Partnerships and work-based learning: An evaluation of an opportunity to pioneer new ways to care for the older people in the community

Moore, Lesley J.

Abstract

The following British case study illustrates how a group of Primary Health Care Trusts expanded partnerships with a university to support the development of 12 new advanced primary nurses (APNs). The cohort of APNs were undertaking new roles and were part of the national pilot of the Department of Health adapted Evercare programme for the 'at risk' older people. Unique to the support was the rapid response of a local university to support and accredit 8 of the nurses' development of diverse needs via a masters work-based learning module. Self-assessment, reflection, action learning sets and time to practice new skills in a workshop and in practice settings were important aspects of the module. The evaluation of the work-based learning module was triangulated to include both individual and group responses. Evidencing work-based learning was a new but positive experience. The evidence suggests that the expanding partnerships and synergy between practice and academia is evolving, but needs organizational support. The new ways of working, including multidisciplinary mentorship, have developed both acute and community nurses to undertake health needs assessments of identified caseloads, and in partnership with doctors and pharmacists, to diagnose, review and prescribe drugs in an attempt to reduce re-hospitalization. Evolving themes from the evaluation and the learning from the partnerships have influenced further developments in both practice and academia. © 2007 Taylor & Francis.

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2007
• Journal: Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
• Print ISSN: 0260-2938
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-297X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 61-77
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930600848283
• Keywords: partnerships, work-based learning, community care
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1029998
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602930600848283