ACCPs, whether trained or in training, must have an educational supervisor for professional guidance, education, mentorship, career advice, pastoral care, emotional and psychological support. The requirements placed upon this supervisor will be different for ACCPs in training than for trained ACCPs, but supervision is nevertheless essential throughout an ACCP’s career. This individual should be a consultant (known as the consultant ACCP supervisor).
Consultant ACCP supervisors should have this educational role written into their job plans. The FICM recommends 0.25PA per trainee ACCP and 0.125PA per trained ACCP, unless specific demands suggest that this should be amended. Examples of specific demands might include ACCPs with particular educational or pastoral needs or following central e.g. NHSWTE guidance changes where an amendment in funding is provided. Consultant supervisors should have received appropriate training for the role of educational supervision and should remain up to date with both supervision and the ACCP role.
ACCPs should have annual appraisals in line with the ACCP CPD and Appraisal recommendations. The FICM recommends appraisals are tripartite in nature, involving the ACCP, the consultant ACCP supervisor and the lead ACCP (if applicable) or matron for critical care (where no lead ACCP exists). Appropriate documentation for these appraisals can be found on the FICM website. Appraisals are an opportunity to review the latest year of work and set agreed goals for the year ahead. Both retrospective and prospective discussions should include professional, personal, and psychological matters that align with the needs of the unit and the individual ACCP, as well as reviewing Trust/Health Board mandatory training requirements.
