NHSGGC is the largest health board in the UK. We provide healthcare to over 1.2 million people and employ around 38,000 staff, many of which are Allied Health Professionals (AHP’s).
NHSGGC AHP staff have a positive and integral role to play in the delivery of healthcare. NHSGGC are committed to nurturing the future generation of AHP’s through AHP student practice placements. Working in tandem with Higher Education (HE) and HEIs we support and facilitate pre-registration practice based learning and development.
NHSGGC offers client facilities and services in both acute and community settings, over a vast geographical area from Greenock to Glasgow and many places in between. If you are coming to NHSGGC for a placement you may be placed in one or many of the settings where we provide health care to service users.
You might feel a mixture of emotions about coming on placement, this is ok and perfectly normal.
You will find in the sections below, relevant and necessary pre-placement information including confidentiality to uniform policies, what to expect from the placement and what we expect from you. This, in turn can help to empower and create optimistic emotions which can positively impact on confidence and learning throughout your placement.
Profession specific information will be available soon.
Student Wellbeing
At this time, each Scottish HEI is providing a range of wellbeing support to which you can self-refer.
A Support for AHP Students poster has been created, detailing local resources which may support AHP students during the cost of living crisis.
Resources
AHP student and practice educator handbook
Provides a variety of resources and information for students and practice educators, including:
Templates for reflection
Recording of next of kin
Permission to share students final report with HEI
The handbook is updated quarterly to ensure it reflects current AHP information and resources. However, if you feel information needs to be updated or added, please contact, elspeth.lee4@nhs.scot.
AHP Student Feedback Questionnaire
The recovery of AHP practice placements within NHSGGC has recommenced following the pause of placements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to COVID-19, NHSGGC AHPs are often providing placements differently or with some changes. Gathering feedback from AHP students is therefore even more important. To allow AHPs to improve and understand the student experience it is important for us to find out what went well and where we could improve the placement experience. It is also very valuable to share the different challenges that were experienced and how these were perhaps overcome. Although voluntary to complete, we would greatly appreciate your participation with the AHP Student Feedback Questionnaire. Your responses to questions are anonymous, unless you choose to add the placement area details.
The data from the survey will initially be shared with the AHP professional leads for dissemination through their service.
The link to the survey should be provided by your Practice educator who is working directly with you on placement within NHSGGC,
Since 2010, there have been AHP Practice Placement Agreements in place between each Scottish HEI that runs pre-registration programmes and each NHS Board. Previously known as Practice Placement Agreements (PPA). The AHP PPA’s are currently being refreshed (now to be called AHP Practice-based Learning Agreement ).
NHSGGC have AHP Practice-based Learning Agreements with Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University, Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde and Edinburgh Napier University
What is new in the AHP Practice-based learning Agreement?
The revised agreement provides greater clarity and consistency in approach to governance arrangements for professions, Universities and Practice Education Providers. It consolidates current custom and practice that has evolved in relation to student Practice-based Learning since 2009.
The approach to refreshing the agreement has been to include agreed content written during the original signing, and subsequent developments that underpin the provision of AHP student Practice-based Learning e.g. HCPC Guidance on Conduct and Ethics for Students (2017), AHP placement cancellation guidance, provision of practice educator training etc. The refreshed content has an operational focus to address and balance the requirements of different stakeholders.
What has not changed?
The agreements clarify contemporary governance arrangements for Student Practice-based learning. The approach to refreshing the agreements has not included a review of the ongoing commitment to student ‘Practice Based Learning Weeks’ (placement weeks) per profession. This work is being progressed separately and will involve Scottish Government, AHP Directors, Practice Education Providers and professional bodies.
AHP Students from non-Scottish HEI’s
AHP students who are studying at non-Scottish HEI’s often have placements within NHSGGC, however as there are no practice-based learning agreements with these institutions, governance arrangements regarding issues such as PVG, immunisations etc must be discussed with the HEI and student prior to the student coming on placement.
HCPC regulatory body
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the regulating body for health, psychological and social work professionals. They protect and set standards around education and training which includes continuing professional development (CPD).
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) funded AHP practice education programme to support high quality placement opportunities. The site offers support on pre placement orientation and induction material, Practice Educator CPD and support and an overview of AHP Practice based learning partnership agreements.
