The Society of Radiographers has developed a guidance document for practice educators to support the delivery of high-quality training and mentorship in ultrasound.
With sonography facing a national shortage in the UK and vacancy rates sitting between 12.6 per cent and 14.9 per cent, stakeholders across imaging are exploring ways to unlock additional ultrasound teaching capacity.
As demand for skilled ultrasound practitioners continues to grow, the need for support for practice educators will too – as laid out in this publication, entitled ‘Ultrasound Practice Educator Guidance’.
Mentorship and guidance
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) states that placements should be in an “environment that is safe and supportive for learners and service users”. Practice educators provide a safe clinical environment and can support or lead on development, delivery, evaluation and assessment of clinical education in the workplace.
Practice educators are also responsible for providing mentorship and guidance to learners from a wide range of clinical backgrounds, at different academic levels, and throughout their preceptorship period.
However, a recent study day for practice educators found 50 per cent of interactive poll respondents highlighted that “very little if anything” is known about the practice educator role within their department, and only 12 per cent had accreditation as an educator or practice educator.
'Practice educators play a crucial role'
Gill Harrison, professional officer for ultrasound at the SoR, said: “This SoR guidance document hopes to help raise the visibility of the practice educator role in ultrasound to support them to deliver high standards of clinical support for learners in ultrasound.
“Practice educators play a crucial role in supporting, mentoring, teaching and assessing learners in the clinical setting. To do this well they need protected time for the role, including teaching, the provision of feedback and pastoral care to the learner, their own continuing development and building a community of practice to share their learning with other practice educators.”
Guidance on recruitment, career development, and progression within the role of practice educator is also included.
“Individual learners will require different levels of support depending on their experience, background and level of award being studied. Open dialogue with the learner and the education provider will be key to providing the best learning opportunities for successful completion of a programme of study and for reducing attrition,” the document explains.
This project is part of a commissioned programme of work led by the Society of Radiographers. This work was commissioned and funded by NHS England.
Other relevant documents of note, such as the CoR Education and Career Framework and NHS England's Educator Workforce Strategy can be found online here and here, respectively.