Interprofessional Education at UON: PebblePad and IPe-Cahoots

Interprofessional Education (IPE) was conceived by a World Health Organisation (WHO) Expert Committee on Continuing Education for Physicians in Geneva in 1973 (WHO, 1973). Professional and regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom (UK) state IPE is fundamental in preparing Health, Education and Social Care students to join a multi professional/multi agency workforce on completion of their studies (Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), 2017; Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2018; Social Work England (SWE), 2019). The HCPC states that programmes of study “must ensure that learners are able to learn with, and from, professionals and learners in other relevant professions” (HCPC, 2017, p.35). The NMC states that they “will only approve programmes where the learning culture is ethical, open and honest, is conducive to safe and effective learning that respects the principles of equality and diversity, and where innovation, interprofessional learning and team working are embedded” (NMC, 2018, p.5). SWE states Education and Training Providers should “ensure that students are given the opportunity to work with, and learn from, other professions in order to support multidisciplinary working” (SWE, 2019, p.11). It is therefore pertinent that all NMC, HCPC and SWE approved programmes demonstrate commitment, delivery and implementation of IPE.

The Faculty of Health, Education and Society (FHES) at the University of Northampton (UoN) IPE Steering Committee was put together to create an IPE programme which delivered a learning experience allied with the IPE ethos. In doing so, the IPe-Cahoots digital instructional resource was conceived.