Empowering Scotland’s Newly Qualified Practitioners
Flying Start NHS is a national development programme designed for newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals during their first year of practice.
It supports learning and development of newly qualified practitioners (NQP) working in all sectors and settings.
A learner-directed programme means, with support from their Flying Start Facilitator and line manager, the NQP is responsible for identifying the best way to approach and complete the programme.
Pillars of Practice
The programme is structured around the Pillars of Practice model, these are:
- clinical practice
- facilitating learning
- leadership
- evidence, research, and development
Each pillar is tailored to equip practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve set learning outcomes.
Clinical Practice
The clinical practice pillar focuses on enhancing the practical skills of NQP’s. It highlights the importance of:
- delivering high-quality patient care
- understanding clinical guidelines
- developing critical thinking abilities
Facilitating Learning
The facilitating learning pillar encourages practitioners to engage in career-long learning and support others to learn. This pillar is important in creating a culture of knowledge sharing and professional growth within health and social care settings.
Leadership
This pillar aims to develop the leadership skills of newly qualified practitioners. It prepares practitioners to lead with confidence and competence by covering:
- effective communication
- team management
- strategic thinking
Evidence, Research, and Development
The final pillar demonstrates the importance of evidence-based practice. It encourages practitioners to engage with current research, contribute to the development of new knowledge, and apply evidence-based practices in their daily work.
Supporting Resources
The Flying Start NHS learning hub on Turas offers resources and information, some of the topics covered are:
- reflection
- feedback
- self-development
- leadership
Benefits of Flying Start NHS
The programme provides a structured and supportive environment, helping practitioners transition smoothly from education to practice. It helps the NQP to:
- develop confidence
- increase skills
- increase leadership ability
- explore values and behaviours
- make a positive start to their career and professional development
Meagan’s Story
Meagan, a Registered Dietitian working in the Clinical Community Dietetic Team in NHS Forth Valley shares her experience of Flying Start NHS.
September, 27 2024