Become a return to practice supervisor

Self-assessment tool

A great way to start supervised practice is to ask your returnee to complete a self-assessment tool. It helps identify the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to update within the area they plan to return to. It’s also helpful for the returnee to set their objectives and to discuss an action plan for the period of supervised practice.

You should also have a supervision agreement in place at the beginning of the placement.

You may have local ones available for you to use, or you can find examples of supervision agreements in the online AHP supervised practice guidance document. The self-assessment tool can also be found in the guidance document.

Inductions and mandatory training

To help returnees become more familiar with your organisation, you should do the following:

• Provide dates of corporate inductions, local inductions, and any helpful information to read before supervised practice begins.
• Arrange access to Turas mandatory learning.

During the period of supervision, you should also set aside dedicated time to spend with your returnee. How often you meet will depend on your returnee's specific learning needs.

HCPC supervised practice form

The only paperwork you need to complete throughout the placement is HCPC's supervised practice form. It documents the periods you have supervised the returnee in practice.

At the end of their time with you, you’ll sign this form to confirm your returnee has completed their supervised practice. All other paperwork is the returnee's responsibility.

Your returnee may ask you to countersign their return to practice forms, which the HCPC requires. These forms can be found on the HCPC Return to Practice pages. They include a cover summary sheet and a page documenting activities related to supervised practice, formal study, and private study.

You are not obligated to sign these documents. However, if you're happy to, you must take reasonable steps, such as the following:

• Review the reflections or formal study certificates showing your returnee has carried out the activities they declare.
• Asking how they apply their learning in practice to ensure they have carried out activities.

It is important to note that when you sign any of these documents, you are not declaring your returnee is fit to practise. That judgement is for returnees to make.