Professional Advocate Preparation

The Professional Advocate is a leadership role developed to create a forward thinking, dynamic, visionary practitioners who will have the ability to take strategic roles in their organisations, have the confidence to support their colleagues through restorative practice and lead on quality improvement initiatives.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to undertake the role of the Professional Advocate and be appointable as a Professional Advocate by your organisation.

This module combines preparation for the Professional Advocate role with an innovative exploration of Foundational Wellbeing, Applied Professional Competence, Reflective and Developmental Capacity, Collective and Relational Influence , Compassionate Leadership and Quality Improvement. The modules elements are based on the four elements of the A-EQUIP Model and align with the 15 competencies you will be expected to demonstrate in your Portfolio.   

You will develop an in depth understanding of resilience from a theoretical perspective exploring personal, professional and organisational responsibility that develops, maintains and supports resilience in healthcare and how it applies to the role of the Professional Advocate.

There will be a focus on building your confidence to develop your qualities and skills to facilitate Restorative Supervision for individuals and groups in practice. Restorative Supervision sessions will be available during the programme.

Over the 10 weeks students will engage in a variety of learning opportunities including experiential group work, lecture presentations, workgroup discussions, reading groups and RCS sessions alongside some self-directed study.

Expectations

This is a programme that requires your full attention and engagement to gain the complete learning experience alongside the work you do in practice with your assessor’s support. You will not be able to complete this study day on a working day.

The sessions will not be recorded due to the nature of topics discussed and supports a safe learning environment. Please ensure you are in a private working space.  If you are unable to attend a session you may be able to attend on another day and these links are available in the schedule or make use of the additional reading in the self directed learning.

This programme is interactive and there will be many opportunities for discussion and group work, therefore it will be appreciated if students can use their camera during this time as this supports discussion and engagement. Please ensure that you have access to a laptop with a working microphone and camera. Mobile phones are not suitable.

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 take place each week in the morning. 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.

Students will also need to complete online learning in the afternoons or at a time suitable for them.

Assessment

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.

You will also be expected to submit a 1,000 word academic essay and a 500 word reflection on an RCS session.

Additional Reading Groups have been added to support transition to level 7 study.

This module has been developed to meet the Professional Advocate and the Professional Midwifery Advocate standards set by NHS England and the RCN Professional Nurse Advocate Standards for Education and Training Programmes and Modules (2023) - These standards offer education institutions a universal framework to align their programmes towards, and to establish enhanced levels of quality assurance. This module has also received RCN Accreditation.