‘Continuous’ learning

Practice supervision should be ‘sufficiently continuous’, so it upholds public protection and enables the student to meet their learning outcomes.

These are the standards that set out our expectations of continuity of support and practice supervision:

What is ‘sufficient’ coordination and continuity of practice supervision will change depending on the circumstances. ‘Continuity’ need not mean a student having the same practice supervisor for a period of time. It may be fulfilled by good record keeping and handover between practice supervisors, if appropriate.

A decision on what’s appropriate in what circumstances can be reached by taking into account the student’s learning outcomes, confidence, competence and increasing independence, and any equality and diversity considerations alongside an understanding of the knowledge, skills and availability of practice supervisors.

When supervising students practice supervisors should decide what level of continuity is appropriate for each individual student at each point in their learning or programme.