NHS environments taking health and care students on placements will see a subtle shift in students' inter-professional learning approaches from 2013 with the launch of a new learning model developed by the University of Southampton and the University of Portsmouth.
Multi Professional Learning (MPL) will replace the Inter-professional Learning Units (IPLU) model to respond to the re-configuring of clinical services, changes in NHS resourcing and changes in models of education. It will provide forward thinking solutions for giving health and social care students the skills to work in multi-disciplinary environments.
Under MPL, learning and working with other professions is embedded in all aspects of 18 undergraduate health and social care programmes delivered in Southampton and Portsmouth. Working with their University and placement partners, students will be empowered to guide their own learning by maximising the opportunities available to them – both in theory and practice settings – and develop their knowledge and skills for working with others.
NHS partners will now see a difference in students on practice placements as they become more proactive; actively seeking opportunities to work and learn from other professions. This shift from pre-organised opportunities is to enable students to become more rounded professionals who can better identify with their own profession, and also to identify the benefits, issues and boundaries when working collaboratively with others.
Practice mentors and facilitators over the coming academic year will see the integration of MPL, particularly when students reach the second stage. This will be reflected in forthcoming guidance documents and revised assessment of practice documents.