Mentorship in Practice courses but is now also designed to help you develop the necessary knowledge and skills to become a competent Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor.

Who is it for?

The course is relevant to registered nurses, midwives and other allied healthcare professionals who want to gain registration as a Practice Assessor of student nurses and midwives. This online course offers you the flexibility to study in your own time, regardless of your shift pattern.

Timetable

Term 3

This course consists of an introductory week and five seminars.

Introduction Week: 12/5/25
Online video tutorial: Monday 12/5/25

Seminar 1 Fortnight: 19/5/25
Online video tutorial: Friday 23/4/25

Seminar 2 Fortnight: 2/6/24
Online video tutorial: Friday 6/6/25

Seminar 3 Fortnight: 16/6/24
Online video tutorial: Friday 20/6/25

Seminar 4 Fortnight: 30/6/24
Online video tutorial: Friday 4/7/25

Seminar 5 Fortnight: 14/7/25
Online video tutorial: Friday 18/7/25

Assessment submission deadline: Monday 8/9/24

The module is designed so that is it is possible to complete it in an entirely online asynchronous manner. However, there will be some MS Teams-based tutorials to assist trainee Assessors. For this reason, applicants may wish to make the most of the module by booking the following as study days with their employees:

• Monday 12/5/25
• Friday 23/5/25
• Friday 6/6/25
• Friday 20/6/25
• Friday 4/7/25
• Friday 18/7/25

If employees cannot grant all of that time as study time, the specific times of the tutorials can be disclosed at the applicant’s request.

There will be a choice of assessment options (depending on the needs of the student):

• Successful completion of a practice diary and a 3,000-word essay will provide 15 L7 (MSc-level) credits.
• Successful completion of the practice diary on its own will provide a certificate of module completion.

Benefits

On completion, you will be eligible to register as a Practice Assessor, and depending on your workload, you can decide if you want to work towards Level 7 credits.

On successful completion of this course, you will be expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of quality standards and effective learning environments through writing and discussion.
• Discuss the importance of effective documentation in underpinning effective decision-making in mentorship practice.
• Analyse the importance of inter-professional teamwork and communication to create a safe and effective working and learning climate.
• Critically reflect on personal educational practices using relevant contemporary educational theories.
• Select appropriate assessment strategies and provide rationales for their use in practice settings.

Skills:

• Plan learning contracts in line with student learning needs, progress, competence and professional conduct in relation to predetermined criteria (e.g. professional standards).
• Negotiate, plan and evaluate learning activities relevant to identified needs and the practice context.
• Demonstrate skills of giving effective feedback for future learning both verbally and in writing.
• Communicate professional knowledge to promote learning in practice settings.
• Utilise a range of assessment and evaluation methods.
• Critically reflect on the process of working collaboratively within your supervisor or assessor role, as required.

Values and attitudes:

• Model a commitment to promoting and supporting best practice in the context of client safety, professional accountability and recognising the boundaries of competence.
• Evaluate the importance of non-discriminatory practice and the recognition of equality and diversity.
• Practice according to the relevant code of professional conduct.

Teaching

There are two aspects to teaching and learning on this course. The exclusively online theoretical aspect will enable you to explore and reflect on topics relevant to the facilitation of learner development in healthcare practice, such as:

• theories of learning and assessment
• principles of coaching
• the learning context of your own practice area
• managing challenging situations
• effective provision of feedback

In your practice setting, you will then apply what you have learned online under the guidance of a nominated supervisor.

As the majority of the work on this course is online and asynchronous, you will have freedom over when you study.

Assessments and Awards

You will be required to fill in a practice diary for the duration of the course. Once successfully completed, you will be awarded with a certificate of completion, and you will be eligible for registration as a Practice Assessor.

There is an added, optional 3000-word essay that, on successful completion, will also award you with 15 credits at MSc level (Level 7). It should be made clear to the module leader during the module if you wish to complete this additional assessment or not.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Psychological Sciences.

Required: This course is only suitable for registered allied health professionals (nurses, midwives, health visitors, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.).

Desirable: It will help if you have had some informal experience of supervising students already.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

The tutor will suggest material during the class.