NHSGGC is proud to provide a large numbers of practice-based learning experiences for Allied Health Professions (AHP) students, contributing to the future AHP workforce. This could not be done without the commitment and enthusiasm from the AHP Practice Educators to provide quality practice-based learning. AHP Practice Educators play an essential role in the development of new AHPs. Working with the higher and further education institution they support students with the development of their knowledge and skills. To ensure AHP Practice Educators are supported in their role there is both national and local work ongoing. This website will be one of the ways to provide AHP Practice Educators with information and resources. The information and resources on this page come from a range of sources- NHSGGC AHP Practice Educators, Higher and Further Education Institutions, NHS Education Scotland(NES) AHP Practice Education and the NHS GGC AHP Practice-based learning Quality Group
The AHP Practice Placement Quality Group members and the AHP practice education team are working hard to support AHP Practice-based Learning. The NHSGGC AHP Practice-Based Learning newsletter has been developed by a sub group of the NHSGGC AHP Practice Placement Quality group in order to celebrate successes, highlight key resources and provide updates around practice-based learning. Previous editions of the newsletter can be accessed below.
The AHP Practice Education Team are running AHP Peer Assisted Learning and Digital Workshops to support AHPs who are considering peer assisted learning placements. The Peer assisted Learning Workshops are running on Friday 26th January 2024 10am-12 noon and Wednesday 7th February 2pm-4pm. The Digital PrBL Workshops are running on , Fri 19th Jan 10-12.30 and Wed 28th Feb 2-4.30pm.
For more information please click on the PAL workshop link and to register for either workshop please email ggc.gjnh@nhs.scot
The Practice Educators website is spilt into different pages. To access each page please click on the relevant section.
AHP Practice-based Learning National Resources
The AHP Practice-Based Learning (PrBL) national site is funded by the AHP Practice Education Programme. It contains resources to support PrBL. This includes links to the ‘How to’ workshops, information on models of placement delivery, digital knowledge and skills and practice educator preparation.
Additionally the site provides an explanation of the national groups supporting AHP PrBL and Scotland wide initiatives to support PrBL.
Scottish HEIs provide a range of wellbeing support to which students can self-refer. Students can also access NES wellbeing resources. Practice Educators can also signpost students to both wellbeing resources within the HEIs.
A Support for AHP Students poster has been created, detailing local resources which may support AHP students during the cost of living crisis.
permission to share students final report with the HEI
It also provides information for students and practice educators on:
code of conduct
policies
student car insurance
student feedback
students raising a concern
students accessing electronic information systems
membership of PVG Scheme
fire safety for students
It is updated bi-annually to ensure it reflects current AHP information and resources.
If you feel information requires updated or could be added to please contact elspeth.lee4@nhs.scot
AHP Student Feedback Questionnaire
The recovery of AHP practice placements within NHSGGC has recommenced following the pause of placements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In many cases NHSGGC AHPs are providing placements differently or with some changes due to COVID-19 therefore we greatly value feedback from AHP students. This feedback allows AHPs to improve and understand the student experience by asking what went well, where we could improve the placement experience, what challenges were experienced and how these were perhaps overcome. Feedback is obtained by way of a questionnaire, although participation is voluntary, the information gathered is very valuable in informing future placements. This questionnaire is anonymous unless you choose to add the placement area details.
The data from the questionnaire will initially be shared with the AHP professional leads for dissemination through their service.
The link to the AHP Student Feedback questionnaire should be provided to each AHP student by the Practice educator who is working directly with the student on placement within NHSGGC.
The link can be provided:
within an email
on student induction paperwork
in student information folders
in written form as a URL
Guidance on cancellation of AHP practice placements
Cancellation guidance is to be used when cancelling a practice placement within the health board to ensure other options have been considered. The cancellation guidance is supported within the health board by the AHP Practice Placement Quality group.
AHP practice based learning agreements
Since 2010, there have been AHP Practice Placement Agreements in place between each Scottish HEI that runs pre-registration programmes and each NHS Board. Previously known as Practice Placement Agreements (PPA). The AHP PPA’s are currently being refreshed (now to be called AHP Practice-based Learning Agreement ).
NHSGGC have AHP Practice-based Learning Agreements with Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University, Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde and Edinburgh Napier University.
What is new in the AHP Practice-based learning Agreement?
The revised agreement provides greater clarity and consistency in approach to governance arrangements for professions, universities and Practice Education Providers. It consolidates current custom and practice that has evolved in relation to student Practice-based Learning since 2009.
