As part of the ambition to ensure sustainable future staffing and improve patient care, the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan identifies good quality preceptorship for the wider workforce as key to supporting recruitment, supporting staff to integrate into their places of work, and supporting staff retention.

Preceptorship is a period of structured transition to guide, support, and develop newly registered practitioners to build confidence and competence as they transition from student to autonomous professional. 

The main aim is to welcome and integrate newly registered practitioners into their new team and place of work. Preceptorship helps professionals to translate and embed their knowledge into everyday practice, grow in confidence and have the best possible start to their careers. Preceptorship is not designed to replace appraisals or be a substitute for a formal induction and mandatory training. During this time, they should be supported by an experienced practitioner, and a preceptor, to develop their confidence as an independent professional, and to refine their skills, values and behaviours. 

Training is available for those who take on the role of Preceptor at elearning for healthcare.

The aim of the Preceptor eCompendium is to recognise the needs of the preceptor, too, and to provide them with the guidance, support, resources and practical tools that they need for this role. It aims to help them reflect on their own experiences of this transition into the workforce, and to optimise their knowledge and skills to best position themselves to support others. It also supports the preceptor to develop valuable skills that will help them in other supporting roles that they will find themselves taking on during their current or future roles.