“Clinical Supervision provides nurses with space to reflect on and discuss aspects of their role that are motivating and inspiring them, and also those elements that are frustrating or concerning them. Nurses and their supervisors can then jointly work through how the former can be promoted and the latter addressed” (Scottish Government, 2017).
NHS Education for Scotland short animation giving an overview of clinical supervision
What is restorative clinical supervision?
The restorative model of clinical supervision is recognised as an approach to support reflective practice that can help build practitioners’ resilience by focusing on the individual’s (supervisee’s) experience, aiming to sustain their wellbeing and their motivation at work.
This is achieved through guided reflection, exploratory questioning and supportive challenge, enabling a focus on action planning and goal setting. Restorative clinical supervision offers practitioners the opportunity to regularly discuss the positive aspects of their work which is as important as exploring those issues they find more challenging (NHS Education for Scotland, 2021).
Why is restorative clinical supervision important?
Restorative clinical supervision is considered essential to support the nursing and midwifery workforce with the emotional challenges of their role, develop their reflective capabilities, and enable them to address professional challenges in new and innovative ways, thus contributing towards a healthy workplace culture (NHS Education for Scotland, 2022).
Why is clinical supervision important?
NHS Scotland is committed to enabling the nursing and midwifery workforce access to regular clinical supervision and support. This includes non-registered staff such as health and care support workers.
This commitment is required to ensure that safe, effective and high-quality person-centred care is provided to patients and support families and carers. In line with the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland’s vision (Scottish Government, 2017), the aspiration is for all nurses and midwives to participate in clinical supervision appropriate to their role by 2030.
We recommend that all practitioners preparing to participate in restorative clinical supervision as supervisees, undertake Clinical supervision unit 1: fundamentals of supervision. Unit 1 is designed to provide you with an introduction to clinical supervision; what it is, the purpose, processes and potential benefits.
How do I become a clinical supervisor?
One of the ways in which to develop the skills to become a clinical supervisor is to participate in the Clinical Supervisor Preparation Programme. This programme is managed and facilitated by the practice education team in collaboration with the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Nursing and Midwifery Practice Educators.
The programme will offer you an opportunity to participate in a programme using a blended learning approach which builds on the theoretical foundation provided by the self-directed online learning units. Completion of the units is undertaken in conjunction with the online skills development workshops. The programme will also provide you with an opportunity to practice and develop the knowledge and skills for the role of clinical supervisor.
What is the programme structure?
Participants are asked to engage with and complete the four self-directed online learning units (approx. 6hrs). They can be accessed on TURAS Learn and are part of the NES Clinical supervision resource. You will then be offered five facilitated skills development workshops accessed using MS Teams (approx.11hrs) or two in person study days held centrally within the board area.
How do I apply for the clinical supervisor preparation programme?
The enrolment process is managed and facilitated by the PE team. There is a current timetable for this year and the programme runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Participants are requested to choose a cohort when booking for example, all Tuesdays or all Wednesdays. The enrolment form has a list of all the cohort dates and times you should complete this with your preferred dates.
IENs and staff who support them should utilise these resources in order to facilitate a learning environment which allows them to consolidate their clinical skills and OSCE preparation course.
To support learning and preparation for OSCEs, all IENs shall receive a copy of the book. If IEN has commenced within your area and has not yet received this, then please contact the PEF or email: practiceeducation@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
NES Cultural Humility Learning Resource
The NES Equality, Diversity and Human Right Team developed this digital learning resource to consider how our backgrounds and the backgrounds of others can impact our relationships. Subsequently launched by @NHSScotAcademy, it provides leaners with tools to develop their cultural humility values, attitudes and behaviours. What’s more, learners will benefit from the range of videos, reflective activities, scenarios and a resource pack.
Specifically, the NES Cultural Humility Learning Resource will enable learners to:
Understand the concepts that underpin cultural humility
Identify the key behaviours for supporting an inclusive workplace
Apply a reflective approach aimed at transforming practice in health and social care
Both health and social care staff can easily access the NES Cultural Humility Learning Resource from any laptop, computer or smart device through their TURAS account.
The Black And Minority Ethnic (BME) Staff Network was established in 2018. This followed a consultation with key stakeholders about their lived experience. The Network is working closely with the Workforce Equality Group to continuously improve the workplace experience of BME staff. Please click above link for further information.
Presentation for staff supporting IENs.
LNs/SCNs/DCNs and staff who support IENs within the clinical area are invited to the next Internationally Educated Nurse information presentations. Afterward, there will be time for Q & A’s. Both the presentation and Q & A’s will take approximately 1 hr.
Please click on link below to book onto session:
Next session date to be confirmed
These preceptorship resources will support nurses, midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) in their transition to new roles and in practice settings. Not only from the point of registration, but also as they progress through their career. Furthermore, they aim to promote consistency in the provision and support offered by preceptorship programmes across Scotland.
