Bassetlaw Hospital’s Education Programme shortlisted for national award

The Education Programme at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Workforce Award, recognising their supportive and innovative preceptorship offer.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Workforce AwardDoncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Workforce Award
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Workforce Award

Designed to help the transition from pre-registration study at university to working as a staff nurse, midwife or allied health professional, the preceptorship programmes help to develop staff so that they can consolidate their skills and familiarise themselves with their role.

During this transitionary period, colleagues are given structured support from experienced clinicians and are afforded time to learn about best practice, in a setting where everyone else is also at the start of their journey.

The Trust has recently overhauled its approach to preceptorship, in an effort to standardise their offering, so that that all professional groups get the same level of support. Prior to the revamp, there were several bespoke programmes across the organisation, all of which were run in slightly different ways.

Under this new model, candidates are given the same ‘core’ teaching, which covers general topics like hospital amenities, conflict resolution and resuscitation. In addition to this, they are also invited to informative lectures and classroom sessions which are specifically tailored to their area and speciality.

Dr Alasdair Strachan, director of Education at DBTH, said: ‘’Here at the Trust, we understand that the first 12 months after qualifying can be a very challenging for new starters.

"This is why we believe it is crucial to have a smooth transition in place and specialist support available.

‘’Our new, standardised, preceptorship programme delivers just that. Not only does it help candidates through their first year, but they also offer continued support into the future. So far, we have received very encouraging feedback from our new starters and we are taking on suggestions to improve it even further."

This is the second year that the Nursing Times Workforce Awards will be running and they will be building upon last year’s success.

With the introduction of three new categories, there will now be 14 awards given out over the course of the evening.

David Purdue, deputy chief executive, said: ‘’ As a teaching hospital Trust, we take the development and training of our staff very seriously.

"It is a great honour then, to be shortlisted for this highly prestigious award and to be recognised for our efforts.

"I am incredibly proud of our team, as I know how hard they have worked over the past year to implement these changes to our preceptorship offer’."

The awards are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 25, at the Brewery in London.

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