Module 1 Roles and Accountabilities 30 Minutes

Setting the Scene

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is introducing a new process in which nurses and midwives will need to engage to demonstrate that they practise safely and effectively throughout their career.

It is easy, straightforward and a continuous process and will help nurses and midwives develop as professionals. It is not a point in time activity or assessment.

The aim of the revalidation pilot is to test the processes and tools of the revalidation model with nurses and midwives in a variety of settings. Through the pilots, we want to explore whether:-

• the requirements for revalidation are understood by nurses and midwives

• the revalidation guidance and templates provide appropriate support for those undertaking the process; and

• the online process works well

Objectives – 4 Modules

This presentation consists of 4 modules designed to promote your awareness, define the different roles and answer your questions on the process of revalidation as defined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

On completion of this session you will:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities

• Be able to demonstrate you meet the requirements and how this should be recorded in your portfolio

• Understand the requirements for clear reflection and discussion of your practice

• Appreciate the importance of the professional development discussion and obtaining confirmation

Let’s recap on The Code

4

One Code, four themes

Together they signify good nursing and midwifery practice with the

ultimate aim of public protection.

What’s new in the Code?

Duty of Candour Every healthcare professional must be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with their treatment or care which causes, or has the potential to cause harm or distress.

Social media The Code recognises the changing nature of communications and sets standards for acting responsibly, including the use of social media.

Fundamentals of care The Code sets standards of fundamental care and provides examples of what this includes

such as nutrition, hydration and environmental cleanliness.

What’s new in the Code?

Medicines management and prescribing Standards that clearly set the context for prescribing, supply, dispensing and administering medications.

Conscientious objection Nurses and midwives must act in the best interests of people at all times and can only make conscientious objections to a particular procedure in limited circumstances.

End of life care Specific reference is made to the needs of those in the last days and hours of life.

What’s changed in the Code?

A greater focus on:

Compassionate care – kindness, respect and compassion

Teamwork – work co-operatively

Record keeping – six clear standards to support all record keeping

Delegation and accountability – delegate responsibly, be accountable

Raising concerns – this aligns the Code with the re-launched Raising Concerns Guidance published in 2013

Cooperating with investigations and audits – including those against individuals or organisations, and cooperating with requests to act as a witness at hearings.

Module 1

• Review the requirements of revalidation

• Understand the roles of:

- The NMC

- Nurses and Midwives

- Confirmers

- PDD Partner

- Healthcare Organisations

Revalidation aims to:

• Improve public protection and professional standards by encouraging a culture of reflection and improvement

• Ensure that nurses and midwives continue to be safe and effective throughout their career

• Strengthen professionalism through ongoing reflection

• Give great confidence to the public, employers and fellow professionals that nurses and midwives are up to date with their practice.

• Encourage engagement and challenge isolation

12

Practice hours

Continuing

professional

development

Practice related

feedback

Reflection and

discussion

Health and character

Professional

indemnity

arrangement

Confirmation

from a third

party

Roles and Accountabilities

It is important that there is clear understanding of the role and accountability structure that has been developed to support the Revalidation framework.

Many of you will find yourselves involved in more than one role, depending on your experience or seniority.

Roles and Accountabilities

1. The NMC

2. Registrants

3. Confirmers

4. PDD Partner (If not a confirmer)

5. Healthcare Organisation

1) Role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

The NMC is the nursing and midwifery regulator for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The NMC exists to:

• protect the health and wellbeing of the public.

• hold the register of nurses and midwives who have met the NMC requirements to practise

• set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality healthcare consistently throughout their careers

• ensure that nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date and uphold professional standards

• have clear and transparent processes to investigate nurses and midwives who fall short of our standards

2) Nurses and Midwives (registrants) - Requirements

Revalidation reinforces the duty on you to ensure that your knowledge and skills are up-to-date

Revalidation aligns to the four themes of the Code and requires you to:

• Prioritise people by seeking and reflecting on feedback received from patients, service users and others to ensure that you are able to fulfil their needs.

• Practise effectively by reflecting on your professional development with your colleagues, identifying areas for improvement in your practice and undertaking professional development activities.

• Preserve safety by practising within your competency for the minimum number of practice hours, reflecting on feedback, and addressing any gaps in your practice through continuing professional development (CPD).

• Promote professionalism and trust by providing feedback and helping other NMC colleagues reflect on their professional development, and being accountable to others for your professional development and revalidation.

3) Confirmers: - Confirmation from a third party

Why?

Adds credibility to revalidation and provides additional assurance that the registrant has met the revalidation requirement

Who?

The most appropriate confirmer is the Line Manager

The confirmer does not have to be an NMC registrant

Confirmers – Role

Confirmers will need to meet you and:

• have a face-to-face discussion about your portfolio, to understand how the content provides evidence of meeting requirements. This can form part of the annual appraisal process

• review the portfolio to ensure that revalidation requirements have been met

• question you if unsure whether requirements have been met

• use professional judgment in deciding whether you have met the revalidation requirements

Confirmers – Role

• The Confirmer is being asked to confirm based on the evidence that has been seen

• The Confirmer is not required to verify information in your portfolio. The content of the portfolio as seen is the information on which judgment should be based. For example, the confirmer does not need to contact CPD providers to check whether you attended a course.

• The Confirmer will sign off the statement, “I confirm that the above named NMC registrant has demonstrated to me that they have complied with the NMC revalidation requirements as set out in “How to revalidate with the NMC”.

If confirmation is provided honestly, a Confirmer will not be held responsible for future or past actions if they were unaware of them when giving the confirmation.

Who is an appropriate third party Confirmer?

1. The NMC advises that the line manager takes the role of confirmer

2. The line manager does not have to be a registered nurse or midwife

3. If you do not have a line manager, the NMC recommends that the Confirmer, wherever possible is an NMC registrant

4) Professional Development Discussion Partner

The PDD Partner must be an NMC registrant and be able to discuss reflective accounts. Additionally,

• they should ideally work with you or be involved with you in a professional network

or learning group

• they do not have to undertake the same type of practice

• they must have a face to face conversation in an appropriate environment

• they must discuss the recorded reflections and linked these to the code.

• they should understand the requirements for revalidation

• they need to sign and date a form recording your name, NMC PIN, email, professional

address and postcode

Obtaining Confirmation (Nurse or Midwife)

Obtaining confirmation means that as the nurse or midwife:

• You have had a face to face discussion with a third party where you demonstrate how you have met the revalidation requirements

• This can form part of your annual appraisal

Joint Responsibilities

Both you and the Confirmer need:

• To be mindful about any personal or commercial relationship

• To exercise judgement where there is any conflict of interest or perception of bias to ensure that the confirmation process retains credibility and remains objective

• To consider whether a different person should be used as your confirmer

• To understand your obligations in relation to confidentiality and data protection

5) Healthcare Organisations

You are not obliged to provide specific support to the nurses and midwives you employ.

However, providing support for revalidation could be considered as a key part of your quality and assurance systems.

Organisational Communication

Discuss

• Communicating the revalidation message

• Broad communication to build understanding including other professions

• Communication of roles and responsibilities

• Informing patients / stakeholders about revalidation and how feedback is important

- Inclusion of revalidation in the induction process

Revalidation Quiz

As part of your preparation for this session you will have reviewed the NMC Code, the Process of Revalidation and the How to Revalidate document on the NMC website.