Advanced practice roles in children and young people's services have tended to emerge from local clinical drivers and/or in response to national strategies and policy. As a result, practitioners have often had very different experiences of educational preparation, clinical supervision and competence assessment.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Paediatric Advanced Practice Succession Planning Development Pathway has been adapted from original NES Advanced Practice Session Planning Development Pathway. The aim is to offer a structured approach which will enable participants in collaboration with their employers to identify their own individual learning needs and solutions to support their development. The development pathway has been made available to nurses and allied health professionals wishing to develop clinical, managerial, educational and research advanced roles within practice. Whilst participation in the pathway aims to facilitate the practitioner's development, it in no way guarantees an advanced practitioner role within their practice. This element would require discussion with their employer.

It has been highlighted that the key to succession planning is the supporting mechanisms that are in place to ensure competencies and capabilities are enhanced and embedded in practice. As part of the development pathway the following supportive infrastructures have been established:

• Developmental Needs Analysis Tool
• Funding provided to support learning
• Learning portfolio which includes learning action plan
• Face-to-face and online Action Learning Sets
• Support from a critical companion
• Sponsorship from AHP or Nurse Director to support role development in Health Board area
• Monitoring reporting to highlight impact of learning on practice/service

Paediatric Nursing and AHP Cohorts

In September 2009 eleven participants commenced the first cohort followed in January 2010 by five participants in a second cohort and September 2010 a third cohort with two participants.

The cohorts comprise: -

• 1 Music therapist
• 1 Dietitian
• 3 Nurses
• 3 Occupational Therapists
• 5 Physiotherapists
• 5 Speech and Language Therapists

In addition to the varied professional backgrounds in both cohorts there are participants from 7 out of the 15 territorial health board areas.