LUHFT has an established Professional and Practice Development Unit (PPDU) team which provides support and facilitates learning as part of the continued professional development of students and registered healthcare professionals across our sites.  

The PPDU works in partnership with universities, colleges and other higher education institutions, as well as with NHSE Workforce, Training & Education and placement areas across LUHFT, to develop and deliver education and training programmes relevant to multi-disciplinary practice which address the needs of individuals and professional groups.

The team also provide tailored support for clinical educators and staff involved in learning and assessment in clinical practice of both pre and post registration learners, enhancing the quality of the learning experience at LUHFT.

The PPDU consists of the following teams:

Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs)

The PEF team are a support and liaison service, which links Higher Education institutions, students, and practice. Our PEFs cover all clinical areas at LUHFT which accommodate and support Nursing and AHP students. The team supports students whilst in practice, help facilitate completion of learning outcomes documents on Practice Assessment Record and Evaluation (PARE). They also act as support for students who require extra assistance or have reasonable adjustments.

The team lead and facilitate a number of NHS England-driven programmes focusing on recruitment, retention and workforce development. These include return to practice, REPAIR project, Grow Our Own Nurse programmes and BSc/MSc paathways for staff personal and professional development.

Trainee Nurse Associates (TNA)

The TNA team consists of Practice Educators and Clinical Educators whose main goal is to help facilitate the learning experiences for the TNAs during their training. This is done by providing the support and guidance to equip TNAs with the skills necessary to become Registered Nursing Associates. 

The Practice Educator acts as the TNA’s line manager throughout their training, giving the TNA a direct line of contact throughout their programme and ensures they are fully supported, both clinically and pastorally. 

The Clinical Educators work alongside the TNAs in clinical practice, offering practical support and education, while identifying areas for development. They will liaise with assessors and supervisors to ensure you get the best experience in the placement area.

International Recruitment 

The International Nurse OSCE Training team work alongside the PEF team to support the arrival of internationally recruited nurses, facilitate a program of OSCE exam training and provide the much-needed pastoral support to ensure our new staff settle into their new home and work roles.

Newly recruited international nurses are required to undertake the NMC OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) exam within the first 12 weeks of arrival in the UK and as of December 2022, over 400 internationally educated nurses have arrived in the UK and have all passed the OSCE exams to become Registered Nurses at LUHFT.

The OSCE team has worked in partnership with other Trusts in the region to ensure consistency of training and agreed local policies and has also been tasked with training oversees nurses from other Trusts.

To make sure our internationally recruited colleagues feel at home, the PPDU team set up ‘Scouse School’ where attendees learn about Liverpool’s history, accents, vocabulary, pop culture, food and drink, before exploring the city and seeing historic buildings and areas important to the city. 

Practice Development Nurses (PDN)

The Practice Development Nurse (PDN) role was introduced in the Trust in 2022 to help support and educate health care staff. PDNs provide extensive clinical advice and support to enhance the knowledge base and practical skills of newly-qualified nurses, internationally recruited nurses, healthcare assistants, nursing associates and other learners in the wards.

The PDNs are members of the Corporate Nursing Team that support the development of clinical practice and take part in recruitment and retention initiatives.

The PDNs aim to empower staff to be active participants in their learning and development in pursuit of excellent clinical practice.