Specialist PracticeSpecialist PracticeQualification (SPQ) Qualification (SPQ)

Pat Deeny, Course Director, University of Ulster.

What is Specialist Practice?What is Specialist Practice?

It is an Academic and Professional Award,recordable with the NMC.Students have to demonstrate higher levels

of clinical decision making in 4 main areas:- supervision of practice; clinical audit; development of practice through research; teaching and the support of professional

colleagues; provision of skilled professional leadership.

(UKCC, April 2001 superseded by NMC, 2004 but not changed)

Gross Structure.Gross Structure.3 core modules:Research and Evidence Base; Leadership, Management & Practice

Development; Management of Long Term Conditions.2 specialist modules

◦ Modules that are clinically focused on specific speciality. i.e. Emergency Care, Nurse Practitioner, Diabetes Nursing, District Nursing, Community Mental Health, Community Learning Disability, Community Children’s, Palliative Care etc

75 days practice learning . This will occur within the specific specialist

field. Student will be supervised by a Sign-Off Mentor and Option Leader.

Entry Criteria/ Academic Entry Criteria/ Academic Levels Levels

Academic Levels University of Ulster

Degree Level (6) 2 years post registration.40 credits at Level 5

Post Grad Level (7)

2 years post registration.Degree in Nursing or health related subject.

NB. CATS (APL). Discuss with Course Director

Roles associated with Roles associated with SPQ SPQ

Roles and Responsibilities.Roles and Responsibilities.

Student:. responsible for completion of Specialist Practice Portfolio, achievement of learning contracts and 75 days practice learning.

Sign –Off Mentor: Supervision and assessment of practice learning.

Manager: supporting student (and Sign Off Mentor) in achievement of practice learning goals and academic award.

Roles and Responsibilities.Roles and Responsibilities.

Practice Education Facilitator:. Supporting Sign-Off Mentor in supervision and assessment of student. Monitoring practice learning.

Pathway /Option Leader: Academic and practice learning supervision of student. Liaising with Sign-Off Mentor in the overall assessment of student.

Course Director: Overall responsibility for management of programme.

Practice Learning: Key Practice Learning: Key issues. issues.

Quality of Evidence in Practice Learning Portfolio: must show ‘higher level of decision making’. Must be up-to-date evidence and show good ‘reflection’ on learning.

Management of time: Adequate time must be allocated for practice learning. Sign Off Mentor and Pathway /Option Leader must see evidence of constant progress within portfolio.

Time & Practice Time & Practice LearningLearning

Part-time: 75 Days across 2 years. Full-time: 75 days across 11

months. One day = 7 ½ hours.7.5 hrs X 75 = 563 hoursSign-Off Mentor(direct and indirect Supervision)

40% of 563= 225 hoursSupernumerary: Specialist Students

cannot be counted in staff numbers during Practice Learning Days.