The approach to refreshing the agreement has been to include agreed content written during the original signing, and subsequent developments that underpin the provision of AHP student Practice-based Learning e.g. HCPC Guidance on Conduct and Ethics for Students (2017), AHP placement cancellation guidance, provision of practice educator training etc. The refreshed content has an operational focus to address and balance the requirements of different stakeholders.
What has not changed?
The agreements clarify contemporary governance arrangements for Student Practice-based learning. The approach to refreshing the agreements has not included a review of the ongoing commitment to student ‘PrBL Weeks’ (placement weeks) per profession. This work is being progressed separately and will involve Scottish Government, AHP Directors, Practice Education Providers, professional bodies.
AHP Students from non -Scottish HEI’s
AHP students who are studying at non-Scottish HEI’s often have placements within NHSGGC however as there are no practice-based learning agreements with these institutions, governance arrangements regarding issues such as PVG, immunisations etc must be discussed with the HEI and student prior to the student coming on placement.
AHP Practice-based Learning Quality Group
The AHP practice placement quality group provides an inter-professional health board wide approach to improving the quality of AHP student education and increasing the capacity to provide learning opportunities for preregistration students.
The group will support a positive learning environment through enhancing the student experience informed by AHPs within the board, NHS Scotland, Quality Standards for Practice Placement (QSPP) and student evaluation.
The AHP practice placement quality group will enable communication, information sharing and facilitate collaborative engagement between the board and higher/further education institutions about AHP student education.
It guides both current and future projects and allows sharing of good practice across professions.
Membership of Group
The grouphas representatives from AHP professions within NHSGGC.
AHP practice educator preparation is provided by all five of the Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) who provide pre registration AHP courses: Glasgow Caledonian University and Strathclyde (jointly), Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Napier university and Robert Gordon University. The NHSGGC Practice Placement Quality Group have agreed that AHPs should refresh their practice educator training every five years.
If an AHP attends a course from one of the HEI’s, this provides them with the information and knowledge to supervise students from all HEI’s i.e. an AHP does not need to attend all four HEI’s practice educator training courses to supervise students from the other HEIs. However AHPs need to ensure they are familiar with the paperwork and requirements for each course.
The SWAY will be added to as further resources for practice educator preparation become available and can be accessed via the same link.
AHP Practice Education survey results
Thank you to those of you who took the time to complete the National AHP Practice Education Survey 2022, it is much appreciated and helps to support and guide future development of student practice education in Scotland.
The Quality Improvement Network for AHPs in NHSGGC (AHPQIN) had over 500 members.
At the start of 2024 we decided to scale up and spread to transition to a GGC-wide network for all members of staff from all areas and professions. This process is still taking place and will shape what the network looks like in future and what it offers.
AHPs retain a specific channel within the network on MS teams to ensure we can still share information specific to AHPs.
If you would like to join the network simply click on the link below and ask to join the team.
Here are some projects completed by AHPs during the NHSGGC AHP Quality Improvement Program as well as other sources.
Hopefully they may inspire you to carry out your own QI project.
If you have already carried out a QI project and would like to share this please use one of the templates below and send this to nikki.munro@ggc.scot.nhs.uk to be uploaded to this site.
Below are some presentations from the 2021 cohort of the AHP Quality Improvement Program to help you choose the best way to share your Improvement Journey with Others.
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) offers many courses or Learning Programmes in Quality Improvement with varied target audiences. For the most up to date information please visit the NES program page at:
These resources can be used by staff working across the public sector in Scotland. Each module’s page includes a short description of what you can expect to find in it, who should do it and how long it will take to complete it. Most of them will take around 30 minutes to complete.
The modules available are:
Measurement for improvement
Understanding your system
Developing your aims and change ideas
Testing your change ideas
Implementation and Spread
Introduction to demand, capacity, activity and queue
Introduction to Value Management
2. Scottish Improvement Foundation Skills (SIFS) Programme
This programme is aimed at all people working in the public sector across Scotland who have ideas that can improve the way things are done in their own workplace. Staff working at foundation level will be functioning as part of a team to improve service delivery in their own workplace. Foundation learning resources introduce staff to widely used improvement methods to help support them achieve the outcome they are aiming for.
The aim of SIFS is to support individuals to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to participate as members of improvement teams and contribute to testing, measuring and reporting on changes made.
NHSGGC Clinical Effectiveness Department run regular Scottish Improvement Foundation Skills Courses (SIFS) open to all members of staff in NHSGGC.
