CPD and short courses (short course)
10 weeks
Module level: 7
Module credits: 15 credits
Develop your clinical leadership skills as a healthcare practitioner, enabling you to undertake the role of Professional Advocate (PA).
If you’re a current healthcare practitioner who wishes to develop their clinical leadership skills, our Royal College of Nursing accredited Professional Advocate module is for you. We'll combine academic rigour with practical applications to create a forward-thinking, dynamic healthcare practitioner with the ability to lead the services in which you work.
Modern health and social care practice is a challenging place to work. Stress and burnout will almost certainly increase due to the exceptional pressure that many healthcare staff are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic (Kinman et al 2020; NHS Confederation 2020; West et al 2020). Our Professional Advocate module supports learning located primarily in the workplace to enable practising staff to become Professional Advocates (NHS England, 2017). The role of a PA and the use of A-EQUIP model (advocating for education and quality improvement) is part of the solution to supporting many of these issues.
We aim to develop your skills and expertise in the four functions of the Professional Advocate: education and development (formative function), restorative clinical supervision (RCS), monitoring, evaluation and quality control (normative function) and personal action for quality improvement.
Delivered over ten online study days, the course includes online activities supported by interactive sessions and key speakers. There is an emphasis on the support of healthcare staff in practice, building resilience using RCS, demonstrating the importance of having a safe and confidential space allowing time to reflect and make sense of workplace issues. You will develop skills to be an advocate for colleagues, patients, and your profession.
The assessment will include a portfolio of evidence, demonstrating how you've utilised your new skills and knowledge to support staff in practice by using all elements of the A-EQUIP model. As an applicant, you'll need to identify a clinical supervisor to sign off your clinical competency.
On successful completion of the module, you’ll be able to undertake the role of the Professional Advocate (PA) and be appointable as a Professional Advocate by your employing organisation. This module has been developed to meet the PA standards set by NHS England, including the mandated ten taught days.
The expectations of students accessing the PNA/PA/PMA are that they are available for the full study day from 9.00 hrs – 16.00hrs each week for the 10-week programme.
Students will need to ensure they are available to complete the self-directed study each morning prior to the late morning/afternoon sessions.
Each week students will be invited to be part of a small group where they will have opportunity to practice and discuss RCS skills. They will be allocated to the same group each week. It is important students attend this activity.
Group lectures will also take place each week usually in the afternoon. Student discussion and participation will be an essential part of these sessions. Most of the sessions on the PNA/PA/PMA are not recorded. This programme requires a full study day each week for 10 weeks and 2 full day self-directed study days to complete the summative assignments.
The Professional Advocate Preparation module is for current healthcare practitioners who wish to develop their clinical leadership skills. Candidates will have a current live registration with a professional statutory regulatory body such as the NMC.
Evidence of Level 6 study is required. Non-graduates with extensive relevant, practical and continuing professional development experience will be considered for entry onto this module.
This module would also be suitable for Allied Health Professionals (AHP) and band 5 nurses in a development post, looking to apply for future SCPHN course.
If you're a midwife, please see our Professional Midwifery Advocate Preparation (PMA) course page for more details.
The expectations of students accessing the PNA/PA/PMA are that they are available for the full study day from 9am-4pm each week for the 10-week programme.
The May 2025 course is currently full, but you can register your interest by emailing [email protected]
Cohort 1
Mondays
12, 19 May
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 June
7, 14, 21 July
Cohort 2
Tuesdays
13, 20, 27 May
3, 10, 17, 24 June
1, 8,15 July
Cohort 3
Wednesdays
14, 21, 28 May
4, 11, 18, 25 June
2, 9, 16 July
Please check with your trust PNA lead to secure funding before applying.
£883
£928
Please ask your manager or Education Lead about available funding before you apply.
Paula Carr
[email protected]
CPD Admissions team
[email protected]
Evidence of Level 6 study is required. Non-graduates with extensive relevant, practical and continuing professional development experience will be considered for entry onto this module.
You'll be a current healthcare practitioner, registered with a professional, statutory regulatory body such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
You'll be a healthcare professional, at Band 5 or above, and have also completed your preceptorship.
If you're a midwife, please see our Professional Midwifery Advocate Preparation (PMA) course page for more details.
Applicants will need to identify a practice assessor to sign off their competencies in practice setting.
The Assessor needs to be a qualified PA/PNA or PMA (students on PA/PNA/PMA modules cannot be assessors). Alternatively, if not a PNA/PMA/PA, assessors need to have at least 2 years’ experience and completed the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) Assessment of students’ or assessment appropriate to your professional body.
All practice assessors must be registered with a professional statutory regulatory body with a current live registration, or a registered Nurse with a current live registration with the NMC.
Assessors must be able to sign off a Professional Advocate student in practice.
If you have difficulty identifying a practice assessor, please contact your organisations lead PA who can support with allocation of a suitable assessor.
Short course cpd and short courses (3 days)
June
Please also complete a supplementary information form when applying for this course.
Apply onlineUse this link if your preferred date or campus is not currently available.
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