The NHSE Safe Learning Environment Charter (SLEC) designed by NHS England sets clear expectations around creating a culture where students and trainees are treated with respect and dignity and are supported in their professional development. It aligns closely to the NHS People Promise, and shows our dedication to creating a positive, inclusive, and caring workplace.
To evaluate our progress on each priority area of the Charter, as a starting point we recently held three workshops with an average of 32 participants per session. These workshops brought together colleagues from the Trust’s Education and Operations teams and colleagues from our partner universities, offering valuable insights. From these workshops, we identified areas for improvement as well as strengths and set four key achievable goals to focus on over the next year.
- Raise Awareness: Inform everyone about the Charter within our organisation and partner HEIs (universities).
- Enhance Communication and Collaboration: Improve communication and teamwork among all those impacted by the Charter, including HEIs, learners, apprentices, students, and education colleagues.
- Prioritise Learner Wellbeing: Ensure learner wellbeing in a supportive and safe working environment.
- Improve Quality and Consistency: Enhance the quality and consistency of learning experiences throughout the organisation and educational settings.
To ensure the Safe Learning Environment Charter (SLEC) is making a meaningful difference, we will employ a range of measurement tools and techniques. These will help us track our progress, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate our successes. Key measurement methods include:
- Practice Placement Surveys – Regular surveys will be conducted with learners to gather feedback on their experiences during practice placements, structured under the themes of the Charter. This will help us understand how the Charter is influencing their learning environment.
- National Education and Training Survey (NETS) – Hosted by the NHS, this survey will provide comprehensive insights into the educational and training experiences of healthcare learners across the country, allowing us to benchmark our performance against national standards and other placement providers. More on this will follow in the coming weeks.
- NHS Staff Survey: This annual survey will capture the perceptions and experiences of our staff, including those who support and work with learners, ensuring that the Charter’s impact is felt across the organisation.
- Local Qualitative and Quantitative Data: We will gather and analyse local departmental data to align with the priorities of the Charter and our objectives. This will include interviews, focus groups, and statistical analysis to provide a holistic view of our progress.
By using these diverse measurement tools, we can ensure that the SLEC is effectively supporting learners and contributing to a positive, inclusive, and safe learning environment.
Reflect on how your actions and interactions help create a safe, supportive learning culture and achieve these objectives. Ask yourself:
- How do I support and encourage learners in my role?
- What steps can I take to make the learning environment more inclusive and positive?
- How can I embody the Charter and People Promise values in my interactions?
By aligning our behaviours with the Charter, we can create a thriving learning environment, ultimately improving care for patients and a better workplace experience for colleagues.
We’ll share more about the Safe Learning Environment Charter at our Town Hall on Tuesday 8 April 14:00-15:00 – an invite has been sent to your inbox.
Let’s work together to make every learning experience safe, supportive, and transformative.