Towards a model of the expert practice educator – interpreting multi-professional perspectives in the literature

Abstract

The health and social care professions all rely on the use of practice placements for a substantial element of their pre-qualifying professional education, and these practice-based professions have roles for existing practitioners to oversee the education and training of students when they are on practice placements. Practice educators play a vital role in the development of new practitioners and also in the development and perpetuation of professional values and standards. In this paper, we argue that the practice educator role is thus fundamentally an ethical function, requiring moral commitment from the practice educator but also playing a critical role in maintaining the ethical values of the profession.