If you would like to register your interest for a future SIFS course, please register your interest below:
3. For Managers Coaching and Leading Teams to Improve their Services
SCLIP is a 3-month Quality Improvement learning programme. The target audience for the programme is core managers who are responsible for coaching and leading their teams to improve their services and helping embed improvement strategies within their organisation. Participants will be recruited and selected by the local organisation. It is recommended that applicants fit the following criteria:
responsibility for managing a team or teams
motivation to improve their skills in leading and coaching teams to deliver improvement
a strong desire to improve outcomes for people
4. For Individuals who need in-depth QI knowledge to support others across their organisation
The Scottish Improvement Leader (ScIL) Programme
The aim of the ScIL Programme is to enable individuals to:
design, develop and lead improvement projects,
lead and generate support for change, and
provide expert QI support and advice in their organisations.
It is aimed at people working in the Scottish Public Service in a role with a significant focus on quality improvement and dedicated time allocated to lead improvement projects.
5.The Scottish Quality and Safety (SQS) Fellowship Programme
The Scottish Quality and Safety Fellowship Programme (SQS Fellowship) is a lead level quality improvement and clinical leadership course managed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), working in partnership with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and NHSScotland.
The Fellowship is open to healthcare staff who currently undertake clinical practice and has a direct influence on improving the delivery of safe patient care, as well as staff in clinical professions who do not currently deliver hands-on care but do have a role in improving patient care or safety.
An important aspect of the Fellowship is also the participation of Fellows from outside Scotland with long standing relationships with Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway and Denmark to mention but a few.
This page is intended to assist AHPs in finding out more information about Quality Improvement methodology as part of the AHP Quality Improvement Workstream.
The Aim of this workstream is that:
By Dec 2026 50% more AHPs will feel able to put QI methodology into practice as aligned to the AHP Learning and Development Strategic Framework.
The Lead for this workstream is Nikki Munro who is Professional Lead and Service Manager for Orthotics.
If you have any questions on the NHSGGC AHP QI workstream please get in touch with Nikki directly at nikki.munro@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
NHSGGC Quality Improvement Team
NHS GGC have an amazing Quality Improvement Team who are here to help with all things QI including supporting projects and compiling tools and information for those who are already carrying out QI projects.
There are loads of useful tools hosted on the NHSGGC Clinical Effectiveness QI page, however as this is hosted on staffnet, its only accessible to NHSGGC staff when logged into the NHSGGC network.
We are working to continually improve this page, so it would be really helpful if you click the link below to help give us feedback on how to make this page as useful to you as possible and please make suggestions on what you would like to see on here in future:
I know nothing about QI
Here are the main policies which give the background as to why Quality is important and what we should do to achieve the highest quality possible within Healthcare in Scotland.
As a very quick introduction to the fundamentals of Quality Improvement, click on the link below to complete the NHSGGC module. A great way to start your QI journey.
If you have completed the LearnPro module and would like to know more, click on the link below to complete the NES TURAS Learn introductory QI modules. A great way to continue your QI journey.
6) Introduction to demand, capacity, activity and queue
7) Introduction to Value Management
I know something about QI but want to know more
The Q Community is a connected community working together to improve health and care quality across the UK and Ireland. They have lots of useful resources.
Description: Improving planned care pathways toolkit
Reducing waiting times has been a key priority for NHS Scotland for over a decade, typically waiting times initiatives have been used to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for planned care. This toolkit has been developed, using learning from across Scotland, to support NHS boards in taking a quality improvement (QI) approach to sustainably reduce waiting times.
Planned care services can reduce the time patients wait by improving their pathways to balance the workload associated with referrals to the demand for care.
By using this toolkit, planned care teams will be able to:
establish an effective project team to test and implement changes
identify the constraints in their pathway contributing to the longest waits
understand service user needs
use learning from others to increase the pace of change, and
use data to demonstrate a sustainable improvement has occurred.
Description: Improving planned care pathways toolkit
Reducing waiting times has been a key priority for NHS Scotland for over a decade, typically waiting times initiatives have been used to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for planned care. This toolkit has been developed, using learning from across Scotland, to support NHS boards in taking a quality improvement (QI) approach to sustainably reduce waiting times.
Planned care services can reduce the time patients wait by improving their pathways to balance the workload associated with referrals to the demand for care.
