Practice Development Facilitator/Practice Development Fellow

Job/Role Summary

• Contribute to Clinical Governance Agenda
• Promote the development of a culture which is person-centered
• Revise and develop policies
• Undertake baseline audits
• Influence and facilitate the Development of Practice development activities
• Promote a culture of research within the nursing profession
• Contribute to a culture of life long learning
• Identify and promote educational opportunities
• Actively pursue avenues for funding
• Promote and encourage leadership potential in others.

Specific qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

• Professional nursing qualification and current registration with NMC
• Educated to degree level/provide evidence of continuous learning & development to level 3
• 3 years at G Grade
• Driving licence Professional & Academic Qualifications (Personal)
• RGN, RM, RHV
• BSc Professional Development in Nursing with community option in Health Visiting
• MSC Health Promotion
• Post-graduate Certificate in Life-long Learning
• RCN Accreditation for Facilitation and the Postgraduate Certificate in Life Long Learning.

Career Milestones

My experience in cardiology and the public health role in Health Visiting and Midwifery highlighted the importance of disease prevention and health promotion in the health and wellbeing of the population and was thus one of the drivers in attaining an MSc in Health Promotion. Throughout this stage of my career the holistic care for patients/clients was very much reinforced and the importance of care being patient-centred. I have a keen interest in multi-disciplinary working and team effectiveness in caring for patients and was fortunate to be able to be part of a pilot within a health board whereby I facilitated team building within the Primary Care setting in my role as Primary Care Facilitator. My skills in facilitation have developed through my successful appointment as Practice Development Facilitator within a Trust. Throughout this time, personal study has widened my skills in facilitation; essentially the key areas of study have been the RCN Practice Development week and the Post-graduate Certificate in Life-long Learning. The recent opportunity for a secondment role has continued to develop my skills, consolidate new approaches to learning, encourage others to reflect on practice and identify where change may be required.

What attracted you to this job?

• Career development and promotion
• Role as a Primary Care Facilitator highlighted that initiatives and projects to enhance practice need to be driven and coordinated to promote quality care
• The opportunity to be involved in practitioner development
• The opportunity to involve individuals engaged in the care of patients/clients who work from a perspective that is much wider than nursing.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• Able to make a difference for patients and practitioners through influencing & negotiating skills
• Working closely with practitioners (multi-professionals) and users of the service
• My own personal and professional development.

Important success factors

• Support and partnership working with managers and practitioners
• The promotion of ‘Practice development week’
• Use of reflection and enhancement of facilitation skills.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

You should want to take time to develop yourself from a personal perspective. Take up or apply for any shadow or secondment opportunities that become available. They are valuable activities to engage in and often provide vast development opportunities. Get involved in initiatives e.g. audits that are going on in your area and attempt to learn from these activities and those you are working with. Utilise your formal learning e.g. courses you have undertaken to change practice. Utilise your Trust Practice Development person as a resource (if available within organisations). Learn the value and support of developing a large network of multi-professional colleagues.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• More enhanced knowledge regarding theoretical component of facilitation
• Consolidation of the links between evidence, context and facilitation
• Enhanced practice of group working and group dynamics
• Development of skills of communication
• Promotion of conducive environments for learning i.e. safe and supportive
• Reflection
• Skills to undertake policy development/writing of strategies
• In conclusion Revans (1983) ascertains
• There is no learning without action and no action without learning – even though we may not realise it at the time!

Career Profiles