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

  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

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 23/24. The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.

  Collapse
• Entry Requirements

  This course is only open to applicants who have been nominated through the NHSEI application process. You must be nominated to attend the module by your line manager and be ready to study at level 7. You will be a graduate nurse or the equivalent and have evidence of studying in the last five years.

  Application Steps

  Firstly, you are required to contact NHSEI via email at england.nursingpna@nhs.net to see which University you have been allocated. Once they have agreed the University of Northampton is to be your educational provider, then you can make a formal application to the University using the apply now button above.

  With your application you will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Evidence of your Highest qualification.
  • Change of name document, if your application or certificates or Photo ID are in different names.
  • Photo ID (Driving Licence or Passport).

  You can find further information about applying for this course on the Health CPD application page.

  Collapse
• Fees and Funding

  This is a 20-credit level 7 module developed with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to support your development to become a Professional Advocate (PA) and the fees are funded centrally through an agreed contract with NHSEI.

  For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  Collapse
• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  The course is delivered on-line via the University of Northampton Learning Platform. 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.

  Collapse