CAIPE has published a new review of training and support for those facilitating pre-registration interprofessional education (IPE). It examines IPE faculty development across the UK and identifies priorities for strengthening provision.
The report draws on a national survey undertaken by CAIPE and Glasgow Caledonian University, with findings from 41 institutions offering IPE. Most had been delivering IPE for more than a decade, yet formal training for facilitators remained limited.
Fewer than one-third of responding institutions provided formal IPE facilitator training for academic staff. Where training was available, it was usually short, voluntary and delivered as a one-off event. Formal training for staff facilitating IPE in practice settings was even less common.
Respondents identified time and resource constraints, alongside uncertainty about training content, as barriers. The report also highlights inconsistent preparation and support for patients, service users, carers and students involved in facilitating IPE.
Across facilitator groups, institutions identified shared priorities for development, including creating psychologically safe learning environments, supporting collaboration, managing conflict and providing feedback.
The report sets out ten recommendations for CAIPE’s work with universities, practice partners and professional bodies. These include strengthening guidance and research on facilitator development, developing a facilitation handbook, and using the findings to inform future training provision.