The experience of implementing Collaborative Learning in Practice (CLiP) in a London maternity ward

A Collaborative Leaning in Practice (CLiP) pilot study in a maternity unit in a London Trust has been carried out. CLiP is a model for supervising students in practice where they work in small groups under the guidance of a practice supervisor, who uses a coaching approach based on the GROW model. The drivers for the pilot arose from the Pan London Midwifery Expansion Placement project; with one of the key objectives being to increase placement capacity. The pilot’s findings were that CLiP is one possible approach to increasing placement capacity whilst providing an equally enriching, if not improved, learning experience for the students. The improvements for the students were centred around peer support, gaining confidence and responsibility, team working skills, new learning opportunities and being better prepared for practice after graduation. Reflecting on the experience of implementing the first cycle of the pilot, this article aims to provide guidance to other health care education providers for implementing the CLiP model in practice placements. The guidance is centred around offering a modified CLiP model to start with, whilst establishing key personnel as CLiP champions and to provide adequate preparation for students, staff and the environment for this change in working with each other