Scotland’s Preceptorship Framework
This preceptorship resource has been developed to support nurses, midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) in their transition to new roles and practice settings from the point of registration and as they progress through their career. Not only does this national resource aim to promote consistency in the provision and support offered by preceptorship programmes across Scotland. It also builds on the NMC Principles for Preceptorship and offers guidance to preceptees, preceptors, managers and the wider organisation.
This NHS Education for Scotland PowerPoint presentation is a preceptorship resource that not only defines preceptorship and outlines why it is needed, but also describes the roles and responsibilities of the preceptee, preceptor and line manager.
Recorded in 2021 to support the launch of the NES Preceptorship resource.
NMC Principles of Preceptorship
The NMC developed the Principles of Preceptorship in recognition of the benefits that a supported, structured period of preceptorship brings to employers, preceptees, and people who use services.
Click here to return to Practice Education’s main page
The Practice Education Team will facilitate Flying Start support sessions and Flying Start Facilitator information sessions on MS Teams for NQPs and facilitators.
NQP support sessions
The next Flying Start Support Sessions are anticipated to run in April 2024. If you require support for Flying Start NHS programme prior to or between Flying Start Protected Study Days, please email:
The NHSGGC Practice Education Team host Flying Start Facilitator information sessions on MS Teams for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who are currently supporting, or will support, newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) in their first year of practice. These 90-minute group sessions (dates and times below), will offer guidance on supporting NQPs with the requirements of the Flying Start NHS programme, the NHSGGC Flying Start Portal and address any related questions or queries. Please click links below to book.
These webinars aim to provide NQPs with the opportunity to think about emotional and professional development and how this could improve the carethey provide. Fostering a positive culture within your working environment. Please click links below to book.
Webinar 1: Conversation, courage and culture. Date: Thursday, 21st March 2024 at 1.30pm – 3pm As newly qualified practitioners, having the ability to manage your individual levels of stress and uncertainty is a key skill. Understanding the impact of your emotional responses for self and others allows for open conversations which fosters a positive culture of growth. Webinar 2: Emotional agility. Date: Thursday, 4th April 2024 at 1.30pm – 3pm Emotional agility encourages you to be flexible with your thoughts and feelings for you to respond effectively to situations and challenges. Being aware and accepting all of your emotions and learning from the difficult ones, allows you to create a space between how you feel and then respond, in line with your values. Webinar 3: Your health and wellbeing as a NQP. Date: Thursday, 11th April 2024 at 1.30pm – 3pm As NQPs it is important that you are aware of your personal wellbeing as you transition into your professional role. Having increased awareness of this and strategies to support you, is imperative. Webinar 4: Civility Saves Lives. Date:Friday, 19th April 2024 at 10.30am – 12pm The Civility Saves Lives (CSL) campaign aims to create, enable and maintain positive workplace relationships and environments where the culture is improved by promoting the value of civil, caring and compassionate interactions, raising awareness of unprofessional and unproductive behaviours, and understanding the negative impact that rudeness (incivility) can have.
Following attendance at webinars, NQP advised facilitators of their take home messages which included:
Feeling understood.
Reminds us that our emotions are important and about managing these as NQPs; and hearing other perspectives and realising we are all similar.
It’s okay to take a pause and not feel we need to just continue on;
To have more belief in own ability, be more open to ask questions.
Tackle complex emotions with curiosity. Practice what we preach to patients;
Self-care and wellbeing is vital for the provision of safe and effective care;
Importance of self-care and compassion for preventing burnout; The importance of being considerate of others around me and how my emotions can impact this
The NHSGGC Practice Education team provides information and support to all Practice Supervisors / Practice Assessors working within NHSGGC. Not only do we offer a choice of online and in-person support sessions, but also a variety of additional resources which includes presentations, interactive guides and audio podcasts.
Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor Support Sessions
In order to secure a place, sign-up using the links below.
Practice Assessment Document (PAD)
During this session we aim to provide a general overview of the PAD. In addition to discussing the role of the Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor, this session will provide information and encourage discussion on the topics of student assessment, grading and the proficiencies, skills and procedures that students must achieve, as well as the principles of learning development support planning.
During this session we aim to increase your awareness of the theory student nurses learn at university and the skills and procedures they must demonstrate to enter the NMC register. In addition, this session will provide an outline of governance processes and resources available to guide Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor in their role of supporting students to demonstrate specific skills and procedures.
**Coming Soon** Listen to our audio podcast which gives information on the new skills and procedures for student nurses
Reasonable Adjustments: Religion and Culture
During this session we aim to provide practical support to Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessors in supporting individual requirements related to Religion and Culture. Furthermore, the session provides an overview of our diverse workforce, examples of related reasonable adjustments and how to manage them in practice. Lastly, opportunity to discuss what constitutes a reasonable adjustment, learning development support plans, interim feedback meetings and additional supports available are provided.
