Becoming a Professional Advocate (PA)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Over the course of the module, you will be supported to critically appraise and develop the key knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become a PA. You will be encouraged to develop existing leadership and advocacy skills to utilise the A-EQUIP model to enhance both personal and professional practice of yourself, and others in your clinical practice.

  Course Information

  Understanding the role of the PA, utilising the A-EQUIP (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) model to enhance personal and professional practice of self and others via:

  • Restorative clinical supervision
  • Models of supervision and their function
  • Building of personal and professional resilience
  • Reflection, supportive challenge, feedback and feedforward
  • Informed decision making.
  • Personal action for quality improvement (QI)
  • What is QI and how to action plan for QI
  • Advocacy and personalisation function of QI
  • Contributing to systems of QI and quality assurance.
  • Education and development
  • Informing appraisal and revalidation
  • Leadership development
  • Effective use of mentoring and coaching
  • Recognising stress in the workplace
  • Self-compassion and compassionate leadership
  • Leading service quality improvements

  This module is linked to the Competency Self- Assessment tool for PA’s (CSAT). We recognise that as student PA’s you will all be at different stages in your development – particularly in reference to clinical supervision so please note that to achieve final status as a PA you will go on to complete the PA Competencies which require you to be signed off by your Director of Nursing or Nominated Deputy.

  For further information on the award, please email: PA@northampton.ac.uk

   

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  The course is delivered on-line via the University of Northampton Learning Platform, one day per week for 10 consecutive weeks. Each taught day is scheduled from 10.00 to 16.00 hours and each cohort is scheduled on the same day of the week for 10 consecutive weeks

  There are 60 hours of on-line activities with mediated tutor input and 160 hours of guided independent study.

  The module Features Dr, Fiona Barchard who will present her Doctoral thesis. Students will also have access to a Professional Midwifery advocate and receive Mental Health First Aid training from Senior Nurses within the Faculty of Health, Education and Society.

  What will my timetable look like?

  You will be required to attend each day of this on-line 10-week program. Each taught day is scheduled from 10.00 to 16.00 hours and each cohort is scheduled on the same day of the week for 10 consecutive weeks (unless your scheduled cohort falls in the Christmas period – for this cohort there is a slight adjustment to account for the university closed days).

  How will I be assessed?

  The module is assessed via a portfolio of evidence, and this is a Pass/Fail assessment. The assessment for this module requires you to complete in total a 4,000-word reflective portfolio. You will be provided with portfolio guidance which includes reference to the Competency Self- Assessment tool for PA’s (CSAT). We recognise that as student PA’s you will all be at different stages in your development – particularly in reference to clinical supervision so please note that the portfolio is your individual journey and must show insight into how you plan to develop into the role.

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