By using this toolkit, planned care teams will be able to:
establish an effective project team to test and implement changes
identify the constraints in their pathway contributing to the longest waits
understand service user needs
use learning from others to increase the pace of change, and
use data to demonstrate a sustainable improvement has occurred.
Within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde there are 12 different professions who are known collectively as AHPs. More information and links to the Profession Specific webpages can be found in the below drop down boxes.
Radiotherapy is the use of radiation, usually x-rays, to treat cancer. Radiotherapy can be used to try to cure cancer, reduce the chance of cancer coming back or to help relieve symptoms. It is normally given in conjunction with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery.
Radiographers
Radiographers are regulated professionals with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They are entitled to hold one of the protected titles Radiographer, Diagnostic Radiographer or Therapeutic Radiographer. Radiographers undertake a broad portfolio of either diagnostic examinations or radiotherapy procedures. They work in partnership with team members, patients and carers to deliver care that may include screening, diagnosis, treatment or health monitoring for patients.
Health and Care Professions Council
To register, radiographers must hold a relevant BSc (Hons) or MSc qualification. To maintain registration with the HCPC Radiographers must undertake and keep a record of their continued professional development. In addition to HCPC standards, radiographers work to the standards of the Society of Radiographers code of professional conduct. The code includes expectations that radiographers act in accordance with values of respect, empowerment, empathy, trustworthiness, integrity and justice. Radiographers must always act with compassion: caring for patients is at the heart of what radiographers do.
Therapeutic Radiographers
Therapeutic radiographers are responsible for the planning and delivery of accurate radiotherapy treatments using a wide range of technical equipment. Accuracy is critical, for example, the aim of treatment may be to treat a tumour and destroy diseased tissue while minimising the amount of radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Together both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography professionals provide essential services every year to millions of people.
Post Qualification
Radiographers follow career paths according to a combination of their personal interests and the needs of healthcare services and patients. Promotion opportunities are excellent, with a grading structure that sees the radiographer’s salary increase as they move along the career pathway. British radiographers are recognised as receiving excellent training with innovative career paths.
Autonomy
Therapeutic Radiographers are able to initiate resolution of problems and be able to exercise personal initiative
Therapeutic Radiographers recognise that they are personally responsible for and must be able to justify their decisions
They are able to make and receive appropriate referrals
They understand the importance of participation in training, supervision and mentoring
Therapeutic Radiographers are able to assess a professional situation, determine the nature and severity of the problem and call upon the required knowledge and experience to deal with the problem
They are also able to make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease radiotherapy treatment or diagnostic imaging examinations and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately
Advanced Practice
A growing number of Therapeutic radiographers undertake tumour site specific roles or specialist treatment roles (at both advanced and consultant level practice), where they are responsible for their own patient load from treatment referral, through treatment to post treatment follow up.
Multi-disciplinary Practice
Therapeutic radiographers take part in the multi-disciplinary approach to patient management by attending and participating in MDT meetings. This ensures continuity of care for patients across their cancer journey, with improved levels of care for all patients as well as efficiency benefits for the service.
Research radiographers
Therapeutic radiographers are also involved in clinical research at all levels. This ranges from recruitment to trials through to radiographer led research studies to evaluate the newer technologies and techniques as part of providing evidence based practice.
Radiotherapy Managers
Radiotherapy Service Managers are professional qualified managers responsible for the strategic delivery and planning of the service along with the day to day operational management of radiotherapy services. Their professional training and expertise is critical to the provision of safe and efficient radiotherapy services.
Image interpretation
Image interpretation and reporting by radiographers was initially established in ultrasound. This has now become firmly embedded within the scope of practice of therapeutic radiographers. They undertake image acquisition and interpretation utilising their advanced training in the decision making process.
Radiotherapy Information and Support Service
Having treatment for cancer can be a difficult time for anyone. You may benefit from talking to our Information and Support Radiographer.
They can provide information and support to help you while you are having your treatment.
They can provide:
·Support when you need it.
Give relevant and timely information on Radiotherapy treatments, side-effects and other relevant issues, particularly on how best to cope.
Explain and clarify medical terms.
Provide a confidential service to discuss any concerns or questions you may have regarding your treatment.
Refer you to appropriate professionals or services that may be of assistance to you/may help you.
Offer telephone support.
How you can get in touch
If you think you would benefit from seeing them, ask your Radiographers to contact them or you can phone them on 0141 301 7427.
Please leave a message and they will call you back as soon as possible.
