Interprofessional Education

IPE is a strand that runs throughout the education of students studying medicine, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, social work, biomedical science and operating department practice.

IPE 1 assigns students the task of tracing a patient’s care pathway in an interprofessional group setting. At the initial introductory session students are shown a DVD provided by Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service. This forms the basis of the IPE 1 case study based task. IPE 1 includes a variety of learning experiences including lectures, small group tutorial activity (both with & without tutors), independent study and group poster preparation and presentation.

IPE 2 focuses on patient/client safety and aims to increase student’s understanding of the importance of good communication and teamwork, in the safe and effective delivery of healthcare. Students again attend a plenary session followed by group sessions.
Each multidisciplinary group of students will consider a scenario in which there has been a care delivery problem, which has compromised patient safety, resulting in a “significant event”. Students learn how to carry out an investigation using ‘root cause analysis’. The outcome is a group report and portfolio development

IPE 3 is introduced to students at the start of their third year of study and continues until the student completes their course. Learning objectives are achieved whilst the students are on clinical/practice based learning placements. For the successful attainment of IPE 3 learning outcomes, students are considered to be self motivated and responsible adult learners. The emphasis at this level is on planning as to how the IPE 3 outcomes will be achieved. The plenary sessions are delivered by the site lead within each school. The evidence is gathered and recorded in the CPD Portfolio, whilst on placement, with a Clinical Educator/Supervisor/Mentor. This is then is checked by the student’s personal tutor.

It is facilitated by mentors / practice educators in the clinical field and should involve multi-source feedback.

The students are all provided with a handbook that illustrates examples of what and how to record their achievement of the learning outcomes for IPE3. This is:-

  • By observation of effective / non effective inter-professional working
  • By participation in inter-professional practice and team working
  • By involvement in inter-professional discussion and decision making

Evidence of achievement of inter-professional learning outcomes is reflected on / summarised in their portfolio.

This evidence is stored in the students’ portfolios and is reviewed by their personal mentors/appraisers/tutors at the end of their clinical experience.

By the end of their studies at Keele the student is required to have achieved all IPE3 learning outcomes.