During this session aim to increase your awareness of dyslexia and how you as Practice Supervisors / Practice Assessors can support student nurses with dyslexia in the practice learning environment. Furthermore, the session provides an overview of dyslexia, including positive influences, related characteristics, and professional and legal obligations. Lastly, the session also provides an opportunity to discuss the process for putting a reasonable adjustment in place and completion of learning development support Plans.
Listen to our audio podcast on reasonable adjustment and supporting students with dyslexia in the practice learning environment
Reasonable Adjustments: Mental Health and Anxiety
During this session we aim to increase your awareness of anxiety, how this impacts student nurses and how you as Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor can support them within the practice learning environment. Furthermore, the session also provides an opportunity to discuss what constitutes a reasonable adjustment, learning development support plans, interim feedback meetings and additional supports available.
This section provides practice supervision / assessment related documents and resources for all those involved in the supervision and assessment of student nurses and midwives within NHSGGC.
(Please note we are continuing to work on the information supplied on this page.)
Students must have active NHSGGGC accounts to access our healthcare systems needed to participate in Practice Learning Environments. In order to get started with our main hospital systems, detailed guides have been created and these are available on the Learn section of the student external eHealth portal. An additional guide outlines the process for students to register for the student eHealth portal in order to report IT issues and to change their student account to NQP status.
Supplementary factsheets about specific eHealth programmes
This resource will supplement practice supervision / assessment in the workplace for student nurses and midwives. Additionally, it is practice supervisor and practice assessor facing and provides information and guidance on Pharmacology.
Blood Transfusion
**Coming Soon** Guidance to support Practice Supervision / Practice Assessment of undergraduate nurses in safe transfusion practice.
Raising concerns in practice: student guidance
This guidance is designed for use in all audited practice learning environments across Scotland. It aims to describe the process for dealing with instances of poor care witnessed by nursing or midwifery students while on practice. In this case, poor care refers to situations in which one perceives care as inadequate, below an acceptable standard, abusive, or neglectful, based on the premise that one should never accept poor care.
‘Speaking up’ – National Whistleblowing Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Students in Scotland
This guidance details the process for raising a concern and intends for nursing and midwifery students in Scotland to use it while undertaking PLEs during their pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes.
Practice Learning Support Protocol
These flowcharts illustrate guidance for student nurses and midwives, as well as PS / PAs, on dealing with concerns, although not care concerns, we come across in Practice Learning Environments.
Are you a newly qualified nurse, midwife or allied health professional (AHP)?
The Practice Education team are providing access to two Clinical Supervision sessions in your first year of practice, although these may be provided locally for some disciplines. Through attending the sessions, newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) will have opportunity to explore the effects of your work, by recognising how you are impacted by this, you can then focus on solutions for your learning and development and maintain or build your resilience levels.
Clinical Supervision supports you to reflect, and develop your clinical practice, whilst embedding staff wellbeing and wellness into the working environment, promoting and establishing positive working cultures,leading to improved patient outcomes.
Newly Qualified Practitioners (NQPs) should attend a Day 1 and a Day 2 study day in their first year of practice, these contribute to your 24 hours protected study time. NQPs may book on to a session at any of the sites, please ensure you discuss booking with SCN/SCM/Line Manager to ensure date is suitable for you to attend. Information will be sent in advance of the session to print and bring with you. Please click the relevant box for available dates.
DAY 1: Please click on preferred date to book Flying Start Day 1 (choose only one date to attend Day 1)
Throughout your first year and your career, as a healthcare professional, you are likely to experience a range of emotions, which could affect your health and wellbeing. The link below will take you to the NHSGGC organisational page for health and wellbeing, where you can explore these emotions and become aware of the supports available to you, to ensure you can address your emotions in a positive way.
NHSGGC has also produced a brief booklet with a number of resources which can support staff to take care of their own mental health and support colleagues to do so too. Click here to access this booklet.
As NQPs, commencing your career in healthcare, it is imperative that you are aware of, and look after your own wellbeing. Access this link Newly Qualified Staff – Looking after your wellbeing for guidance which could support you to do this.
It is recognised that exceptional demands are currently being placed on people working in health and social care. The National Wellbeing Hub contains information, resources and supports which you may find helpful at work and at home.
(Please note: the Hub is not specifically for NQPs, but you may find the contents are beneficial to you).
Within this section you will find Flying Start portfolio examples, which have been kindly submitted by NQPs who have completed the programme. This is to allow publication of examples for your information.
Please note: The portfolios have been published in the formats provided by the NQPs and are intended to be published in full. For anonymity reasons there may be portfolios where a piece of evidence has been replaced with a blank template. Furthermore, these portfolios may not reflect discussions which have taken place between NQP and Facilitator to meet learning outcomes.