Paediatric nurses deliver child and family centred care that enables the child and their family to manage the physical, physiological, social and spiritual effects of a health problem and its treatment
​Preceptorship is a structured programme of support and teaching that enhances clinical experience through providing opportunities to practice and develop skills safely. For Newly Registered Nurses (NRNs), preceptorship provides the opportunity to develop core clinical and theoretical skills during the transition from student (novice) to registered nurse or registered nursing associate (advanced beginner).

The development of the Wessex Paediatric Nursing Preceptorship Programme is a regional approach of delivering preceptorship to paediatric NRNs. It emulates a concept pioneered by the Wessex Neonatal Preceptorship Programme that utilises the expertise of paediatric teams within Wessex to collaboratively deliver training and support to all staff members on the programme. 
The paediatric preceptorship programme intends to ensure that all paediatric NRNs in Wessex receive a standardised preceptorship programme during their first year as a “new registrant”. The overarching programme vision is to generate a paediatric NRN workforce who delivers a consistently high standard of care through development of fundamental clinical knowledge and skills. This includes the recognition of the NRN workforce as future leaders of the NHS, providing a forum to identify and nurture hidden talent. 

The paediatric preceptorship programme run over a 12 month period with intakes in October and March/April and includes newly qualified Registered Nurses and Registered Nursing Associates. A variety of topics are taught ensuring both clinical and professional development and building of confidence and resilience amongst the newly registered paediatric workforce of Wessex.  

Programme Aims & Objectives
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The Wessex programme aims to create a paediatric NRN workforce that receives a standardised level of skills, knowledge and support, achieved by:​
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  • Providing a standardised programme for  the Wessex paediatric NRN's to achieve an agreed level of skill, competence and knowledge  from novice to advanced beginner
  • Deliverance of training and education that supports the transition of Wessex paediatric NRNs from student to registered nurse/ registered nursing associate
  • Providing a standardised Clinical Competency Framework underpinned with a formal theoretical programme and orientation to individual units based upon National Health Service [NHS] (Knowledge Skills Framework [KSF] 2004, RCN competencies, NMC (2018) standards for registered nurses and standards for registered nursing associates
  • Providing an integral step to improve Preceptee transition and socialisation from student to NRN and to further build upon knowledge, skills and competence to improve patient outcomes 
  • Improving NRN staff retention and improving attrition rates within the Network
  • A reduction in NRN staff sickness levels
  • Reducing NRN related Adverse Event Reporting (AER) through improving clinical support, skills and knowledge
  • Improving patient experience/care through improving knowledge and skill development and staff retention
  • Developing shared learning pathways within the multi-professional  paediatric team 
  • Providing clear guidance on the role and responsibility of the Preceptor, Preceptee, Line Managers, members of the Wessex paediatric teams and the Nurse Educator for the regional programme
  • Contributing to the Preceptees preparation for a future career within Wessex
If you would like any further information please contact
Jo Cleall, Programme Lead
​joanne.cleall@uhs.nhs.uk​